Featured
Last news
Swedish court acquits former Syrian general of war crimes charges
A Stockholm court on Thursday acquitted a Syrian former general of war crimes charges, saying prosecutors had not proved his involvement in the attacks carried out during the country's civil war.
Rutte seals NATO top job after lone rival drops out
Outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Thursday clinched the race to become the next head of NATO at a pivotal time for the alliance, after sole challenger Romanian President Klaus Iohannis pulled out.
Is the founder of the modern Olympics being cancelled?
France likes to honour its late pioneers and visionaries, but the aristocratic Frenchman who founded the modern Olympics is proving to be a troublesome figure for organisers of the Paris 2024 Games.
S. Korea to 'reconsider' ban on weapons sales to Ukraine
Major weapons exporter South Korea will "reconsider" a longstanding policy that bars it from supplying arms directly to Ukraine, a presidential official said Thursday, after North Korea and Russia signed a defence deal.
European equities advance before Bank of England rate call
European stock markets rose Thursday as dealers awaited the Bank of England's latest decision on interest rates, after Switzerland cut borrowing costs and Norway kept its status quo.
Sudan one of world's 'worst crises' in decades: medical charity
The ongoing civil war in Sudan has provoked one of the world's worst humanitarian crises in decades, the international chief of the medical charity Doctors Without Borders said Thursday.
Russia and Vietnam vow to strengthen ties as Putin visits
Russia and Vietnam pledged Thursday to deepen ties as President Vladimir Putin made a state visit aimed at bolstering his alliances to counter Moscow's growing isolation over the war in Ukraine.
Russia pounds Ukraine energy sites in latest 'mass' attack
A Russian missile and drone barrage damaged a Ukrainian power plant and other energy facilities overnight, officials said on Thursday, the latest in a series of strikes that have pushed its grid to the brink.
Raped by Russian soldiers, Ukraine women speak out to erase stigma
When invading Russian troops advanced towards Kyiv and the first explosions rang out in the suburbs, Daria Zymenko took refuge in Gavronshchyna, her parents' village near the Ukrainian capital.
Germany's coalition in impasse over 2025 budget
The three parties in the German government are locked in a bitter dispute over the 2025 budget, with experts warning the stalemate could be the final straw for the uneasy coalition.
Chinese sailors wield knives, axe in disputed sea clash with Philippines
Chinese coast guard sailors brandishing knives, an axe and other weapons clashed with Philippine naval vessels near a strategic reef in the South China Sea, dramatic new footage released by Manila showed.
Chinese sailors wield sticks, axe in disputed sea clash with Philippines
Chinese coast guard sailors brandishing weapons including sticks, knives and an axe clashed with Philippine naval vessels near a strategic reef in the South China Sea, dramatic new footage released by Manila showed.
Family in dark as Yemeni-Dutch man languishes in Saudi prison
Fahd Ramadhan spent years building a life as a refugee in the Netherlands, only to have it unravel with his surprise arrest on a trip to his birthplace Saudi Arabia.
Putin in Hanoi after inking N. Korea defence pact
Russian President Vladimir Putin begins a state visit to Vietnam on Thursday, a day after signing a mutual defence pact with North Korea's Kim Jong Un, who offered his "full support" on Ukraine.
Brussels refuses to host Belgium-Israel match over security fears
Brussels has refused to host a Nations League match between Israel and Belgium on September 6 because it could spark demonstrations, city authorities said on Wednesday.
Philippine VP Sara Duterte quits cabinet ahead of midterm election
Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte said Wednesday she has resigned from the cabinet of President Ferdinand Marcos, with tense relations between the two families turning into a public rift in recent months.
Senate probe urges France stop importing Russian LNG
A Senate investigating committee called Wednesday for France to stop importing Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) and push for the fuel to face EU sanctions.
In Tijuana, shelter for Muslim migrants on US doorstep
From Algeria, Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan, citizens of distant, Muslim countries wait for US asylum at a shelter in the Mexican border city of Tijuana -- more used to seeing migrants from Latin America than the Middle East.
Son of Myanmar's Suu Kyi 'concerned' as mother marks birthday in junta detention
The son of Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi is "concerned" about her health, he told AFP on Wednesday, as the Nobel laureate turned 79, passing another birthday in military detention.
