Briefly

KENYA

Former prime minister Raila Odinga dies at 80

Kenya's former prime minister Raila Odinga died on Wednesday from a heart attack at a hospital in India, the presidency confirmed. "It is with deep sorrow that I inform the nation of the passing on of the Right Honorable Raila Amolo Odinga, our former prime minister, Kenya's foremost statesman, and one of Africa's greatest sons," President William Ruto said. "He championed reforms that gave birth to the rights and freedoms we hold dear. His voice spoke for the oppressed, his conviction inspired generations, and his vision shaped the course of our history."

ASIA

Afghanistan, Pakistan urged to end hostilities

The United Nations on Thursday urged Pakistan and Afghanistan to bring "a lasting end to hostilities" to protect civilians, after days of fighting killed dozens of people in both countries and injured hundreds more. Cross-border violence has escalated since Oct 10, with each country saying they were retaliating to armed provocations from the other. On Wednesday, the two sides agreed to a ceasefire. The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan welcomed the truce, saying it "calls on all parties to bring a lasting end to hostilities to protect civilians and prevent further loss of life".

FRANCE

PM Lecornu survives no-confidence votes

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu survived two no-confidence votes in parliament on Thursday, winning crucial backing from the Socialist Party thanks to his pledge to suspend President Emmanuel Macron's contested pension reform. The two motions presented by the hard-left France Unbowed and the far-right National Rally secured just 271 and 144 votes, respectively, well short of the 289 votes needed to bring down Lecornu's days-old government. Lecornu's offer to mothball the pension reform until after the 2027 presidential election helped sway the Socialists, giving the government a lifeline in the fragmented National Assembly.

Agencies - Xinhua