Featured
Last news
Amid war, Ukrainian soldiers celebrate love at ritual wedding
As twilight settled on a hillside by the river near the eastern Ukrainian front, two soldiers exchanged wedding vows during a Slavic ritual honouring ancestors and fallen warriors.
Meloni government becomes Italy's longest-lasting
Giorgia Meloni's hard-right government on Friday becomes the longest-lasting in Italy's postwar history -- a notable record that belies considerable challenges ahead of elections next year.
Hong Kong democracy activist Wong pleads guilty to foreign collusion: AFP
Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong pleaded guilty to foreign collusion on Wednesday in a second national security trial against him that could see him jailed for life, AFP journalists in court saw.
Stocks sink, yields at multi-decade highs and oil spikes on Mideast flare-up
Stocks fell and bond yields held at multi-decade highs as investors ramp up rate hike bets amid a fresh flare-up in Middle East tensions that has sparked another surge in oil prices.
US defends Trump Venezuela oil deal as energy secretary lands in Caracas
US officials on Tuesday defended President Donald Trump's oil deal with Venezuela, saying it would lower oil prices for Americans and counter Russian and Chinese influence on Washington's doorstep.
The Japanese idealist behind the last deradicalisation NGO in Somalia
Yosuke Nagai was an idealistic teenager who wanted to help war-torn Somalia. He now runs the only foreign-funded reintegration programme for Islamist fighters still operating in the country.
Syria UXO causing death, injury every six hours: charity
Malakeh Barbour caresses her son Haidar, his face scarred from a blast that killed his brother in their home in Syria, where a mine-clearance charity says unexploded ordnance claims a casualty every six hours.
China's Xi to hold talks with Sisi in rare visit to Egypt
Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to hold talks Wednesday with his Egyptian counterpart on his first visit to Cairo in a decade, under the shadow of looming US sanctions over financial links to Iran.
Zelensky warns airlines Russian skies not safe due to Ukraine drones
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned Tuesday that his country's drones would make Russia's airspace "completely unsafe" for the duration of the war, drawing accusations of "state terrorism" from Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
UK vows anti-settler measures as Israel warns of retaliation
Britain's foreign secretary vowed a tough response to "appalling" violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, drawing threats from Israel that it would retaliate if the UK imposed sanctions.
US postal whistleblower warns ballot system could disrupt midterms
A US Postal Service whistleblower has warned that millions of Americans could be prevented from receiving mail ballots ahead of November's midterm elections because of a rushed, new system ordered by President Donald Trump and due for launch on Tuesday.
Iran strikes back against latest US attacks
Iran launched strikes on Wednesday targeting American interests in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan after vowing "severe punishment" in response to US attacks, including one that the Iranian Red Crescent said left four people dead at a wedding celebration.
G20 finance leaders close talks marked by US welcoming Russia
G20 finance leaders closed their two-day gathering on Tuesday with a statement that all but China backed in full, as Washington insisted that the presence of a Russian minister had no effect on talks.
US defends Trump's Venezuela oil deal
US officials on Tuesday defended President Donald Trump's oil deal with Venezuela, saying it would lower oil prices for Americans and counter Russian and Chinese influence on Washington's doorstep.
'Discomfort' at G20 finance talks as US hosts Russian minister
The Russian finance minister's presence at US-hosted G20 talks has cast a shadow over the gathering, as Washington pushed Tuesday to rally support from partners on Iran sanctions and on reducing trade imbalances.
Syria site infrastructure 'consistent with nuclear reactor': IAEA
A Syrian site held infrastructure "consistent with a nuclear reactor", the UN nuclear watchdog said in a confidential report seen by AFP on Tuesday, adding that the country under ousted former leader Bashar al-Assad "failed to report nuclear material, facilities and activities".
US strikes Iran in latest tit-for-tat attacks
US forces struck Iran's Revolutionary Guards on Tuesday in response to attempted attacks on commercial shipping and American troops, the US military said, with President Donald Trump vowing a tough response to any counter-attacks.
IMF reaches agreement with Senegal on new $2.2 bn loan programme
The International Monetary Fund announced an agreement with Senegal on Tuesday for a new $2.2-billion loan programme, after a prior deal was suspended following the discovery of previously unreported debt.
Car bomb at Colombian police station kills one, injures 11
Colombian authorities said Tuesday that a deadly car bombing outside a police station in a northeastern province was carried out by the country's largest active armed group, weeks after the government launched a new offensive against guerrillas.
Germany blames Russia for airport drone incident, hits back with sanctions
The German government on Tuesday blamed Russia for a "hybrid attack" involving an explosive-laden drone at a strategic airport last month and announced diplomatic counter-measures.
Iran president urges return to truce, hails Russian support
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday vowed to match any US move to return to a June deal aimed at ending their war, warning that diplomatic efforts could be endangered by "pressure and threats" from Washington.
EU says Russian 'hybrid attacks' won't halt aid to Ukraine
The European Union's top diplomat said Thursday that Russian "hybrid attacks" would not scare Europe off supporting Ukraine -- but the bloc is struggling to come up with fresh air defences for Kyiv.
Musk defends AI data centers, slams EU rules at G20
Elon Musk on Tuesday urged the G20 to tread softly on regulating tech and AI, saying European-style rules inhibit innovation.
Activists blame Kenya for Ugandan opposition figure's plight
A coalition of Ugandan and Kenyan activists on Tuesday blamed Kenya for the plight of Ugandan opposition figure Kizza Besigye, whose health is deteriorating as he faces treason charges.
Nepali families hold symbolic funerals for missing after floods
After days of searching shelters and morgues, many Nepali families held symbolic funeral ceremonies on Tuesday to "liberate the souls" of loved ones missing since the deadly flash floods last week.
Iran president offers US olive branch, hails Russian support
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday vowed to match any US move to return to a June deal aimed at ending their war and thanked Russia's Vladimir Putin for Moscow's stance on the conflict during an international summit.
EU official says it's not time to 'normalize' Russia at G20 finance talks
EU economy chief Valdis Dombrovskis said Tuesday that it is not the time to "normalize" Moscow's presence at G20 meetings as European leaders pushed back against the Russian finance minister's attendance at ongoing talks.
Global bond sell-off deepens on inflation concerns
A sell-off of bonds from key countries worldwide deepened on Tuesday, sending government borrowing costs soaring and equities lower as investors fretted that energy-driven inflation would force central bankers to hike interest rates.
Kyiv's defences, 'hybrid' threat from Moscow headline EU talks
EU defence ministers grappled Tuesday with bolstering Ukraine's air defences, as worries grow over Russia's campaign to destabilise Kyiv's European backers.
Mass Russian barrage kills 12 in Kyiv
Russia launched a barrage of drones and ballistic missiles at Kyiv and its surrounding region overnight, killing at least 12 people and wounding 21, Ukraine said Tuesday, hitting the capital as children were set to return to school after the summer.
Oil extends gains, stocks mixed as Trump issues fresh Iran warning
Oil prices extended gains Tuesday amid fears of a fresh bout of military exchanges between the United States and Iran following a flare-up at the weekend and Donald Trump's warning that he will hit the country "hard".
Thai resort readies for US carrier's 5,000 sailors
A US aircraft carrier at the centre of a political row over conditions on board was set to arrive in Thailand on Tuesday, the first port call for its 5,000 crew since November.