RIO DE JANEIRO -- Over 250 representatives from nearly 150 media outlets, think tanks, government agencies, and regional organizations across 36 countries gathered here on Wednesday for the BRICS Media and Think Tank Forum, an event focusing on how to advance BRICS cooperation and strengthen solidarity across the Global South.
In his keynote remarks, Fu Hua, forum chair and president of Xinhua News Agency, said greater BRICS cooperation has played a critical role in unifying Global South countries, boosting their influence in global affairs, and driving reform in global governance. (Brazil-BRICS-Forum)
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CANBERRA -- Australia's unemployment rate rose to 4.3 percent in June, the highest level in almost four years, according to official data released on Thursday.
It marks the highest unemployment rate since November 2021 and the first time in 2025 that the figure has changed from 4.1 percent after five consecutive steady months, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) said. (Australia-Unemployment-June)
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GAZA/JERUSALEM -- At least 34 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes across Gaza on Thursday, whereas two rockets fired from northern Gaza towards Israel were intercepted, according to Palestinian and Israeli sources.
Two people were killed and seven others injured in an Israeli drone strike on the Holy Family church housing displaced persons east of Gaza City, Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for the Civil Defense in Gaza, told Xinhua, adding that Parish Priest of the church Father Gabriel Romanelli is among the injured. (Gaza-Israeli Attacks-Deaths)
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BUDAPEST/WARSAW -- Poland has formally recalled its ambassador to Hungary, the Polish Foreign Ministry confirmed on Thursday.
Ministry spokesperson Pawel Wronski told the Polish Press Agency (PAP) that Ambassador to Hungary Sebastian Keciek's mission officially ended on July 15. "We now have a charge d'affaires stationed in Budapest," he said, signaling a downgrade in Poland's diplomatic presence in Hungary. (Hungary-Poland)
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DAKAR -- France on Thursday handed over its last two military facilities in Senegal to local authorities, marking the end of its permanent military presence in the West African country.
Camp Geille, the largest French military installation in Senegal located in the capital Dakar, and the French air detachment at Dakar's international airport were officially transferred to the Senegalese state at a ceremony attended by Mbaye Cisse, chief of General Staff of the Senegalese Armed Forces, and Pascal Ianni, commander of French forces in Africa. (France-Senegal-Military Base)
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KIEV -- The Ukrainian parliament on Thursday approved the formation of a new cabinet, the Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported.
The decision followed the resignation of former Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, which led to the automatic dismissal of the entire government. (Ukraine-Government-PM)
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LONDON -- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday signed a wide-ranging bilateral deal covering various areas including defense and migration, which is believed to be the most significant treaty between Britain and Germany since the end of World War II. (Britain-Germany-Treaty) ■
