Новости за 18.07.2025

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported "clashes west of Sweida pitting tribal fighters and Bedouin supported by the authorities on one side, against Druze fighters on the other". Combatants on both sides confirmed the clashes and AFP correspondents reported hearing exchanges of fire. Syrian government forces withdrew from Sweida province on Thursday after coming under heavy bombardment by Israel. The pullout from Syria's Druze heartland came on the orders of interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa... Читать дальше...

Every day, hundreds of Afghan refugee families in Pakistan are being deported back to their country. Since April 1, Islamabad has stepped up its deportations of migrants and refugees from Afghanistan. This wave of expulsions is part of the "Plan for the Repatriation of Foreigners in an Illegal Situation", implemented since October 2023 by the Pakistani authorities, who cite security reasons amid the resurgence of terrorist attacks in the country. Tens of thousands of Afghans have been deported as a result.

The rare visit came after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel "deeply regrets" the strike on the Holy Family Church in Gaza City and blamed a "stray" round. Israel strictly controls access to the territory, where the civil defence agency on Friday reported that further Israeli strikes killed at least 14 Palestinians across Gaza. The Catholic Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and his Greek Orthodox counterpart, Theophilos III, headed an "ecclesiastical delegation"... Читать дальше...

Golfers have swapped well-kept greens for ice at the inaugural North Pole Clock Golf Championship. "It is probably the most innovative and cool golf I’ve ever done", says David Dudek, a player from Hong Kong.

Thousands of health workers and supporters marched in Buenos Aires in defense of the Garrahan Pediatric Hospital, amid sweeping cuts to Argentina’s public healthcare system under President Javier Milei’s austerity plan. “Milei never promised major public investment — he promised cuts, and he promised to tame inflation,” recalls our correspondent Natalio Cosoy.

Thousands of health workers took to the streets of Buenos Aires on July 17, voicing their anger over government cutbacks to the Argentina's public health sector.

Health officials say Israeli attacks across Gaza have killed more than 90 people in the past 24 hours. One strike hit a Catholic church in Gaza, killing at least two people and injuring dozens more, including the priest. The attack has sparked global outrage, with Pope Leo renewing calls for a ceasefire.

Syria's government sent troops this week to the predominantly Druze city to quell fighting between Bedouins and Druze, but the violence escalated until a ceasefire was declared. "If there were hopes over the last three hours that the ceasefire was going to hold, this is looking increasingly shaky, as the government has now said it's going to redeploy forces in Sweida," explains France 24's Philip Turle.

PRESS REVIEW – Friday, July 18: We take a look at The Wall Street Journal's exclusive report on US President Donald Trump's alleged racy letter to Jeffrey Epstein for his 50th birthday. Also, we learn how Trump's team was on an "f***ing warpath" to kill the story, and we get reactions from his supporters. Finally, what's the effect of the bombshell report?

The tourists responded to a pre-match call from coach Gregor Townsend to produce a "strong performance" after going down 29-14 to Fiji in Suva last week. Two tries in the first 15 minutes gave Scotland early control and the result was in hand when they led 22-0 at halftime against the 13th-ranked Samoans, who were fielding a weakened side in their first match of the year. Samoa never looked like achieving their second win over Scotland in 13 meetings, out-muscled in the set pieces and only coming to life on attack in the second half. Читать дальше...

Since seizing office in December after ousting longtime autocrat Bashar al-Assad, Sharaa has worked to recast himself from jihadist to statesman, even earning praise from US President Donald Trump as a "tough guy". But in the early hours of Thursday, he was forced to announce the withdrawal of troops from the Druze-majority city of Sweida, framing it as an effort to avoid confrontation with Israel and prevent further destabilisation in a country still reeling from 14 years of war. AFP looks at... Читать дальше...

With deportations from the United States on the rise since Donald Trump's return to the White House, our reporters hear from those caught up in these new procedures, deployed in the name of national security.

A Syrian official on Friday denied earlier reports that government forces were preparing to deploy again to the southern city of Sweida following overnight clashes between Druze armed groups and members of Bedouin clans. Israel pummelled Syrian troops earlier this week and warned that it would not allow Damascus to deploy its forces in Druze-majority areas.

