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White House Withdraws Nomination for US Hostage Envoy

FILE PHOTO: Adam Boehler, US President Donald Trump's Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs, addresses the daily coronavirus task force briefing when he was CEO of the US International Development Finance Corporation, in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, US, April 14, 2020. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Adam Boehler, US President Donald Trump's Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs, addresses the daily coronavirus task force briefing when he was CEO of the US International Development Finance Corporation, in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, US, April 14, 2020. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo/File Photo
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White House Withdraws Nomination for US Hostage Envoy

FILE PHOTO: Adam Boehler, US President Donald Trump's Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs, addresses the daily coronavirus task force briefing when he was CEO of the US International Development Finance Corporation, in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, US, April 14, 2020. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Adam Boehler, US President Donald Trump's Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs, addresses the daily coronavirus task force briefing when he was CEO of the US International Development Finance Corporation, in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, US, April 14, 2020. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo/File Photo

The Trump administration has withdrawn the nomination of Adam Boehler to serve as special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, the White House said on Saturday.
Boehler, who has been working to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, will continue hostage-related work as a so-called "special government employee," a position that would not need Senate confirmation.
"Adam Boehler will continue to serve President Trump as a special government employee focused on hostage negotiations," White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said in a statement.
"Adam played a critical role in negotiating the return of Marc Fogel from Russia. He will continue this important work to bring wrongfully detained individuals around the world home."
A White House official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Boehler withdrew his nomination to avoid divesting from his investment company. The move was unrelated to the controversy sparked by his discussions with the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
"He still has the utmost confidence of President Trump," said the official.
"This gives me the best ability to help Americans held abroad as well as work across agencies to achieve President Trump’s objectives," Boehler told Reuters in a brief statement.
Boehler recently held direct meetings with Hamas on the release of hostages in Gaza. The discussions broke with a decades-old policy by Washington against negotiating with groups that the US brands as terrorist organizations.
The talks angered some Senate Republicans and some Israeli leaders. According to Axios, Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer expressed his displeasure to Boehler in a tense phone call last week.

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World

France Investigates Reports of Drones Over Nuclear Sub Base

A picture taken on December 5, 2016 shows a nuclear submarine at the naval base in Ile Longue, western of France. (AFP)
A picture taken on December 5, 2016 shows a nuclear submarine at the naval base in Ile Longue, western of France. (AFP)
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France Investigates Reports of Drones Over Nuclear Sub Base

A picture taken on December 5, 2016 shows a nuclear submarine at the naval base in Ile Longue, western of France. (AFP)
A picture taken on December 5, 2016 shows a nuclear submarine at the naval base in Ile Longue, western of France. (AFP)

French prosecutors are investigating after drones were suspected to have flown over a nuclear submarine base on the Atlantic coast late on Thursday, a prosecutor in charge of military affairs in the city of Rennes said on Friday.

Jean-Marie Blin said overflights had been reported from around 7 p.m. (1800 GMT) on Thursday until 1 a.m. (midnight GMT) on Friday morning, with the bulk of the sightings occurring during the first couple of hours.

He denied press reports that gendarmes had fired at the suspected drones, but said they had taken "precautionary measures".

Drone flights, mostly of unknown origin, have been disrupting Europe's airspace in the past few months. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called the incursions "hybrid warfare". Russia regularly denies accusations that it is responsible.

The Ile Longue base in northwest France houses nuclear-powered submarines, according to the navy's website. Each is equipped with 16 ballistic missiles carrying several nuclear warheads.

Blin said the investigation was for now focused on verifying whether there really had been drones in the sky. "Some of the reports may be completely fanciful, others are much more serious."

He said the reports had come from different people on site, including gendarmes and military officers.

World

Putin, Modi Agree to Expand and Widen India-Russia Trade, Strengthen Friendship

05 December 2025, India, New Delhi: Russian President Vladimir Putin is welcomed by Indian President Droupadhi Murmu, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (Konstantin Zavrazhin/Kremlin/dpa)
05 December 2025, India, New Delhi: Russian President Vladimir Putin is welcomed by Indian President Droupadhi Murmu, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (Konstantin Zavrazhin/Kremlin/dpa)
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Putin, Modi Agree to Expand and Widen India-Russia Trade, Strengthen Friendship

05 December 2025, India, New Delhi: Russian President Vladimir Putin is welcomed by Indian President Droupadhi Murmu, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (Konstantin Zavrazhin/Kremlin/dpa)
05 December 2025, India, New Delhi: Russian President Vladimir Putin is welcomed by Indian President Droupadhi Murmu, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (Konstantin Zavrazhin/Kremlin/dpa)

Russian President Vladimir Putin offered India uninterrupted fuel supplies on Friday, eliciting a cautious response even as he and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed to expand trade and defense ties between countries with decades-old ties.

