In his first press conference as China's top diplomat, Qin Gang said US policies risk "conflict and confrontation" with Beijing. From the "spy balloon" spat to Russia's war in Ukraine, Qin outlined where China stands.

Ghassan al Sharbi, a Saudi engineer, was detained in Faisalabad, Pakistan over two decades ago. He was a suspect in the September 11, 2001 al-Qaida attacks but never charged.

Things take a strange turn after a Mexican cartel leaves five people bound and alive at an intersection - saying they were the kidnappers behind the abduction of American tourists last week.

Since the start of the year, Republican lawmakers have put forward hundreds of bills in dozens of US states targeting transgender people and other members of the LGBT community. Many of them restrict access to gender-affirming healthcare, which research shows is crucial to the wellbeing and survival of trans people.

The Senate has approved President Emmanuel Macron's pension reforms, but the bill will be adjusted ahead of a final vote. Protesters say time is running out to oppose the changes.

The US Treasury, Federal Reserve and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation have unveiled a plan meant to stem any contagion from Silicon Valley Bank's (SVB) failure on Friday. The Federal Reserve will provide an emergency lending facility that will ensure all of the bank's depositors are repaid in full.

Shares in global investment bank Credit Suisse fell sharply on Wednesday sending shares plunging in other European banks.

At the border between the United States and Canada, a new phenomenon is worrying both Canadian and US authorities. More and more migrants are crossing back from Canada into the United States, after seeking asylum in Canada.

Niger, one of the world's poorest nations, has resisted a recent spate of coups and inroads by Russian mercenaries seen in neighboring countries and is set to benefit from millions in US aid.

The major banks include JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citigroup and Truist. The $30 billion infusion will give the struggling San Francisco lender much-needed cash to meet customer withdrawals and buttress confidence in the US banking system during a tumultuous moment for lenders.

A consortium of large US banks pumped $30 billion to prevent First Republic Bank from going under. Fear over a looming financial crisis has been high since two US mid-sized lenders collapsed last week.

The president-elect, Bola Tinubu has cast his vote in his polling unit at Alausa in Ikeja, Lagos state.