Featured
Last news
K-pop campaigning: S Korean candidates embrace song to pull votes
Thanks to quirks of South Korean election law and history, almost every candidate on the campaign trail has a theme song, a dance routine, and politically-tweaked lyrics to make their message hit home.
Israel announces opening of aid routes into Gaza
Israel announced on Friday that it would allow "temporary" aid deliveries into famine-threatened northern Gaza, hours after the United States warned of a sharp shift in its policy over the Gaza war.
Asian equities tumble, oil extends gains on Middle East worries
Asian stocks tumbled Friday and oil extended the previous day's surge on worries that Israel's war with Hamas could widen to a regional conflict with Iran as both sides ratcheted up tensions.
Their schools ruined, Gaza's children face long road to healing
Eight out of 10 schools in Gaza are damaged or destroyed, UNICEF says, but it is the psychological damage the war has done to the territory's nearly 1.2 million children that has experts really worried.
Peace feels further than ever at six months of Israel-Hamas war
The staggering suffering, death and destruction of six months of war since Hamas's October 7 attack has widened the gulf between Israelis and Palestinians, leaving both feeling that the prospect of peace is ever more elusive.
Biden warns Netanyahu of US shift, as domestic pressure mounts
President Joe Biden warned Israel of a sharp shift in his policy over the Gaza war Thursday amid growing frustration with Benjamin Netanyahu and mounting domestic pressure in a US election year.
Aid worker killed by Israel felt need to help, parents say
The father of US-Canadian citizen Jacob Flickinger, one of seven aid workers killed in an Israeli strike, said Thursday his son was hesitant to go to Gaza but felt a need to help.
Guatemala's former first lady alleges plot to kill her
Guatemala's former first lady Sandra Torres, who has lost three presidential runoffs, on Thursday denounced an alleged plot to assassinate her due to an internal party conflict.
Frustrated Biden warns Netanyahu of US shift, as domestic pressure mounts
President Joe Biden warned Israel of a sharp shift in his policy over the Gaza war Thursday amid growing frustration with Benjamin Netanyahu and mounting domestic pressure in a US election year.
Christmas market attack plotter jailed for 30 years by French court
A French court on Wednesday sentenced Audrey Mondjehi to a 30-year jail term for helping an Islamist militant who killed five people in a 2018 attack on a Christmas market in the eastern city of Strasbourg.
Biden warns Netanyahu US support depends on Gaza civilian protection
President Joe Biden warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Thursday that US policy on Israel depends on the protection of civilians in Gaza, in his strongest hint yet of possible conditions on military aid after an Israeli strike killed seven aid workers.
Togo opposition calls for protests over election delay
Togo's opposition on Thursday called for a three-day mass protest to demonstrate against the government's decision to delay this month's legislative elections.
German firms help 'rebuild' Russian-occupied Mariupol: report
Two German construction companies are taking part in rebuilding Russian-occupied Mariupol, the Ukrainian city that fell to Moscow's invading forces two years ago, a German press investigation claimed on Thursday.
Biden warns Netanyahu US policy depends on Gaza civilian protection
President Joe Biden warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Thursday that US policy on Israel depends on the protection of civilians in Gaza, in his strongest hint yet of possible conditions on military aid after an Israeli strike killed seven aid workers.
Biden, Netanyahu speak as pressure mounts over Gaza aid worker deaths
President Joe Biden spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Thursday amid growing domestic pressure to set conditions on US military support amid domestic outrage over the killing of seven aid workers in Gaza.
IMF chief Georgieva sole candidate in reelection process
The International Monetary Fund confirmed Thursday that its current managing director is the only candidate to lead the international financial institution once her first term expires later this year.
Drones deliver drugs, food to French prison cells
In the dead of night a drone hovers over a prison in southern France, secretly dropping packages to inmates inside. But one parcel becomes stuck in the railing outside a cell window, and guards seize three others.
Somalia expels Ethiopia ambassador over 'interference'
Somalia on Thursday ordered the expulsion of Ethiopia's ambassador and said it was recalling its own envoy to Addis Ababa, accusing its neighbour of "bluntly interfering" in its internal affairs.
Biden pushed to back outrage with actions in Netanyahu call
US President Joe Biden faced growing calls Thursday to turn outrage over the deaths of seven aid workers in Gaza into conditions on military support for Israel, as he prepared to confront Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the incident.
