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Cuba frees jailed protesters in Biden terror list deal
Cuba began releasing people Wednesday who had been jailed for protesting against the regime under a deal that saw departing US President Joe Biden remove the communist island from a list of terrorism sponsors.
Thousands across Gaza celebrate ceasefire deal
Crowds of Gazans chanted and embraced on Wednesday as news spread that a ceasefire and hostage release deal had been reached between Israel and Hamas aimed at ending more than 15 months of war in the Palestinian territory.
Qatar, US announce Gaza truce, hostage release deal
Qatar and the United States announced Wednesday a ceasefire and hostage-release deal between Israel and Hamas, adding that they hoped it would pave the way for a permanent end to the war in Gaza.
Quake-stricken Vanuatu heads to polls in snap election
The Pacific nation of Vanuatu votes in a snap general election on Thursday that some observers fear could be a distraction after last month's deadly earthquake.
Qatar, US announce Gaza truce, hostage release deal agreed
Qatar and the United States announced Wednesday a ceasefire and hostage-release deal between Israel and Hamas, adding they hoped it would pave the way for a permanent end to the war in Gaza.
Qatar PM says Gaza truce, hostage release deal agreed
Qatar's prime minister announced that Israel and Hamas had agreed Wednesday to a ceasefire and the release of hostages held in Gaza, adding he hoped the deal would pave the way for a permanent end to the fighting.
US firms concerned about Trump tariff, immigration plans: Fed
US businesses across the country are concerned about the economic impact of President-elect Donald Trump's proposals to raise tariffs and sharply curtail immigration, the Federal Reserve said Wednesday.
Yellen warns against extending Trump's first-term US tax cuts
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned Wednesday that plans to extend President-elect Donald Trump's 2017 tax cuts -- which remained in place under Joe Biden but are set to expire -- will add to unsustainable deficits.
Biden hails Gaza deal, says worked with Trump
US President Joe Biden announced Wednesday a "full and complete" ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the first part of their peace accord, and said he had acted as "one team" with incoming leader Donald Trump.
Trump's Energy Dept pick wants to develop renewables... and fossil fuels
Donald Trump's nominee for energy secretary, a fracking magnate who has previously expressed climate change skepticism, advocated for renewable energy and referred to the warming planet as a fact Wednesday, while still pushing for increased use of fossil fuels.
Cuba starts freeing prisoners after US terror list deal
Cuba on Wednesday began releasing prisoners under a deal with departing US President Joe Biden to remove the communist island from a list of terror sponsors, the detainees' relatives told AFP.
Mediators announce Gaza truce, but Israel says some points 'uresolved'
Mediators said Israel and Hamas agreed Wednesday to a ceasefire and a deal to release hostages held in Gaza, but Israel cautioned that some final sticking points still needed to be ironed out.
Rubio vows to confront 'dangerous' China, deter Taiwan invasion
Marco Rubio, Donald Trump's nominee for secretary of state, said Wednesday that a "dangerous" China cheated its way to superpower status as he vowed to ramp up support to deter an invasion of Taiwan.
Israel, Hamas agree deal for Gaza truce, hostage release: source briefed on talks
Israel and Hamas agreed on Wednesday to a deal for a ceasefire and the release of hostages being held in Gaza following separate meetings with Qatar's prime minister, a source briefed on the talks told AFP.
Kosovo raids Serbia-linked offices as tense elections loom
Kosovo police on Wednesday raided 10 Belgrade-linked government offices in ethnic Serb areas, the interior ministry said, the latest move by Pristina to dismantle a Serbian system of social services and political offices in the country ahead of parliamentary elections.
Upping defence spending 'key point' for NATO summit: ministers
A push for increased defence spending among NATO members will be a key point at an upcoming summit to be held later this year, Baltic states defence ministers said Wednesday.
Russian inflation climbs as Ukraine offensive weighs on economy
Inflation in Russia accelerated in 2024, official statistics published Wednesday showed, as the costs of Moscow's full-scale offensive on Ukraine weigh on the domestic economy.
Rubio says China cheated its way to power, rejects 'liberal world order'
Marco Rubio, Donald Trump's nominee for secretary of state, charged Wednesday that China cheated its way to superpower status and vowed to cast aside the "liberal world order" long promoted by the United States.
US tightens controls on advanced chips to curb flow to China
The United States unveiled further export controls Wednesday on advanced computing semiconductors, boosting due diligence requirements for businesses as it seeks to prevent diversion of tech to China despite existing restrictions.
Humanity has opened 'Pandora's box of ills:' UN chief
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Wednesday that humanity had unleashed a "Pandora's box of ills," including "out of control technology" that risks upending "our very existence."
Hamas approves Gaza truce deal: Palestinian sources close to talks
Hamas has approved a Gaza truce and hostage release deal, Palestinian sources close to negotiations said Wednesday, after mediator Qatar expressed hope an agreement to end the war could be reached very soon.
TikTok plans total US shutdown as ban deadline looms: report
Social media giant TikTok plans to completely shut down its operations in the United States this Sunday if a ban ordered by legislators goes through as planned, a report said.
UN rights chief says transitional justice 'crucial' in Syria
United Nations rights chief Volker Turk on Wednesday said transitional justice was "crucial" for Syria after the fall of Bashar al-Assad, during the first-ever visit by someone in his post to the country.
US consumer inflation rises to 2.9 percent in December
US consumer inflation rose for a third straight month in December as energy prices rose, according to government data published Wednesday, adding pressure on the Federal Reserve to pause rate cuts.
Russia PM meets Vietnam president, seeking deeper ties
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin met Vietnam's President Luong Cuong Wednesday, seeking to bolster support from its long-standing ally as Moscow's isolation over the war in Ukraine grows.
German economy shrinks again amid political crisis
Germany's economy shrank for a second straight year in 2024, official figures showed Wednesday, with little hope of a speedy recovery as Europe's traditional powerhouse is also mired in political crisis.
Russia strikes Ukraine energy sites in 'massive' barrage
Russia launched dozens of missiles and drones at the Ukrainian energy sector, Kyiv said Wednesday, ramping up a months-long bombing campaign at a precarious moment of the war for Ukraine.
Australia mulls 'all options' after citizen reported killed by Russian forces
Australia said Wednesday that "all options are open" in its response to the reported killing of one of its citizens after his capture by Russian forces in Ukraine.
India's triple naval launch shows 'self-reliance': Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Wednesday the launch of two Indian-made warships and a submarine was key to its "quest towards self-reliance" as New Delhi bolsters defence against regional rivals.
Trump's policies won't push up inflation, economic advisor says
Donald Trump's policies are not likely to cause inflation to reignite as many analysts fear, one of the president-elect's longtime economic advisors told AFP Tuesday, less than a week before Trump returns to the White House.
Pakistan's Imran Khan defiant even as longer sentence looms
Imran Khan, Pakistan's most popular politician, is facing a 14-year prison term this month in a case his party says is being used to pressure him into silence.
S. Korea's Yoon: from rising star to historic arrest
South Korea's Yoon Suk Yeol rose from star prosecutor to the presidency in just a few years, but after a series of scandals and a bungled martial law decree, he's become the country's first-ever sitting president to be arrested.