Derek News

Tokyo (AFP) – Japanese auto giants Honda Motor and Nissan Motor will enter talks on a merger aimed at helping them compete against Tesla and other electric vehicle makers, newspaper Nikkei reported early Wednesday.

Beirut (Lebanon) (AFP) – International Organization for Migration chief Amy Pope said Tuesday the UN agency was not advising the large-scale return of refugees to Syria before the situation has stabilised after the ouster of Bashar al-Assad.

Tbilisi (AFP) – Thousands of Georgians renewed pro-EU protests Tuesday, vowing to win a “game of nerves” with the government, which faces a legitimacy crisis and mounting international outcry over human rights violations.

Doha (AFP) – Real Madrid attacker Vinicius Junior won the FIFA Best men’s player of the year award at a ceremony in Doha on Tuesday, while Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati picked up the women’s prize for the second time.

La Paz (AFP) – Bolivian ex-president Evo Morales accused his successor on Tuesday of launching a “brutal judicial war” against him after prosecutors issued an arrest warrant over his alleged relationship with a minor while in office.

Jerusalem (AFP) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a security briefing Tuesday atop a strategic Syrian mountain inside the UN-patrolled buffer zone on the Golan Heights that Israel seized this month, the defence minister said.

United Nations (United States) (AFP) – Syria’s conflict has not ended even after the departure of Bashar al-Assad, the UN’s envoy to the country warned Tuesday, as the Security Council called for an “inclusive” political transition.

Washington (AFP) – The US Federal Reserve began its last interest rate meeting of the year on Tuesday, with expectations high for another rate cut and a signal from policymakers that the pace of cuts will slow next year.

United Nations (United States) (AFP) – Syria’s “conflict has not ended yet,” even after the departure of former president Bashar al-Assad, the UN’s envoy to the country warned Tuesday, highlighting clashes between Turkish-backed and Kurdish groups in the north.

Brasília (AFP) – Brazil legend Ronaldo has confirmed he wants to become president of the country’s football governing body to address a “deep crisis” the sport is facing nationally.