King Felipe VI marks 10 tough years on Spain's throne
King Felipe VI on Wednesday marked the 10th anniversary of his accession to the Spanish throne, putting the spotlight on a decade of efforts to restore the image of the monarchy following scandals that led his father Juan Carlos to abdicate.
France's Muslim voters fear far-right election win
Muslim voters are increasingly worried about the prospect of a far-right victory less than two weeks before France's snap parliamentary elections, fearing the possible restrictions that could follow.
N.Korea, Russia sign mutual defence deal as Kim pledges support on Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a mutual defence agreement on Wednesday with North Korea's Kim Jong Un, who offered his "full support" on Ukraine.
Are Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah on the brink of war?
An escalating cross-border tit-for-tat between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah raised fears Wednesday of a full-blown war, but experts are divided on the prospect of a wider conflict.
Russia says awaits US response to prisoner swap proposals
Russia said Wednesday it had presented its ideas for a prisoner swap to the United States and was waiting for a response, days before it was set to put US reporter Evan Gershkovich on trial.
Eurozone stocks hit after EU rebukes France
Eurozone stock markets slid Wednesday after the European Commission reprimanded France for breaching the EU's budget rules, a further blow for the country in the midst of political turmoil ahead of surprise elections.
Macron angers French left, far right insists no NATO exit
President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday faced accusations of transphobia after lashing out at the snap election manifesto of a new left-wing coalition, while the far-right party leader insisted he would not question France's international commitments including on NATO.
N Korea, Russia sign mutual defence deal as Kim pledges support on Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed Wednesday a mutual defence agreement with North Korea's Kim Jong Un, who offered his "full support" on Ukraine.
EU rebukes France for breaking budget rules
The European Commission on Wednesday reprimanded France for breaching the EU's budget rules under President Emmanuel Macron, in the runup to snap elections marked by lavish spending promises.
Philippines says Chinese coast guard boarded navy vessels in South China Sea
The Philippine military said Wednesday the Chinese coast guard rammed and boarded Filipino navy boats in a violent confrontation in the South China Sea this week in which a Filipino sailor lost a thumb.
Deadly fire breaks out at Chad army ammunition depot
A deadly fire broke out at a huge military ammunition depot in Chad's capital N'Djamena, sending powerful explosions into the night sky and shaking buildings miles away.
Kim tells Putin N. Korea 'fully supports' Russia on Ukraine
North Korea fully supports Russia's war in Ukraine, leader Kim Jong Un told President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday during a state visit to Pyongyang, which has raised fears of more sanctions-busting military cooperation.
Deadly fire at army ammo depot in Chad's capital
A deadly fire erupted at a huge military ammunition depot in Chad's capital N'Djamena, sending powerful explosions into the night sky and shaking buildings miles from the blast.
Putin enjoys red carpet welcome in North Korea
Russian President Vladimir Putin enjoyed a red carpet welcome, a military ceremony and an embrace from North Korea's Kim Jong Un during a state visit Wednesday to Pyongyang where they both pledged to forge closer ties.
Taiwan president says island 'will not bow' to China's pressure
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te said Wednesday that China was attempting to force the self-ruled island into submission but that it would not bow to pressure.
Despite sanctions, Russia still gets hands on Western goods
A Kansas businessman shipped banned avionics equipment to Russia through Armenia, the UAE and other third countries. A French firm falsified documents to help unscrupulous European exporters circumvent sanctions.
Putin in North Korea to boost defence ties
Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will meet Wednesday in Pyongyang for a summit where they are widely expected to discuss ways to boost sanctions-busting military ties.
'Cheapfakes': Out-of-context videos target Biden's age
Republicans are flooding the internet with out-of-context videos of US President Joe Biden, using what the White House has characterized as deceptive editing tactics to cast the 81-year-old as infirm less than five months from November's election.
Noam Chomsky discharged from Sao Paolo hospital
American intellectual, linguist and dissident Noam Chomsky was discharged from a hospital in Sao Paolo Tuesday, the facility said, and would continue an undisclosed treatment at home.
Biden relaxes visa rules in pre-election immigration balancing act
President Joe Biden attempted a political high-wire act Tuesday by announcing a citizenship pathway for half a million immigrants married to US nationals, in a counterweight to his recent crackdown on illegal border crossers.