Bulgarian government resigns after mass protests
In the wake of large-scale protests over economic policy across Bulgaria, the country's Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov formally submitted his government's resignation on Thursday, the registry of the National Assembly has confirmed.
Earlier in the day, Zhelyazkov announced his resignation minutes before lawmakers voted on a sixth no-confidence motion against his government.
Nevertheless, the motion, brought forward by opposition parties over what they described as failures in economic policy, secured only 106 votes in the 240-seat parliament, well short of the majority needed for passage. The ruling coalition didn't vote.
Thai king endorses decree to dissolve parliament
Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua has endorsed a royal decree to dissolve the parliament, an announcement published in the Royal Gazette said on Friday.
EU proposal on Ukrainian territorial concessions sent to U.S.: Merz
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced Thursday that European leaders had sent a proposal to U.S. President Donald Trump concerning territorial concessions that Ukraine is prepared to make, and meetings will follow to discuss the issue.
Speaking to reporters alongside visiting NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Merz said the proposal followed a telephone conversation the previous day with French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Merz said they had made clear to Trump that the question of Ukrainian territorial concessions must first be answered by the Ukrainian president and the Ukrainian people.
Hamas says it accepts possible int'l force in Gaza for ceasefire monitoring only
A senior Hamas official said Thursday that Palestinian factions in Gaza have given initial approval for a potential international force in the territory, provided its mandate is limited to "monitoring the ceasefire and maintaining a presence along the borders to separate the two sides."
Husam Badran, a member of Hamas' political bureau, told Xinhua that the force's role should remain "limited, clear, and agreed upon," and must not undermine Palestinian national decision-making. He noted that most countries discussing the idea stressed the need for Palestinian consent before deployment.
Badran is referring to the International Stabilization Force, a proposed multinational force endorsed as part of a broader peace plan and a UN Security Council resolution in November.
Cambodia says 10 civilians killed, 60 others wounded in latest round of border conflict with Thailand
At least 10 Cambodian civilians have been killed and 60 others wounded in the latest round of border conflict with Thailand, a Cambodian Defense Spokesperson said on Thursday.
"The casualties included 10 civilian fatalities, including one infant, and 60 civilian injuries," Cambodian Defense Ministry's Undersecretary of State and Spokesperson Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata said in a press briefing.
The Cambodia-Thailand border conflict has reignited since Sunday afternoon and is still going on as of Thursday morning, Socheata said, adding that the Thai army has fired artillery shells at many locations in Cambodian territory.
Thailand says 9 soldiers killed in Thailand-Cambodia border clashes
Thai Defense Ministry spokesperson Surasant Kongsiri said on Thursday that the ongoing border clashes with Cambodia have left nine Thai soldiers dead and more than 120 people injured.
The clashes have displaced nearly 200,000 Thai civilians, who have taken shelter in refugee camps. Three refugees have been reported dead, and a total of 849 refugee camps have been set up so far, said Surasant at a press briefing.
Meanwhile, nearly 200 hospitals and clinics have been affected to varying degrees.
2 workers trapped in S. Korean construction site collapse
Two workers were trapped after a steel structure collapsed at a library construction site in Gwangju, South Korea, Yonhap news agency reported on Thursday.
The collapse occurred around 1:58 p.m. local time (0458 GMT) in Gwangju, some 270 km south of the capital Seoul.
Two workers were believed to be trapped under the structure.
The fire authorities were conducting search and rescue operations.
U.S. House passes 901 bln USD defense bill
The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday evening passed the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), authorizing 901 billion U.S. dollars in defense spending.
The bill, passed by 312 to 112, is heading to the Senate for approval.
Eighteen Republicans and 94 Democrats voted "no" in the final vote.
The legislation was aimed at "codifying 15 of President (Donald) Trump's executive orders, ending woke ideology at the Pentagon, securing the border, revitalizing the defense industrial base, and restoring the warrior ethos," said Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson before the vote.■
