Featured
Last news
Polish govt moves to bypass president veto over emergency contraception
Poland's pro-EU coalition government on Friday sought to bypass a veto by conservative President Andrzej Duda in a tug-of-war over prescription-free emergency contraception, which the previous nationalist government reversed.
N.Ireland unionist leader resigns over reported sex offences
Jeffrey Donaldson, the leader of Northern Ireland's main pro-UK Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and one of its best known politicians, resigned on Friday after police reportedly charged him over historical sex offences.
Russian court orders journalist in Navalny case detained
A Moscow court on Friday ordered a journalist who covered the trials of late Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny to be held in pre-trial detention on "extremism" charges.
Blackouts hit three Ukrainian regions after Russian air attack
Ukraine said on Friday it had imposed emergency blackouts on three regions after Russia fired dozens of missiles and drones at its power stations overnight.
Turkey's Erdogan to hold White House talks with Biden in May
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet with US counterpart Joe Biden at the White House on May 9, a Turkish official told AFP on Friday.
Family of US reporter jailed in Russia vows to keep fighting
One year after American journalist Evan Gershkovich was arrested in Russia on espionage charges, his family vowed Friday to continue fighting for his release, a pledge echoed by President Joe Biden.
Turkey's Erdogan braces for tete-a-tete with Biden in May
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet with US counterpart Joe Biden at the White House on May 9, a Turkish official told AFP on Friday.
Disinformation targeting Brigitte Macron spreads beyond France
Years after false posts began circulating on social media purporting Brigitte Macron is a transgender woman, the French first lady remains the target of fake claims with the transphobic disinformation spreading to the United States.
S.African ex-president Zuma escapes unharmed from car crash: police
South Africa's former president Jacob Zuma survived a car accident overnight after a vehicle transporting him was hit by a drunk driver, police said on Friday.
World court orders Israel ensure urgent aid for war-ravaged Gaza
The world's top court has ordered Israel to ensure urgent humanitarian assistance reaches people in the Gaza Strip, where fighting continued Friday including around hospitals despite a binding UN ceasefire call.
Russia faces backlash as veto ends UN's N. Korea sanctions monitoring
Russia faced a mounting backlash Friday after using its veto power to effectively end official UN monitoring of sanctions on North Korea amid a probe into alleged arms transfers between Moscow and Pyongyang.
Fragile South Sudan risks turmoil over oil disruption: experts
Oil-dependent South Sudan is at risk of economic and political turmoil over the shutdown of a key pipeline in its war-torn neighbour, Sudan, experts have warned.
Pakistan official says China halts work on two projects after deadly attack
Chinese contractors have halted construction on two major dam projects in Pakistan after a suicide bomber killed five Chinese engineers and a Pakistani driver this week, a provincial official told AFP on Friday.
Bolsonaro asks Brazil court to return passport for trip to Israel
Former right-wing president Jair Bolsonaro, who is under investigation as an alleged coup plotter, asked Brazil's high court for the temporary return of his passport to visit Israel, his lawyer said Thursday.
Lula, Macron find common ground, despite Ukraine shadow
French President Emmanuel Macron and his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Thursday displayed their unity on major global issues, while skirting differences on the war in Ukraine.
Nations fail to reach pandemic accord: talks to resume April
Two years of talks aimed at striking a landmark global agreement on handling future pandemics failed to seal a deal in time on Thursday, and will restart next month for one final push.
Venezuela's huge diaspora struggles to register to vote
Millions of Venezuelans who fled economic misery in their country could find themselves unable to vote in key July presidential elections, as complaints mount over hurdles at consulates abroad for those seeking to register.
Lula, Macron condemn blocking of Venezuela opposition candidate
French President Emmanuel Macron and his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Thursday hit out at Venezuela over the exclusion of a key opposition candidate from July elections.
Top world court orders Israel to ensure urgent aid reaches Gazans
The world's top court ordered Israel Thursday to "ensure urgent humanitarian assistance" reaches Gazans, as warnings multiplied of imminent famine after nearly six months of relentless conflict.
Israel must 'ensure urgent humanitarian assistance' in Gaza: ICJ
The world's top court on Thursday ordered Israel to "ensure urgent humanitarian assistance" in Gaza without delay, saying "famine has set in".
