Featured
Last news
Ticket to Nicaragua: African, Asian migrants seek shortcut to US
Nicaragua has become a hot spot for migrants from around the world seeking to avoid a brutal trek through the Darien Gap jungle -- including the 303 Indians whose plane was grounded last week in France on their way to the Central American nation.
Russian strikes on Ukraine 'appalling assaults': senior UN official
A senior UN official condemned Russia on Friday for its "appalling assaults" on Ukraine involving some 158 missiles and drones, which Kyiv blamed for the deaths of at least 30 people.
Markets eye uncertainty ahead after blowout 2023 for US stocks
As Wall Street closed the books Friday on a surprisingly strong 2023, the focus is shifting to the US presidential election and other risks confronting equities in 2024.
British warship in Guyana waters, fanning tensions with Venezuela
A British warship arrived off the coast of Guyana on Friday, further fueling tensions over a territorial dispute with Venezuela, which has launched a major military exercise in response to what it termed an "unacceptable" threat.
UN Security Council calls for Afghan special envoy
The United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution on Friday calling for the appointment of a special envoy for Afghanistan to increase engagement with the country and its Taliban leaders.
Israel-Hamas war forces more Gazans to flee south
Israel again pounded Gaza on Friday, nearly 12 weeks into the war that has devastated much of the besieged Palestinian territory and forced many hundreds of thousands to flee their homes.
'Massive' Russian strikes kill at least 30 across Ukraine
Russia launched a massive air attack over Ukraine on Friday, killing at least 30 people and wounding over a hundred across the country in the fiercest assault since the first days of the war nearly two years ago.
Israel bombs Gaza as Egypt hosts Hamas to discuss truce proposal
Israel pounded Gaza on Friday, nearly 12 weeks into the war started by the October 7 attacks, as Egypt hosted a Hamas delegation for talks aimed at ending the conflict that has devastated much of the besieged Palestinian territory.
'Massive' Russian strikes kill at least 18 across Ukraine
Russia launched a massive air attack over Ukraine on Friday, killing at least 18 people and wounding over a hundred across the country.
Google agrees to settle $5 bn lawsuit over 'incognito' mode
Google has agreed to settle a consumer privacy lawsuit seeking at least $5 billion in damages over allegations it tracked the data of users who thought they were browsing the internet privately.
Russian strikes kill 18, leave dozens wounded across Ukraine
Russia launched drone and missile strikes across Ukraine Friday, killing at least 18 people and wounding over a hundred in one of the most massive air attacks of the war.
Russian court jails Navalny ally Fadeyeva for nine years
A Russian court on Friday sentenced Ksenia Fadeyeva, who led jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny's now-banned organisation in the Siberian city of Tomsk, to almost a decade in prison, her supporters said.
Indian town abuzz as divisive temple nears completion
In an Indian town known as a flashpoint for sectarian violence, workers are crafting the final touches on a divisive temple that has come to symbolise the country's rising tide of Hindu nationalism.
Twelve killed, dozens injured by Russian strikes on Ukraine
Russia launched drone and missile strikes across Ukraine on Friday, killing at least 12 people and wounding over 70 in one of the biggest air attacks of the war.
Israel bombs south Gaza as Hamas officials due in Cairo for truce talks
Egypt is due to host Friday a high-level Hamas delegation for talks aimed at putting an end to the nearly 12-week war with Israel that has devastated the Gaza Strip.
Trump blocked from Republican presidential primary in Maine
The US state of Maine on Thursday blocked former president Donald Trump from its Republican presidential primary ballot, the second state to disqualify him over his role in the January 2021 assault on the US Capitol.
Asian stocks mixed on year's last trading day
Asian stocks were mixed on Friday, with no major movers on the last trading day of the year, closing out a period that has seen gains boosted by investors' expectations of a US Federal Reserve rate cut as early as March.
Deadly Israeli shelling reported near Gaza hospital
Israeli shelling near a southern Gaza hospital has killed 41 people over the past two days, the Palestinian Red Crescent said, after Israel stepped up its attacks in the centre and south of the besieged territory.
Hong Kong democracy advocate seeks asylum in Britain
Hong Kong democracy activist Tony Chung said Friday he had fled to Britain because he could no longer endure living in fear, with authorities pressuring him to become a paid informant while banning him from working.
