Trump to announce US troop withdrawals from Iraq, Afghanistan

13 Sept 14:22 Key points summarised by AI

President Trump is poised to announce significant US troop withdrawals from Iraq and Afghanistan in the coming days, with the Iraq announcement expected Wednesday.
This initiative fulfills Trump's campaign pledge to conclude "America's endless wars" and repatriate troops, ahead of the November presidential election.
In Iraq, approximately 5,000 US troops, deployed for anti-jihadist efforts, face mounting calls for expulsion; Trump previously indicated a withdrawal without a set timetable.
For Afghanistan, the current 8,600 US soldiers are slated for reduction to fewer than 5,000, aligning with a February agreement with the Taliban that mandates all foreign troops depart by spring 2021.

Macron condemns those who 'sought to bring down the Republic' after rioting mars nationwide protests

Yesterday 12:56 Key points summarised by AI

President Macron condemned widespread rioting and looting during nationwide protests, blaming far-left activists and criminals for the "unrestrained violence" and vowing accountability for those who "sought to bring down the Republic."
Over 2,400 arrests were made as protests against rising living costs and poor school conditions escalated, causing extensive damage to public buildings and businesses in cities like Paris, Limoges (where City Hall burned), Marseille, and Lyon.
The unrest, which organizers hoped would revive the "yellow vest" movement, saw political leaders trade blame, with Macron instructing prefects to protect public buildings and potentially ban future protests to prevent further disorder.