Russian veto ends monitoring of UN's N.Korea sanctions
Russia on Thursday blocked the renewal of a panel of UN experts monitoring international sanctions on North Korea, weeks after the body said it was investigating reports of arms transfers between Moscow and Pyongyang.
Pope washes feet of 12 women prisoners on Holy Thursday
Pope Francis, who often pleads for compassion to prisoners, washed the feet of 12 incarcerated women in Rome on Thursday in a rite marking Holy Thursday before Easter.
S.Africa's ex-president Zuma barred from May election
South Africa's electoral officials said on Thursday they had excluded former president Jacob Zuma from May elections, further increasing tensions in the run-up to the polls.
Mother recounts 'horror' of son's Gaza captivity
Four months after he was freed from captivity in Gaza, Eitan Yahalomi celebrated his bar mitzvah -- but his coming-of-age last week was far from a joyous occasion, his mother told AFP.
France asks for foreign help for Olympics security: officials
France has asked its foreign allies to send several thousand members of their security forces to help guard the Paris Olympics, officials said Thursday, underlining the strains caused by the sporting extravaganza which begins in July.
Russia says 'evidence' links Ukraine to Moscow attack, US rubbishes claim
Russia said Thursday it had evidence the perpetrators of last week's massacre at a concert hall outside Moscow were linked to "Ukrainian nationalists", a claim that the United States called nonsense.
Battles near Gaza hospital as US says Israel talks back on
Street battles raged Thursday near a hospital in besieged Gaza, where the dire humanitarian crisis and surging death toll have caused tensions between Israel and top ally the United States.
'Operation Beethoven': Dutch 2.5bn-euro charm offensive to keep ASML
The Dutch government on Thursday unveiled a plan worth 2.5 billion euros to retain global firms like chip giant ASML amid fears of a far-right clampdown on immigration.
Poland, Ukraine hail 'step forward' on farm imports dispute
Poland's prime minister on Thursday hailed the progress made in talks with Ukraine on farm imports and border blockades by Polish farmers that had frayed ties between the neighbouring allies.
Battles, bombardment in Gaza as US says Israel talks back on
Battles and bombardment pounded the Gaza Strip on Thursday after Washington said Israel had agreed to reschedule talks that had been cancelled amid tensions between the allies.
Poland, Ukraine hold talks on farm imports dispute
Poland's prime minister on Thursday hosted his Ukrainian counterpart for long-awaited talks designed to ease friction over Ukrainian farm imports and border blockades by disgruntled Polish farmers.
Marcos says Philippines will not be 'cowed into silence' by China
President Ferdinand Marcos said Thursday the Philippines will not be "cowed into silence" by Beijing after confrontations in the South China Sea that injured Filipino troops and damaged vessels.
Battles, bombardment in Gaza as Israel reschedules talks with US
Battles and bombardment pounded the Gaza Strip on Thursday, after Washington said Israel agreed to reschedule cancelled talks with tensions worsening between the allies.
Soldier silhouettes to mark UK D-Day victims for 80th anniversary
In the English countryside, volunteers put the finishing touches to 1,475 metal silhouettes representing British military personnel who died on D-Day, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the landings.
South Korea kicks off campaigning ahead of April election
Official campaigning for South Korea's upcoming general election kicked off Thursday, with President Yoon Suk Yeol's ruling party fighting to win back a parliamentary majority and thwart opposition attempts to derail his conservative agenda.
Sweden prepares for high security Eurovision with Gaza spotlight
The Swedish city of Malmo is preparing to host the Eurovision Song Contest in early May under high security, amid protests over Israel's participation during its ongoing war with Hamas.
Greek govt faces censure motion over train tragedy
Greece's conservative government faces a censure motion in parliament on Thursday over claims it had sought to manipulate an ongoing investigation into the nation's worst train tragedy.
US-Israel rift heads for moment of truth over Rafah
The United States has taken a public distance from Israel as never before over the Gaza war but the decisive test will be Rafah and whether Israel heeds US warnings against an offensive in the packed city.
'Still not covering the skies': Kyiv calls for air defenses after 4 killed in attacks
Russian attacks on eastern and southern Ukraine killed at least three people on Wednesday, officials said, as Kyiv called for more Patriot air defence systems to battle a surge in missile strikes.