Featured
Last news
At Damascus opera house, hopes for a better future
To applause, percussionist Bahjat Antaki took the stage with Syria's national symphony orchestra, marking the first classical concert at the Damascus opera house since president Bashar al-Assad’s ouster.
Japan PM to meet Trump on Feb 6-8 US trip
Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will meet President Donald Trump on a visit to the United States this week, top government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi said on Tuesday.
Asian stocks and peso rise on Trump's Mexico, Canada tariff delay
Asian equities rose with the Mexican peso and Canadian dollar Tuesday after Donald Trump said he would delay the imposition of stiff tariffs on imports from the US neighbours, soothing trade war worries for now.
Netanyahu to meet Trump as Israel, Hamas eye Gaza truce talks
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet President Donald Trump on Tuesday, as Israel and Hamas say they are ready for negotiations on a new phase in their fragile Gaza ceasefire.
China hits back at US with levies as Trump tariffs come in force
China said Tuesday it would impose tariffs of 15 percent on imports of coal and liquefied natural gas from the United States, in retaliation for Washington's 10 percent levies on Chinese goods.
Musk takes reins of US Treasury payments, sparking lawsuit
Elon Musk and his aides have taken control of the US Treasury Department's payments system, triggering a lawsuit charging he is illegally getting access to private data of millions of Americans.
DR Congo, Rwanda leaders to join summit on crisis in war-torn east
DRC President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame will attend a summit on Saturday as a Rwanda-backed armed group advances in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Syria leader heads to Turkey to discuss rebuilding, Kurds
Syria's interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa visits Ankara on Tuesday for talks with Turkey's leaders on rebuilding his land and the volatile issue of Kurdish fighters near the countries' border.
Trump to host Netanyahu for crucial Gaza ceasefire talks
Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump will discuss the future of the Gaza ceasefire Tuesday as the Israeli prime minister becomes the first foreign leader to visit the White House since the US president's return to power.
Stocks and peso boosted by Trump's Mexico, Canada tariff delay
Asian equities bounced Tuesday, while the Mexican peso and Canadian dollar rallied after Donald Trump said he would delay the imposition of stiff tariffs on imports from the US neighbours, soothing trade war worries for now.
Attempted murder trial of Rushdie assailant to begin
The man accused of trying to kill the author Salman Rushdie, leaving him blind in one eye, goes on trial Tuesday for attempted murder, according to state court filings.
USAID freeze calls into question billions in support for poorest countries
The Trump administration's attempt to fold the USAID humanitarian agency into the State Department calls into question the future of tens of billions of dollars in financial support to some of the world's poorest countries.
Musk takes reins of US Treasury payments, sparking alarm
Elon Musk and his aides have taken control of the US Treasury Department's payments system -- which manages trillions of dollars of transactions each year -- sparking alarm among critics.
Democrats blast Musk as US aid agency HQ shutters
The US government's giant humanitarian agency closed its headquarters to staff Monday amid moves by Elon Musk, the world's richest person and President Donald Trump's controversial aide, to seize control in actions decried by critics as "plain illegal."
Hundreds of US government sites go offline
Hundreds of US government websites were offline on Monday, an AFP review showed, including that of the humanitarian agency USAID which President Donald Trump's administration is shutting down.
Trump says 'no guarantees' Gaza truce will hold ahead of Netanyahu visit
US President Donald Trump said on Monday there were "no guarantees" that a fragile ceasefire in Gaza will hold, as he prepares to discuss its future with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Stock markets sink on Trump tariffs
Stock markets slumped Monday over concerns about the global economy after US President Donald Trump threatened to launch trade wars with Canada, China and Mexico.
Trump pauses Mexico tariffs as last-ditch Canada talks continue
US President Donald Trump paused tariffs on Mexico for one month after last-minute talks Monday -- but there was no breakthrough yet in negotiations with Canada on an issue that has sparked fears of a global trade war.
Musk says Trump 'shutting down' US aid agency
Elon Musk, the world's richest person and President Donald Trump's controversial close advisor, said Monday the giant USAID humanitarian agency will be "shutting down" as part of his radical -- and critics say unconstitutional -- drive to shrink the US government.
Israeli premier in Washington for Gaza ceasefire talks
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to begin talks Monday on a second phase of the ceasefire with Hamas as he meets with the new Trump administration in Washington.
Embattled French PM gets boost from Socialists over budget
French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou will Monday force through France's budget without a vote, a move set to prompt a no-confidence motion from the left in the bitterly divided parliament.
Trump trade threats overshadow European defence meet
The threat of a transatlantic trade war loomed large Monday over a gathering of European leaders aimed at boosting the continent's defences in the face of an aggressive Russia.
EU leaders vow to hit back if Trump triggers trade war
EU leaders meeting in Brussels Monday warned there would be no winners in a trade war with the United States, insisting they would hit back if President Donald Trump imposes tariffs.
CK Hutchison: the Hong Kong firm behind Panama port operators
A sprawling business empire built by Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing is caught in the crossfire as the extent of Chinese influence over the Panama Canal is debated.
Stocks drop, dollar rallies as Year of the Snake starts with bite
Stock markets in Asia and Europe sank and the dollar surged Monday after Donald Trump signed off huge tariffs on China, Canada and Mexico, and warned the European Union would be hit "pretty soon".
France's PM prepares to force budget through parliament
French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou will on Monday try to force through his government's budget without a vote using a controversial parliamentary mechanism, which might lead to a no-confidence motion from the left.
Israeli prime minister in Washington for Gaza ceasefire talks
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to begin talks Monday on brokering a second phase of the ceasefire with Hamas, his office said, as he visits the new Trump administration in Washington.
Eyeing Trump and Putin, EU, UK, NATO leaders talk defence
EU leaders huddle Monday with Britain's prime minister and the head of NATO to discuss efforts to boost Europe's defences faced with an aggressive Russia -- as Donald Trump demands America's allies spend much more.
Trump announces talks with Canada, Mexico over sweeping tariffs
President Donald Trump said he will discuss the punishing tariffs he has levied on Canada and Mexico with both countries on Monday, after arguing that Americans may feel economic "pain" from the 25 percent duties but that it will be "worth the price."
'Breaks a little part of you every day': Texas man on Death Row
Steven Nelson has spent more than a dozen years on Death Row in Texas and is to be executed by lethal injection on Wednesday for the murder of a pastor that he insists he did not commit.
Musk brands USAID 'criminal', Trump calls its leaders 'radical lunatics'
Elon Musk attacked the US Agency for International Development, calling it a "criminal organization" on Sunday, as Donald Trump said the agency was "run by radical lunatics" and said he was considering its future.
Rubio lays down ultimatum to Panama over canal
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday threatened action against Panama without immediate changes to reduce Chinese influence on the canal, but the country's leader insisted he was not afraid of a US invasion and offered talks.