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S.Africa minister rejects 'genocide' claim with statistics
South Africa does not face a "white genocide" and claims that most victims of murders on farms are white are a distortion of statistics, the police minister said Friday, dismissing statements by US President Donald Trump.
Dismayed Chinese students ponder prospects after Trump Harvard ban
Dismayed Chinese students feared for their international futures on Friday after US President Donald Trump revoked Harvard University's right to enrol foreign nationals.
Ban on ousted ex-ruling party divides Bangladesh voters
The banning of fugitive ex-leader Sheikh Hasina's party offers a sliver of justice for Bangladeshis demanding she face trial for crimes against humanity but also raises concerns about the inclusivity of elections.
Trump admin revokes Harvard's right to enroll foreign students
Donald Trump's administration has revoked Harvard University's ability to enroll foreign nationals, putting the future of thousands of students at risk, with China on Friday slamming the "politicization" of educational exchanges.
German growth upgraded on pre-tariff export surge
Germany's economy grew more than previously thought at the start of the year, as its exports surged before US President Donald Trump imposed sweeping tariffs, official data showed Friday.
Iran, US to hold new round of nuclear talks in Rome
Iranian and US negotiators meet in Rome on Friday for a fifth round of nuclear talks, after a public disagreement over Tehran's uranium enrichment.
US tariff tensions test Southeast Asian leaders at regional summit
Southeast Asian leaders will express deep concern over US President Donald Trump's tariff blitz when they meet at a summit Monday, warning that the unilateral move posed huge challenges to economic growth and stability in the region, according to a draft statement seen by AFP.
The pioneering Vietnamese professor taught by French maths genius
As American bombers flew overhead, pioneering professor Hoang Xuan Sinh completed her thesis by the light of a kerosene lamp in the Vietnamese jungle, with letters from French maths genius Alexandre Grothendieck as her only guidance.
Asian stocks bounce back after Treasury-led sell-off
Asian equities stabilised Friday following the previous day's US bond-fuelled sell-off with traders tracking a slight pullback in Treasury yields as Donald Trump's signature tax-cutting budget passed a key congressional vote.
Did George Floyd protesters miss their moment for change?
Outrage over George Floyd's killing by police catapulted Black Lives Matter into one of the largest protest movements in US history, with angry crowds chanting the slogan at rallies from Los Angeles to Washington.
Melania Trump uses AI vocal replica to narrate audiobook
US First Lady Melania Trump warned recently of the danger of AI deepfakes. Now she is releasing an audiobook narrated by an artificial intelligence-generated version of her own voice.
DR Congo ex-leader Kabila loses immunity to 'treason' probe
The Democratic Republic of Congo's Senate on Thursday voted to lift the immunity of ex-president Joseph Kabila, whom the government accuses of supporting a Rwanda-backed militia in the mineral-rich east.
Trump hosts gala for memecoin buyers despite corruption concerns
US President Donald Trump on Thursday will host a private event for hundreds of top investors in his crypto memecoin, with leaders of the Democratic opposition blasting it as "an orgy of corruption."
State Dept says Chevron must leave Venezuela, even as American freed
The US State Department said Thursday that Chevron must wrap up operations in Venezuela next week as scheduled, contradicting an envoy who told a podcast differently after Caracas freed an American.
G7 finance chiefs say economic policy uncertainty is easing
G7 finance ministers said Thursday the economic policy uncertainty that has swept the globe was easing, promising further progress towards stability, as they wrapped up talks in western Canada.
Italy, other EU states urge rethink on European rights convention
Italy and eight other EU states, including Denmark and Poland, published an open letter Thursday urging a rethink of how the European Convention of Human Rights is interpreted, especially on migration.
Trump admin sows doubt over vaccines in 'Make America Healthy Again' report
A White House report detailing Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s priorities devotes sizable space to stoking fear about vaccines -- even as it tackles more grounded worries over chemicals and diet.
US govt revokes Harvard's right to enroll foreign students
Donald Trump's administration on Thursday revoked Harvard's right to enroll foreign students -- more than a quarter of its annual enrollment -- in a major escalation of the president's fight with one of the world's most storied universities.
California's electric car drive put on blocks by US Senate
US senators on Thursday blocked California's landmark mandate phasing out gas-powered cars, dealing a blow to the state's move towards electric vehicles in a pointed rebuke of Democratic climate change policies.
Italy court makes 'historic' ruling for same-sex mothers
Italy's highest court ruled Thursday that women in same-sex couples who become mothers through IVF have the right to be recognised on the birth certificate even if they are not the biological parent.
Stock markets sluggish as Trump tax cuts clear House
Stock markets were sluggish and US long-term borrowing costs surged Thursday as investors fretted over the US debt pile after President Donald Trump's sweeping spending and tax cut plan passed the House of Representatives.
Gaza rescuers say more than 50 killed as Israel orders evacuations
Plumes of smoke rose Thursday over the northern Gaza Strip where Israel's military urged civilians to evacuate, as rescuers said Israeli strikes across the territory killed more than 50 people.
Nicaraguan 'dictatorship' is doomed, says exiled author
Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega's "dictatorship" is doomed, exiled novelist Sergio Ramirez has told AFP, predicting the population will eventually rebel against the elderly ex-guerrilla.
Stock markets fall as Trump tax cuts clear House
Stock markets mostly fell and US long-term borrowing costs surged Thursday as investors fretted over the US debt pile after President Donald Trump's sweeping spending and tax cut plan passed the House of Representatives.
Dutch FM says supports "as free as possible" international trade
Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said on Thursday that the Netherlands's agenda was to have "as free as possible" international trade, following the recent trade talks between China and the United States.
Vatican's diplomatic arm eyes return to fore with Ukraine talks
Whether or not Russia and Ukraine peace talks actually take place at the Vatican, the mere suggestion it could play host reflects a fresh diplomatic impetus under new pope Leo XIV.
Els and Goosen: Golfers dragged into Trump's ambush of S.Africa leader
Former world number one golfer, Ernie Els, declared himself a "proud South African" as he was dragged into the ambush of his country's leader Cyril Ramaphosa by US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office.
Merz warns of Russia threat, vows to defend NATO allies on Lithuania visit
Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned Thursday that Russia threatened security in Europe as he visited Lithuania to mark the official formation of Germany's first permanent overseas military unit since World War II, aimed at bolstering NATO's eastern flank.
UK court gives govt green light to reach Chagos Islands deal
A British court on Thursday paved the way for a government deal on returning the remote Chagos Islands to Mauritius, lifting a temporary ban which had forced an 11th-hour halt to an accord being signed.
UK net migration in 2024 fell by half to 431,000
Net migration to the UK dropped by half in 2024, the latest official figures showed on Thursday, in what will be a welcome boost for under-fire Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Israel issues evacuation warning for parts of Gaza
The Israeli army issued an evacuation warning on Thursday for 14 neighbourhoods of northern Gaza, as it pressed a renewed offensive that has drawn international condemnation.
EU parliament backs Russian fertiliser tax opposed by farmers
EU lawmakers greenlighted tariffs on Russian fertiliser imports on Thursday, a move the Kremlin derided as Europeans shooting themselves in the foot.