Latest foreign news today

Here are some of the latest foreign news stories from around the world:

Europe

• UK-EU Trade Talks: The UK and EU have agreed to extend the transition period for their trade talks by two months, giving them more time to negotiate a deal. (BBC News)
• France Protests: Thousands of people have taken to the streets of Paris and other French cities to protest against the government's pension reforms. (Al Jazeera)
• Germany's Merkel Visits Turkey: German Chancellor Angela Merkel has arrived in Turkey for talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, amid tensions over human rights and the Syrian conflict. (Deutsche Welle)

Asia

• China-US Trade Talks: The US and China have agreed to roll back some tariffs as part of a trade deal, but the agreement has been met with skepticism by some lawmakers. (The New York Times)
• India's Kashmir Lockdown: The Indian government has extended a lockdown in Kashmir, which has been in place since August, amid ongoing protests and clashes between security forces and separatists. (Al Jazeera)
• Japan's Economy: Japan's economy has contracted for the first time in five years, as the country struggles with a decline in exports and a global slowdown. (The Guardian)

Africa

• South Africa's Zuma Arrest: Former South African President Jacob Zuma has been arrested and taken into custody, after a court ordered him to serve a 15-month sentence for contempt of court. (BBC News)
• Ethiopia's Tigray Crisis: The Ethiopian government has launched a military operation in the Tigray region, after a dispute with the regional government escalated into violence. (Al Jazeera)
• Nigeria's Kidnapped Schoolgirls: The Nigerian government has announced that it has rescued 80 of the over 300 schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram militants in February. (The Guardian)

Americas

• US-Mexico Border: The US and Mexico have reached a deal to prevent the US from imposing tariffs on Mexican goods, in exchange for Mexico's agreement to crack down on migration. (The New York Times)
• Brazil's Lula Released: Former Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has been released from prison after a court overturned his corruption conviction. (BBC News)
• Colombia's Peace Process: The Colombian government and rebel group FARC have reached a deal to end a dispute over land reform, a key part of the country's peace process. (The Guardian)

Middle East

• Iran-US Tensions: The US has accused Iran of attacking a tanker in the Gulf of Oman, while Iran has denied any involvement. (BBC News)
• Israel's West Bank Settlements: The Israeli government has approved the construction of new settlements in the West Bank, despite international criticism. (Al Jazeera)
• Syria's Idlib Crisis: The Syrian government has launched a military offensive in the Idlib region, which has been controlled by rebels and jihadist groups. (The Guardian)

These are just a few of the latest foreign news stories from around the world.