FRANCE: Left-wing parties, allied in a coalition known as the New Popular Front, outlined their plan today to prevent the surging far right from taking power at upcoming snap parliamentary elections.

While differences remain, party leaders compromised during four days of negotiations and aligned their views on issues such as the war in Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas conflict to prevent an election victory for Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally.

NIGERIA: The World Bank approved a $2.25 billion (£1.7 billion) loan for Nigeria on Thursday to shore up revenue and support economic reforms that have contributed to the worst cost-of-living crisis in many years for Africa’s most populous country.