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Venezuela amnesty law for jailed protesters passes first vote
Feb 5 (Reuters) - An amnesty law being considered in Venezuela's legislature that would grant immediate clemency to people jailed for participating in political protests or critiquing public figures won initial lawmaker approval on Thursday.
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World
2nd LD Writethru: Bank of England maintains interest rate at 3.75 pct
LONDON, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- The Bank of England (BoE) has kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 3.75 percent, Britain's central bank said in a statement on Thursday.
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World
2nd LD Writethru: ECB holds interest rates steady
FRANKFURT, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- The European Central Bank (ECB) on Thursday decided to leave key interest rates unchanged at its first monetary policy meeting of 2026, marking the fifth consecutive hold since July 2025.
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World
Several thousand people evacuated in southern Spain amid storm Leonardo
MADRID, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Torrential rains brought by storm Leonardo have forced the evacuation of around 3,000 to 5,000 people across southern Spain, including the entire population of the small hillside town of Grazalema in Cadiz province, local authorities said on Thursday.
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World
WADA chief Banka voices optimism on U.S. ties, funding in Milan
MILAN, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) President Witold Banka addressed multiple critical issues, including relationship with the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), at a press conference here on Thursday.
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World
Feature: Chinese-backed musical talent show unlocks creative genius of Kenyan youth
NAIROBI, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Fanuel Mulwa was over the moon after outperforming dozens of contestants to win Sing for Africa, a Chinese-supported musical talent show launched in Nairobi, Kenya's capital, in November 2025.
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World
Pakistan military says it concludes week-long fight against Baloch separatists
QUETTA, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Pakistan's military said on Thursday it had concluded a week-long operation against separatists in Balochistan who stormed more than a dozen locations, taking hostages, setting off explosives and waging gun battles with security forces.
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World
Tanzania warns of floods in March-May rainy season
DAR ES SALAAM, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania's meteorological authority on Thursday released its climate outlook for the March-May 2026 rainy season, warning of potential floods.
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World
Somali president orders joint efforts to tackle severe drought
MOGADISHU, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has directed government agencies to prioritize emergency drought response and redirect the majority of their work and resources toward urgent humanitarian action.
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World
Slovenia prepares legislation to ban social media for under-15s
Feb 5 (Reuters) - Slovenia is preparing draft legislation to ban social media access for children under 15, Deputy Prime Minister Matej Arcon told a news conference on Thursday.
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World
US, Russia to reestablish military-to-military talks
WASHINGTON, Feb 5 (Reuters) - The U.S. military said that Washington and Moscow on Thursday agreed to reestablish high level military-to-military dialogue, following talks in Abu Dhabi, a move which could signal a move towards normalizing some ties between the United States and Russia.
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World
US, Russia close in on deal to extend New START nuclear arms treaty, Axios reports
Feb 5 (Reuters) - The United States and Russia are closing in on a deal to observe the New START nuclear arms control treaty beyond its expiration on Thursday, Axios reported, citing three sources familiar with the talks.
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World
Estonia releases vessel held on suspicion of smuggling after inspection
STOCKHOLM, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Estonia's Tax and Customs Board said on Thursday it had allowed the seized Baltic Spirit cargo vessel to leave the port of Muuga after an inspection had not confirmed suspicions it carried contraband.
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World
Ukraine says Starlink terminals used by Russia deactivated in blow to Moscow
KYIV, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Starlink internet terminals used by Russian troops in Ukraine have been deactivated, Kyiv said on Thursday, dealing what one official said was a big battlefield setback for Moscow that had disrupted assault operations.
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World
Spain's Sanchez: we won't be swayed by tech oligarchs on social media ban
MADRID, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Tech companies will not sway the will of the Spanish government as it intends to ban young people from social media platforms, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Thursday, accusing "tech oligarchs" of spreading lies about Spain.
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World
Latvia launches human trafficking investigation after Epstein file release
VILNIUS, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Latvia has launched a criminal investigation into potential human trafficking after the release of documents related to late U.S. sex offender Jeffrey Epstein that included references to Latvian model agencies and models, police in the Baltic nation said on Thursday.
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World
Stepson of Norway's crown prince denies drugging alleged rape victim
OSLO, Feb 5 (Reuters) - The son of Norway's crown princess denied in court on Thursday that he ever drugged the alleged victim of one of the rapes he is charged with, on his second day of testimony in a trial that has transfixed Norway.
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World
UK's Starmer apologises to Epstein victims over Mandelson, but comes out fighting
LONDON, Feb 5 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer launched a fierce attack on his former U.S. ambassador Peter Mandelson on Thursday, seeking to assuage anger from across British politics and saying he was sorry he had believed his "lies" before appointing him.
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World
Canada's Carney wins admiration globally but struggles to lower food costs at home
OTTAWA, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has earned global admiration for openly declaring the end of a global order based on rules, but he has had far less success addressing a growing and more quotidian concern at home: the rising cost of food.
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World
Cape Town mayor considers running for leader of key South African coalition partner
JOHANNESBURG, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis said on Thursday that he was considering running for the leadership of the Democratic Alliance, the second-biggest party in South Africa's coalition government.
