Paraguayan president resigns over digital bank crisis
Paraguayan President Santiago Pena announced his resignation Thursday amid mounting pressure over the crisis of digital lender Ueno Bank.
"I have decided to submit my resignation as president of the republic," Pena said in a video posted on X, citing the need to safeguard national stability, social peace and democratic institutions.
Paraguay's central bank announced Tuesday that it had initiated resolution proceedings for Ueno Bank after finding that its solvency ratio had fallen to less than half the required minimum.
Around 600,000 people take part in demonstrations across France: media
Around 600,000 people took part in demonstrations across France on Thursday, French television channel BFM TV reported, citing an initial estimate by the French Interior Ministry.
However, the General Confederation of Labour (CGT) estimated that nearly 1.6 million people took part in Thursday's demonstrations nationwide, including 350,000 in Paris, according to BFM TV.
According to figures released by the French Ministry of National Education, 16 percent of teachers were on strike on Thursday. Meanwhile, nearly 33 percent of higher education institutions were disrupted by the movement as of midday, affecting 60 of the country's 184 institutions.
Netanyahu's rival set to be tasked with forming gov't after Arab party endorsement
Former Israeli military chief Gadi Eisenkot is expected to be tasked with forming a government after the Arab-led Joint List announced Thursday that it would recommend him for prime minister, widening his lead over incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in presidential nominations.
The Joint List said the decision was unanimous but "not an easy one", criticizing Eisenkot's opposition bloc for failing to confront Netanyahu's policies and incitement against Arab citizens.
The party said it wanted to widen Eisenkot's lead in recommendations despite his already having more endorsements than Netanyahu.
Bomb threats affect multiple flights across Europe
Onboard bomb threats affected multiple passenger flights across Europe on Thursday, causing extensive disruptions, while some flights have already landed safely.
Three flights operated by the Irish airline Ryanair from Copenhagen, Madrid and London to the Bulgarian capital Sofia received bomb threats before safely landing, Bulgarian media reported.
Security checks found no dangerous objects on board any of the flights, with investigations ongoing and heightened security measures at the affected airports, the media reports said.
Japan mulls allowing nuclear weapons entry in emergencies in security policy review: media
The Japanese government is considering including exceptions to the country's Three Non-Nuclear Principles in its revised National Security Strategy, which is scheduled to be finalized by the end of this year, local media reported Thursday.
A proposal to incorporate a position allowing the entry of nuclear weapons into Japan in emergencies is emerging as the leading option, while the government is leaning toward retaining the three principles themselves without revising them, Kyodo News reported, citing sources familiar with the matter.
Japan's Three Non-Nuclear Principles stipulate that the country will not possess, produce, or permit the introduction of nuclear weapons. The current National Security Strategy, one of the country's three key security documents, explicitly states that Japan's basic policy of adhering to the principles will remain unchanged.
U.S. House could vote next week to impeach Defense Secretary Hegseth: CNN
Many Republican lawmakers alarmed by Tuesday's election losses are moving swiftly to pin the blame on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and the House could vote as soon as next week to impeach him, CNN reported Wednesday.
These Republican lawmakers argued behind the scenes that Hegseth played a leading role in convincing President Donald Trump to attack Iran "with no exit strategy," and "no plan for managing the inevitable political fallout," the report said.
Democrats are projected to flip control of the House of Representatives and the Senate, election forecasting agency Decision Desk HQ reported late Tuesday. Several media outlets have described the outcome as a "blue wave" or even a "blue tsunami."■
