Journal De Bruxelles - News from Brussels, Belgium, Europe and the world

Britain sought a firm commitment Thursday from Germany to change its law to help smash people smuggling gangs, as the two countries agreed to boost defence ties on the first official UK visit by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

If you believe the viral videos online, R. Kelly and Pope Leo XIV agree on one thing -- that Burkina Faso's junta chief, Captain Ibrahim Traore, is a fantastic leader.

An Israeli strike on Gaza's only Catholic church killed two people on Thursday, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said, as Israel said it "never targets" religious sites and regretted any harm to civilians.

A rare painting of Mahatma Gandhi, believed to be the only oil portrait that the Indian independence leader ever sat for, has sold at auction in the UK for £152,800 ($205,000).

France on Thursday formally handed back its last two military bases in Senegal, leaving Paris with no permanent camps in either west or central Africa.

Syrian troops pulled out of the Druze heartland province of Sweida Thursday on orders from the Islamist-led government, leaving bodies strewn on the street, AFP journalists reported from the provincial capital.

G20 chair South Africa warned Thursday that abandoning the rules-based global order and declining cooperation could derail 2030 development goals to end hunger, eradicate extreme poverty and fight climate change.

Swiss pharmaceuticals giant Novartis posted Thursday a 29 percent increase in first-half net income, at $7.6 billion -- and unveiled its new chief financial officer.

A strike on Gaza's only Catholic church injured several people on Thursday, the territory's civil defence agency and the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said, as Italy's prime minister slammed "unacceptable" Israeli attacks on civilians.

A fire tore through a newly opened shopping mall in the eastern Iraqi city of Kut overnight, killing at least 61 people, authorities said Thursday, as grief-stricken families searched for missing relatives.

Taipei came to a brief standstill on Thursday when air raid sirens forced people off the streets and into underground shelters in a rehearsal for a Chinese attack.

The UK hoped to win a firm commitment on Thursday from Germany to change its law to help smash people smuggling gangs as well as boosting defence ties, Prime Minister Keir Starmer's office said, as Chancellor Friedrich Merz began his first official visit to London.

Swatch Group said Thursday that weak sales in China wiped out growth elsewhere in the first half of the year for the world's top watch company, leaving it barely profitable.

Patrick Kuivert's Indonesia were on Thursday handed a tough draw for the final round of Asian qualifying as they try to reach the World Cup finals for the first time since 1938.

The boss of British no-frills airline EasyJet on Thursday bemoaned "unacceptable challenges" for staff and passengers resulting from strike action by air traffic controllers in France earlier this month.

Most markets rose Thursday, tracking a record day on Wall Street where traders endured a rollercoaster fuelled by fears Donald Trump was considering sacking the head of the US Federal Reserve.

Hulking prop Taniela Tupou and winger Filipo Daugunu were released from the Wallabies squad Thursday to bolster a First Nations and Pasifika side to face the British and Irish Lions next week.

New Zealand and France overhauled their teams Thursday ahead of a third and final Test which both sides are viewing as a chance to build for the future.

Heavy rains have been linked to 54 deaths in the last 24 hours in Pakistan, taking the toll to about 180 since the arrival of the monsoon in late June, the government's disaster agency said on Thursday.

Filipino seafarer Cocoy was off-duty and resting in his cabin when the captain's voice boomed over the intercom of the cargo ship: "We are under attack".

At least three people were killed and more than 1,000 evacuated Thursday after South Korea was hit by torrential rains, officials said, with one region pummelled by the most rainfall per hour since full records began.

England flanker Tom Curry and Scottish centre Sione Tuipulotu won the race Thursday to start for the British and Irish Lions against Australia, but veteran Owen Farrell and emerging star Henry Pollock missed out.

Asian markets rose Thursday, tracking a record day on Wall Street where traders endured a rollercoaster fuelled by fears Donald Trump was considering sacking the head of the US Federal Reserve.

Volvo Cars announced on Thursday it had swung into loss in the second quarter, after it took an impairment charge for its electric cars, booked restructuring charges and dealt with a slower, tariff-troubled market.

The US Senate approved early Thursday a package of spending cuts proposed by President Donald Trump that would cancel more than $9 billion in funding for foreign aid programs and public broadcasting.

Bangladesh skipper Litton Das says his team's first ever T20 series win in Sri Lanka has been "huge" for his leadership and made the cricket-crazy fans back home happy.

France will on Thursday formally hand back its last military bases in Senegal, leaving the French army with no permanent camps in west and central Africa.

England flanker Tom Curry and Scottish centre Sione Tuipulotu won the race Thursday to start for the British and Irish Lions against Australia, but veteran Owen Farrell and emerging star Henry Pollock missed out.

A 60-year-old farmer in China has built his own "Big Black Fish" -- a homemade submarine that can accommodate two people, dive eight metres and stay underwater for 30 minutes at a time.

Butter prices have soared in dairy export giant New Zealand, latest figures showed Thursday, with local supplies cut short as the industry chases fatter profits overseas.

Taiwanese chipmaking giant TSMC reported Thursday a forecast-beating 60 percent rise in net profit for the second quarter on sustained demand for artificial intelligence technology.

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt backed Nick Champion de Crespigny to be the team's "roving scavenger" Thursday after handing him a shock debut in the opening British and Irish Lions Test at Brisbane.