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Noosha Aubel under pressure: Potsdam City Hall caught between going it alone and the nursery scandal
Noosha Aubel (50, independent) took office as Lord Mayor of the Brandenburg state capital of Potsdam on 24 October 2025 with an extraordinary mandate of confidence: 72.9 per cent of voters backed her in the run-off election. Aubel promised a modern, transparent and effective administration, more affordable housing, better education and a genuine dialogue with the city’s residents. She confidently declared that she did not need a grace period. Aubel must now be judged by precisely these standards—not by polished social-media announcements on Facebook, grandiose rhetoric designed to promote a carefully managed public image, or ostentatious displays of moral virtue, but by concrete results.
Hamas agrees to disarm under Trump plan, but no word from Israel
Hamas said Friday it had agreed to a deal announced by US President Donald Trump to end the war with Israel, that includes it handing over its weapons to a Palestinian governing committee and the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
US eyes European gas dominance through Balkans
As Europe weans itself off Russian energy, Washington is fast emerging as its largest gas supplier, with experts suggesting Croatia's Adriatic gas terminal offers a pathway deeper into the continent.
Hamas agrees to deal for disarmament, Israel's withdrawal from Gaza
Hamas said Friday it agreed to a deal to end the war with Israel that included provisions addressing its weapons and the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip.
Venezuela transition talks set to kick off without Machado
Venezuela is gearing up for the launch of US-backed political transition talks on Saturday, but the absence of Nobel Peace Prize-winning opposition figure Maria Corina Machado has left her base skeptical.
Spain safari park animals grazed calmly amid 'terror' of fire
The bison carried on grazing peacefully as the flames approached, imperturbable despite the fires ravaging the land around their wildlife park west of Madrid.
Trump announces agreement for disarmament of Hamas
US President Donald Trump on Thursday announced an agreement for the "complete disarmament" of Hamas, calling it a critical step toward a new Palestinian government in Gaza.
Trump announces areement for disarmament of Hamas
US President Donald Trump on Thursday announced an agreement for the "complete disarmament" of Hamas, calling it a critical step toward a new Palestinian government in Gaza.
Grynspan ahead in process to pick next UN chief: diplomats
United Nations insider Rebeca Grynspan was leading in the first round of the process to pick the next UN chief that began Thursday, diplomatic sources told AFP.
Hundreds of migrants flood into Spain's Ceuta exclave from Morocco
Madrid on Thursday said it would despatch soldiers to Ceuta to ensure security after hundreds of migrants entered the Spanish north African exclave from Morocco, mainly by swimming, and reported nine deaths.
Renewed Iran war raises US missile supply concerns
Tehran's forces have carried out frequent missile and drone attacks in the Middle East since the breakdown of the US-Iran ceasefire, raising renewed concerns about Washington's supply of the weapons needed to intercept them.
French minister defends expulsion order against Russian commentator
France's interior minister said Thursday that an expulsion order against pro-Kremlin Russian commentator Xenia Fedorova was "not an infringement on freedom of expression".
Nobel Peace Prize winner Murad says justice for Yazidis far too slow
Twelve years after the Islamic State's "genocide" of Yazidis in Iraq, Nadia Murad, a former sex slave of the jihadist group, said Thursday that progress towards justice remains far too slow.
Selection process for next UN chief under way
The UN Security Council began the process of selecting the UN's next secretary-general Thursday, holding a first "straw poll" to gauge the seven candidates' support for the high-profile global statesman role.
Hundreds of migrants swim to Spain's Ceuta territory from Morocco
Hundreds of migrants entered the Spanish north African exclave of Ceuta on Thursday, AFP reporters saw, many of them having swum by sea around the frontier fence.
Russian missile strike destroys family home, 10 feared dead
A Russian missile slammed into a family home in eastern Ukraine early Thursday, obliterating it and leaving 10 members of the same family presumed dead, an official told AFP.
Selection process for next UN chief begins
The UN Security Council began the process of selecting the UN's next secretary-general, holding a first "straw poll" to gauge the seven candidates' support for the high-profile global statesman role.
Russia blamed for missile that blasted crater in Polish field
Poland said Thursday that a missile that blasted a 10-metre (33 feet) crater inside its territory was likely fired by Russia in its latest mass attack on Ukraine.
Musk plans major Republican midterm spending push: report
Elon Musk, the world's richest person, is preparing a major spending push to help Republicans retain control of Congress in November's midterm elections, Axios reported Thursday.
Mediator Pakistan says US-Iran talks ongoing as foes trade attacks
Mediator Pakistan insisted on Thursday that negotiations between Iran and the United States were ongoing, even as Washington carried out a "heavy wave of strikes" on its foe in retaliation for fresh attacks targeting Jordan.
France firefighters hopeful, as Spain reports 'almost no flames'
Firefighters in France on Thursday were hopeful a massive forest fire was no longer spreading, as Spain said there were "almost no flames" left near Madrid but a new fire broke out near the Portuguese border.
Russian strikes kill 8 across Ukraine, including 6 from one family
Russian strikes killed at least eight people and wounded more than a dozen others across Ukraine, authorities said on Thursday, triggering renewed calls from Kyiv for its allies to send air defence supplies.
New Zealand top diplomat draws Chinese embassy complaint in racism row
Beijing's embassy in New Zealand said it had raised an official complaint Thursday after top diplomat Winston Peters told a lawmaker of Chinese descent to "go back to your own country".
Eggs back in India school meals after outcry
India's West Bengal state will bring back eggs to free school meals after a backlash against a decision by its Hindu nationalist government to replace them with vegetarian alternatives, officials have said.
South Korea Hong coach grilled by MPs over World Cup flop
Former South Korea football coach Hong Myung-bo told lawmakers Thursday that he took "full responsibility" for his team's failure to advance from their group at the World Cup.
US military completes 'heavy wave' of retaliatory strikes on Iran
The US military completed a "heavy wave of strikes" against Iran on Thursday in retaliation against Tehran targeting American bases in Jordan, as fighting intensified in the Middle East war after a nearly week-long pause.
Russian strikes kill at least 8, wound more across Ukraine
Russian strikes killed at least eight people and wounded more than a dozen others across Ukraine, authorities said on Thursday, after President Volodymyr Zelensky warned of Moscow launching another massive attack overnight.
Drones and blackouts inflict a tense summer on Russia-annexed Crimea
A boom rang out over the city of Sevastopol on the Russian-annexed peninsula of Crimea.
Rushdie assailant convicted of terrorism charges
A federal jury on Wednesday convicted novelist Salman Rushdie's assailant of "engaging in an act of terrorism" for the bloody August 2022 attack at a New York cultural center.
US military launches 'powerful' retaliatory strikes on Iran
The United States military launched "powerful" strikes on Iran on Thursday, in retaliation for Tehran's attacks targeting US bases in Jordan as the Middle East war reignited and again drew in the Islamic republic's proxies.
New Zealand foreign minister in racism row with Chinese ambassador
New Zealand's top diplomat Winston Peters drew the ire of Beijing's ambassador in Wellington on Thursday after telling a lawmaker of Chinese descent to "go back to your own country".
US-Saudi strikes in Iraq kill 20, including Iranians
US-Saudi strikes on Iraq killed at least 20 militants, including several Iranians, on Wednesday, according to the Hashed al-Shaabi, an armed Iraqi alliance that includes pro-Iran groups.