India, the world's top buyer of Russian arms and seaborne oil, has rolled out the red carpet for Putin during his two-day state visit, his first to New Delhi since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. But New Delhi is also in talks with the US on a trade deal to cut punitive tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on its goods over India's purchases of Russian oil.

India's energy imports are expected to fall to a three-year-low this month following US tariffs and sanctions. Russia has said it wants to import more Indian goods in an effort to grow trade to $100 billion by 2030.

INDIA CAUTIOUS ON OIL IMPORTS

Putin said Moscow was ready to continue ensuring "uninterrupted fuel supplies" to India, following up on comments on Thursday questioning US pressure on India to curb oil purchases from Russia.

India appeared cautious about the offer.

Asked about the future of energy trade between the two countries, India's foreign secretary said Indian energy companies take decisions based on "evolving market dynamics" and "commercial issues that they confront while sourcing their supplies", indicating the pressures of sanctions and prices.

Energy cooperation between the two countries continues within this framework, Vikram Misri told a media briefing. Underlining this caution, Indian state refiners Indian Oil Corp and Bharat Petroleum Corp have placed January orders for the loading of Russian oil from non-sanctioned suppliers due to widening discounts, Reuters reported on Friday.

TIES HAVE 'STOOD TEST OF TIME', SAYS MODI

Describing India's enduring partnership with Russia as "a guiding star", Modi said: "Based on mutual respect and deep trust, these relations have always stood the test of time."

"We have agreed on an economic cooperation program for the period up to 2030. This will make our trade and investment more diversified, balanced, and sustainable," he told reporters, with Putin by his side.

Modi, who warmly embraced Putin on the airport tarmac when he arrived on Thursday, also reiterated India's support for a peaceful resolution to the war in Ukraine.

A joint statement issued following the summit said: "The leaders emphasized that in the current complex, tense, and uncertain geopolitical situation, Russian-Indian ties remain resilient to external pressure."

21-GUN SALUTE

Putin received a ceremonial welcome on Friday on the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan, the colonial-era presidential palace, with a 21-gun salute as his convoy drove in.

A large business and government delegation has accompanied Putin.

Among the deals signed, the two countries agreed to help Indians move to Russia for work, to set up a joint venture fertilizer plant in Russia, and boost cooperation in agriculture, healthcare and shipping.

They also agreed to reshape their defense ties to take account of New Delhi's push for self-reliance through joint research and development, as well as the production of advanced defense platforms. This would include joint production in India of spare parts, components, assemblies, and other products for servicing Russian weapons and military equipment.

PUTIN QUESTIONS WASHINGTON

In an interview with broadcaster India Today aired on Thursday, Putin challenged US pressure on India not to buy Russian fuel.

"If the US has the right to buy our (nuclear) fuel, why shouldn't India have the same privilege?" he said, adding that he was ready to discuss the matter with Trump.

India has said Trump's tariffs are unjustified and unreasonable, noting continued US trade with Moscow.

The US and European Union still import billions of dollars worth of Russian energy and commodities, ranging from liquefied natural gas to enriched uranium, despite economic sanctions.

World

France's Macron: Unity between Europe and US on Ukraine is ‘Essential'

French President Emmanuel Macron. (AFP file)
French President Emmanuel Macron. (AFP file)
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France's Macron: Unity between Europe and US on Ukraine is ‘Essential'

French President Emmanuel Macron. (AFP file)
French President Emmanuel Macron. (AFP file)

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday that unity between Europe and the United States was key in the support of Ukraine, adding there is "no mistrust" and denying a report he had said there was a risk Washington could betray Ukraine.

"Unity between Americans and Europeans on the Ukrainian issue is essential. And I say it again and again, we need to work together," Macron told reporters during a visit to China.

"We welcome and support the peace efforts being made by the United States of America. The United States of America needs Europeans to lead these peace efforts," he added.

German magazine Spiegel on Thursday cited a transcript of a confidential call showing the French President and German Chancellor have voiced severe skepticism about efforts by the US government and its envoys to negotiate a peace between Ukraine and Russia.

"I deny everything," Macron said, when asked about the Spiegel report. "We need the United States for peace. The United States need us for this peace to be lasting and robust."

"So there's no scenario where a lasting peace in Ukraine is done without joint efforts between the Europeans, the Americans, the Canadians, the Australians and the Japanese," he said.