Israeli and Hamas officials have launched indirect talks in Egypt on a potential ceasefire in Gaza. They are discussing the U.S.-drafted peace plan to end the war on the eve of its second anniversary. The negotiations focus on a ceasefire's first stage. That includes the partial withdrawal of Israeli forces and the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to join. Many uncertainties remain about the plan including the disarmament of Hamas and the future governance of Gaza. Israel continues with airstr

France's new prime minister, Sebastien Lecornu, has resigned just a day after naming his government and less than a month in office. The French presidency announced Monday that President Emmanuel Macron accepted his resignation. Lecornu's choice of ministers faced criticism across the political spectrum. His decision to bring back former Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire to serve at the defense ministry was particularly controversial. Other key positions were largely unchanged from the previous Cabinet with Bruno Retailleau as interior minister, Jean-Noel Barrot as foreign minister and Gerald D

Police have reported that two people were killed and three others were seriously injured in a synagogue attack in northern England. Greater Manchester Police believe the suspect is also dead. The incident occurred on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. Police bomb experts are investigating whether the attacker had an explosive device. The attack involved a car being driven at members of the public and a man being stabbed. Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed his horror at the attack and announced additional police deployment at synagogues across the U.K.

U.S. President Donald Trump has issued new tariffs that could add further pressure on Canadian producers of softwood lumber and furniture. A presidential proclamation on Monday evening set out a 10 per cent duty on imports of softwood timber and lumber, along with a 25 per cent levy on imports of kitchen cabinets and vanities — both parts and completed models — and other upholstered wooden products. The tariffs are scheduled to take effect Oct. 14. The rate applied to kitchen cabinets and vanities is set to jump to 50 per cent on Jan. 1, with the levy on other upholstered wooden products r

Rescuers are using backhoes and sniffer dogs to look for survivors in collapsed houses and other damaged buildings in the central Philippines, a day after an earthquake killed at least 69 people. Officials say the death toll is expected to rise from the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that hit at about 10 p.m. Tuesday. The quake trapped an unspecified number of residents in the hard-hit city of Bogo and outlying rural towns in Cebu province. Army troops, police and civilian volunteers were deployed Wednesday to carry out house-to-house searches. Officials say tntermittment rain and damaged bridges

US President Donald Trump has announced that the United States will impose a 100 percent tariff on foreign-made furniture as well as films made outside the country. Trump says that other countries have stolen the filmmaking business from the US. It is not yet clear how this tariff will be imposed on films. He also said that heavy tariffs will be imposed on furniture coming from China and other countries to bring back the dying furniture manufacturing business in North Carolina.

Police officers walked amid the burned out ruins of a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints church in Michigan a day after a former Marine opened fire during a crowded service, killing at least four people and setting the building ablaze. Eight others were wounded in the attack and authorities have said they were searching for more victims Monday. A silver pickup truck remained where it had smashed into the brick wall of the church before the gunman got out and started shooting. It happened in Grand Blanc Township, a community outside Flint. The attacker was identified as Thomas Jacob

The Transportation Department will immediately tighten up the requirements for non-citizens to get commercial drivers licenses after three fatal crashes this year in Florida, Texas and Alabama that officials say were caused by immigrant truck drivers who never should have received licenses. The nationwide audit of these licenses began after a fatal U-turn crash in Florida that killed two people caused by a truck driver who officials said was in the country illegally. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said also threatened to revoke $160 million in federal funding for California because inve

President Donald Trump is putting import taxes of 100% on pharmaceutical drugs, 50% on kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities, 30% on upholstered furniture and 25% on heavy trucks starting on Oct. 1. Trump said Thursday on his social media site that foreign manufacturers of furniture and cabinetry were flooding the United States with their products and that tariffs must be applied ``for National Security and other reasons.'' Trump said that foreign-made heavy trucks and parts are hurting domestic producers.