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Yellen urges U.S.-China cooperation on economy, climate

BEIJING — U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Saturday urged closer communication between China and the United States to improve economic decision-making, and challenged China to join global initiatives to help poorer nations address climate change.

Despite bilateral tensions, record high U.S.-Chinese trade last year showed there was "ample room" to engage in trade and investment, and it was critical to focus on areas of common interest and address disagreements through dialogue, Yellen told Chinese Premier He Lifeng at the start of a meeting.

Spain's far-right party Vox would abolish law allowing abortion

(This July 7 story has been refiled to say 'appropriate,' not 'inappropriate,' in paragraph 6) MADRID (Reuters) - Spain's far-right party Vox proposed abolishing the current laws allowing abortion and euthanasia, according to its election manifesto published on Friday. "We defend the right to life from conception to natural death," said the 169-page document, which was launched as the campaign began for Spain's snap election on July 23. In December, Spain's parliament passed a sexual and reproductive health law that allows girls aged 16 and 17 to undergo abortions without parental consent. Vox...

Zelensky hails 'brave' Ukraine on 500th day of war

Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) - President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed "brave" Ukraine on the 500th day of Russia's invasion on Saturday, as the war's toll mounted with eight deaths reported in Russian rocket fire. Zelensky published on social media an undated video clip of a visit to Snake Island in the Black Sea -- a symbol of Ukraine's defiance against Russia. "Today we are on Snake Island, which will never be conquered by the occupiers, like the whole of Ukraine, because we are the country of the brave," he said. "I want to thank from here, from this place of victory, each of our soldiers for these 50...

Twitter faces uphill battle to prove Meta stole trade secrets for Threads, legal experts say

Twitter's claim that Meta Platforms stole trade secrets to build its new microblogging site may be the first volley in a legal battle between the social media giants, but experts say Twitter would have to clear a high hurdle if it sues.

In a letter sent on Wednesday, Twitter alleged that Meta used its trade secrets to develop its new social media platform, Threads, and demanded that it stop using the information. Twitter said that Meta had hired dozens of former Twitter employees, many of whom "improperly retained" devices and documents from the company, and said Meta "deliberately" assigned them to work on Threads.

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Will France's riots benefit far-right Le Pen?

In her first speech in parliament as France's riots ebbed this week, far-right leader Marine Le Pen accused the government of turning the country into a "hell" that she had foreseen.

"The reality is that you didn't want to hear any of the warnings," said the 54-year-old, whose 89 MPs form the biggest opposition party in parliament since elections last year.

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Dutch government collapses over bitter migration row

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte's coalition government collapsed Friday over "insurmountable" differences on how to tackle migration, with elections expected in November.

Rutte, 56, the Netherlands' longest-serving leader and one of Europe's most experienced politicians, said days of crisis talks between the four parties failed to produce a deal.

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'Nobody controls me': the woman senator seeking Mexico presidency

A businesswoman and opposition senator with Indigenous roots, Xochitl Galvez has jolted Mexican politics in a bid to replace President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, a self-styled champion of the underprivileged.

Galvez's decision to run for the top job has raised the chances of a woman taking the reins of the Latin American country for the first time next year.

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France braces for marches against police violence as Paris memorial rally banned

Dozens of marches against police violence in France have been announced for Saturday after authorities banned a memorial rally, fearful of reigniting the recent unrest that engulfed the country.

Seven years after Adama Traoré, a young black man, died in police custody, his sister had planned to lead a commemorative march north of Paris in Persan and Beaumont-sur-Oise.

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Wildfires 'off the charts' in Canada as temperatures climb

The number of forest fires continues to rise in Canada, climbing on Friday to more than 670 blazes -- more than 380 of them out of control -- with a long and difficult summer ahead.

"The numbers are literally off the charts, with at least three more months left in the active wildfire season," said Michael Norton of the Canadian Ministry of Natural Resources.

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Zelensky wins Erdogan's NATO backing after securing US cluster bombs

President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday secured Turkey's crucial backing for Ukraine's NATO aspirations after winning a US pledge for cluster munitions that could inflict massive damage on Russian forces on the battlefield.

Washington's decision to deliver the controversial weapons -- banned across a large part of the world but not in Russia or Ukraine -- dramatically ups the stakes in the war, which entered its 500th day Saturday.

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NATO flexes muscle to protect Vilnius summit near Russia, Belarus

By Andrius Sytas KANIUKAI, Lithuania (Reuters) - NATO has turned Vilnius into a fortress defended by advanced weaponry to protect U.S. President Joe Biden and other alliance leaders meeting next week only 32 km (20 miles) from Lithuania's razor-wire topped border fence with Russian ally Belarus. Sixteen NATO allies have sent a total of about 1,000 troops to safeguard the July 11-12 summit, which will take place only 151 km (94 miles) from Russia itself. Many are also providing advanced air defence systems which the Baltic states lack. "It would be more than irresponsible to have our sky unprot...

At least six injured during bull run in Spain

At least six more people were injured on Saturday morning during the second bull run at this year's Festival of San Fermín in Pamplona in northern Spain. The follows the six who were injured during the first bull-run on Friday. None of the 12 were seriously injured. Those hurt on Saturday mainly suffered bruises, the state TV station RTVE reported from the famous and increasingly controversial event. Three US citizens were among the people treated in hospital, the Europa Press news agency reported. The festival in honour of the city's patron saint, San Fermín, began on Thursday and ends next F...

Russian defense minister Shoigu shown inspecting troops

(This content was produced in Russia where the law restricts coverage of Russian military operations in Ukraine) MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has inspected troops and overseen training of newly formed units made up of contracted servicemen, his ministry said on Saturday. The ministry releasedvideo footage on its Telegram channel showing Shoigu in khaki military fatigues inspecting soldiers at a shooting range, in his first public appearance with troops since last month's aborted mutiny by the Wagner mercenary group. The ministry did not say when the video was film...