Asian stocks open year's last trading day cautiously
Asian stocks opened cautiously on Friday, largely continuing an end-of-year rally that has been boosted by investors' expectations of a US Federal Reserve rate cut as early as March.
US state of Maine blocks Trump from its Republican presidential primary
The US state of Maine on Thursday blocked former president Donald Trump from its Republican presidential primary ballot, becoming the second state to disqualify him over his role in the January 2021 assault on the US Capitol.
Israel bombs Gaza as oldest woman held hostage confirmed dead
Israeli forces on Thursday battled Hamas in Gaza where air strikes and urban combat rocked the southern city of Khan Yunis, near where many hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians have sought refuge.
Venezuela launches military exercise over British warship 'threat'
Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro on Thursday ordered more than 5,600 military personnel to participate in a "defensive" exercise near the border with Guyana, in response to Britain sending a warship to the area.
UN 'deeply alarmed' by deadly central Nigeria attacks
The UN human rights chief said Thursday he was "deeply alarmed" by the string of attacks on villages in central Nigeria which left nearly 200 dead, according to local authorities.
'Almost Naked' Moscow party triggers conservative backlash
A celebrity-studded "Almost Naked" party in Moscow's famed Mutabor nightclub has drawn outrage from Russia's political establishment, which has become increasingly po-faced since the assault on Ukraine.
European stocks dip as trading year nears end
European stock markets dipped Thursday with recent profits banked on the penultimate trading day of the year.
Turkish Parliament unlikely to vote on Sweden's NATO bid for weeks
Turkey's parliament is unlikely to hold a full vote on Sweden's bid to join NATO before mid-January, parliamentary sources told AFP Thursday.
Israel bombs Gaza as UN warns civilians face 'grave peril'
Israeli forces on Thursday heavily bombed besieged Gaza as the centre of fierce combat against Hamas moves steadily south, where hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians are sheltering.
Israeli embassy pulls video imagining Hamas attack in Seoul
The Israeli embassy in South Korea has removed a video showing an imaginary scenario in which Koreans are attacked by masked assailants in Seoul, a reference to Hamas, Seoul's foreign ministry said Thursday.
Kenyan sculptor Ong'esa on a mission to elevate African art
Kenya's most lauded sculptor, Elkana Ong'esa, has seen his gigantic stone creations displayed across the globe, but feels African art still deserves greater recognition at home and abroad.
Israel presses on with intensified attacks as Gaza death toll soars
Israeli forces pressed on with intensified attacks in the Gaza Strip's biggest southern city and a central refugee camp, after the territory's Hamas-run health ministry reported more than 21,000 people had been killed in 11 weeks of war.
Jailed, unseated, exiled: Hong Kong opposition party shuts its doors
Six lapel pins bearing the Civic Party's founding date are all Hong Kong veteran politician Alan Leong kept when the once-prominent opposition group cleared its headquarters and shuttered its doors days before the new year.
N. Korea's Kim calls for 'accelerated' war preparations
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un urged his party to "accelerate" war preparations including its nuclear programme, state media said Thursday.
US releases final package of authorized military aid for Ukraine
The US government on Wednesday announced what it said was the last remaining package of weapons available for Ukraine under existing authorization, with Congress now needing to decide whether to keep supporting Kyiv's battle against Russian invasion.
Gaza deaths soar in Israel-Hamas war as WHO warns of 'acute hunger'
The Hamas-run Gaza Strip's health ministry said Wednesday war with Israel has killed more than 21,000, as Israel kept pounding the besieged territory with air strikes and shelling.
From community to union: Jacques Delors, champion of Europe
For both fans and foes of the European project, Jacques Delors was Brussels' driving force during the EU's greatest period of integration, the creation of the single market and the euro.
Former EU Commission president Jacques Delors dies at 98
Jacques Delors, a former head of the EU Commission and key figure in the creation of the euro currency, has died, his daughter Martine Aubry told AFP on Wednesday.
Blinken visits Mexico seeking way forward on migration surge
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Mexico on Wednesday in hopes of tackling surging migration, which has become a major political headache for President Joe Biden as he enters an election year.
Gaza deaths soar as Israel says war to last 'many more months'
The Hamas-run Gaza Strip's health ministry said Wednesday the death toll from the war with Israel now tops 21,000, with a spokesman reporting 195 deaths over 24 hours.