Tadej Pogacar delivered a stunning solo performance on Thursday to win Stage 12 of the Tour de France at Hautacam. The Slovenian rider, racing for UAE Team Emirates - XRG, claimed a prestigious mountain victory and struck a decisive blow in the general classification. He reclaimed the yellow jersey and now holds a lead of over two minutes on rival Jonas Vingegaard.

Eleven fans were crushed to death and more than 50 wounded in a stampede near the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium after hundreds of thousands packed the streets in the southern city of Bengaluru on June 4, to welcome home their hero Virat Kohli and his RCB cricket team. Karnataka state authorities singled out the RCB, its partners and the state cricket association for their mismanagement of the event in a report made public on Thursday. It said organisers had not submitted a "formal request" or provided... Читать дальше...

A mural depicting the Statue of Liberty covering her eyes in the northern French city of Roubaix has sparked a flurry of comments on social media over its intended swipe at US President Donald Trump's crackdown on migrants. Dutch artist Judith de Leeuw has described her work in Roubaix, which has a large immigrant community, as “a quiet reminder of what freedom should be”.

Long a symbol of youth-led resistance, the four-day dance party came to an end this week and hundreds of thousands of festival-goers headed home re-energised to continue their struggle. Within the walls of the festival's iconic fortress venue, and on the streets of Novi Sad, where the student-led movement began in November, symbols of resistance were everywhere. An image of a bloodied red hand, a stark symbol of the protests, beamed down from screens onto heaving mosh pits throughout screaming punk sets... Читать дальше...

The cuts achieve only a tiny fraction of the $1 trillion in annual savings that tech billionaire and estranged Trump donor Elon Musk vowed to find before his acrimonious exit in May from a role spearheading federal cost-cutting. But Republicans -- who recently passed a domestic policy bill expected to add more than $3 trillion to US debt -- said the vote honored Trump's election campaign pledge to rein in runaway spending. "President Trump and House Republicans promised fiscal responsibility and... Читать дальше...

Thai police this week arrested a woman accused of bedding at least 11 monks in violation of their vows of celibacy, before blackmailing them with thousands of secretly taken photos of their trysts. The monks are said to have paid nearly $12 million, funnelled out of their monasteries funded by donations from laypeople hoping to increase their merit and prospects for reincarnation. The scandal provoked outrage over hypocrisy in the monkhood, concern their status shields them from scrutiny, and soul-searching... Читать дальше...

New Zealand team management said Ioane was ruled out of Saturday's match in Hamilton because of a tight hamstring and had been replaced by Will Jordan. Regular fullback Jordan is promoted from the bench to the right wing, with Sevu Reece switching from the right to the left wing to take Ioane's spot. Jordie Barrett is added to the replacements. All Blacks coach Scott Robertson had already made 10 starting changes to the side that won the second Test 43-17 in Wellington last week to clinch the three-match series. Читать дальше...

The UK's Labour Party on Thursday passed a landmark electoral reform, aligning with Scotland and Wales in lowering the voting age from 18 to 16. The change fulfills a key promise by the ruling party but garnered criticism from the Conservative Party, which questions whether 16-year-olds are old enough to vote when they can't get married or stand for election.

The world's largest electronic music festival, Tomorrowland, opened in Belgium on Thursday, days after a fire destroyed its main stage. Organizers worked to avoid cancelling the event, which is expected to draw 400,000 people through the weekend, as investigators continue to seek clarity on the origins of the blaze.

US President Donald Trump continues to navigate the backlash over his administration's approach to the controversial Jeffrey Epstein investigation, with the president saying he might sue the Wall Street Journal for publishing a signed, suggestive letter he allegedly sent to Epstein. Trump has also directed his attorney general  to release select documents in the disgraced financier's case.

Three watershed cryptocurrency bills passed through the US House of Representatives on Thursday, solidifying President Donald Trump's ambitions to grow and deregulate an industry that has significantly increased his wealth since returning to office.