Macron denounces 'threatening' Russia remarks after rare phone talks
President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday condemned Russia's "threatening" tone following rare phone talks between the French and Russian defence ministers that only served to underline the gaping gulf between Moscow and Europe two years into the invasion of Ukraine.
S.Africa's ex-parliament speaker charged in graft probe
South Africa's former parliament speaker was charged with corruption and money laundering Thursday, piling new pressure on the governing African National Congress (ANC) party ahead of elections in May.
Kuwait, under new emir, votes yet again
Vote-weary Kuwait heads to the polls for the third time in three years on Thursday, just months into the reign of a new emir but with no end in sight to the major oil exporter's chronic political paralysis.
Macron denounces 'threatening' remarks from Russia after rare phone talks
President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday denounced as "bizarre and threatening" Russia's tone following rare phone talks between the defence ministers of France and Russia, their first contact since 2022.
Macron backs singer Aya Nakamura for Olympics opening ceremony
French President Emmanuel Macron backed the idea on Thursday of Franco-Malian singer Aya Nakamura performing at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics following criticism from conservatives about the prospect.
Europe stocks rise on eve of US payrolls; gold shines
European equities rose Thursday on the eve of key US data, while gold set another record peak on haven demand and hopes of interest-rate cuts.
Philippines to hold joint naval drills with US, Japan, Australia
The Philippines will hold joint naval drills with the United States, Japan and Australia, two diplomatic sources told AFP Thursday, as the four countries deepen military ties to counter China's expanding influence in the Asia-Pacific region.
Yellen in China to press officials on industrial subsidies
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen arrived in China's Guangzhou on Thursday for meetings to press Beijing over fears the country's industrial subsidies for green energy, cars and batteries could flood global markets with cheap goods.
UN rights council takes a stand against intersex discrimination
The UN Human Rights Council passed a resolution Thursday on tackling discrimination against intersex persons, despite opposition from several countries to the terminology used.
Biden and Netanyahu to speak by phone after Israel killed aid workers
The leaders of the United States and Israel were set to speak on Thursday after Washington expressed "outrage" over Israel's killing of seven aid workers and growing concern over its military operations in besieged Gaza.
NATO turns 75 in shadow of Ukraine war -- and Trump
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg urged the United States to stick together with Europe as the Western military alliance turned 75 on Thursday menaced by an aggressive Russia and the spectre of Donald Trump's return to power.
'Bracing for conflict': Armenians fear Azerbaijani land claims
Peering through the window at a bustling crowd outside the Voskepar village council in northeastern Armenia, mayor Ishkhan Aghbalyan said locals are on edge over arch-foe Azerbaijan's claims to their lands.
Surviving 'hell': the ordeal of former Hamas hostages in Gaza
Nearly six months into the Gaza war, with the families of hostages still held captive by Hamas desperate for their release, many former hostages are finding the words to describe the ordeal of captivity.
War-stranded Sudanese find solace in Saudi's 'Little Khartoum'
Stranded abroad by almost a year of war, Saudi Arabia's swelling Sudanese community are drawn to Riyadh's "Little Khartoum" where they can eat, pray and console each other about the conflict ravaging their country.
Venezuela says US building 'secret' bases in disputed Essequibo
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Wednesday accused the United States of building "secret military bases" in Essequibo, an oil-rich region of Guyana that Caracas claims as its territory.
'Angry' South Korean voters turn to fledgling protest party
Fed up with South Korea's government and seeing little hope in the opposition, Cho Young-moon says she'll cast a protest vote in next week's elections -- for a month-old party led by a disgraced politician facing jail.
Biden, Netanyahu to speak Thursday following Gaza aid deaths: US official
US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will speak on Thursday, a US official said, in their first call since an Israeli strike killed seven aid workers in Gaza.
Peru president's cabinet wins confidence vote amid Rolexgate scandal
Peru's Congress on Wednesday granted a crucial vote of confidence to President Dina Boluarte's new cabinet, allowing it to proceed in office amid a scandal over the leader's luxury Rolex collection.
France denies Russian claim of discussion on potential Ukraine talks
Russia said that its defence minister Sergei Shoigu and French counterpart Sebastien Lecornu discussed the potential for talks on the Ukraine conflict during a rare telephone call on Wednesday, a claim that Paris immediately denied.
Palestinian-US doctor walks out of Biden meeting in Gaza protest
A Palestinian-American doctor said he walked out of a Ramadan event with President Joe Biden at the White House to show solidarity with the people of Gaza against Israel's offensive.