Featured
Last news
German election favourite vows to pass migrant bill with far-right help
Germany's conservative election frontrunner Friedrich Merz defiantly vowed Friday to pass a bill to restrict immigration with the support of the far-right AfD, repeating a tactic that has sparked an outcry and street protests.
Olympic balloon 'to return every summer' to Paris up to LA Games: Macron
The flame-free Olympic balloon tethered to a cauldron that was an iconic symbol of last summer's Games in Paris is to return to the French capital every year up until the next edition in Los Angeles in 2028, President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday.
Norway seizes Russian-crewed ship over suspected cable damage
Norwegian police said on Friday they had seized a Norwegian-owned ship at Latvia's request over its suspected involvement in damage done to a Baltic Sea cable.
Hamas to free three Israeli hostages in next ceasefire swap
Hamas and Israel will carry out their fourth hostage-prisoner swap of the Gaza ceasefire on Saturday, with the militant group to free three Israeli captives in exchange for 90 inmates in Israeli jails.
German MPs haggle over immigration bill backed by far right
German party leaders were engaged in furious last-minute talks on Friday, delaying a high-stakes debate on an immigration bill which the conservative opposition has threatened to pass with the support of the far-right AfD.
Rwanda-backed M23 advances in DRC as volunteers rally to fight back
The Rwandan-backed armed group M23 moved south as it closed in on a key military airport in DR Congo, with queues of young men volunteering to defend a provincial capital on Friday.
Sudan paramilitary chief admits setbacks, vows to expel army from Khartoum
Sudan's paramilitary commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, in a rare video address on Friday, acknowledged setbacks in the capital Khartoum but vowed to expel the army from the city again.
40 years on, Hama survivors recall horror of Assad-era massacre
Hayan Hadid was 18 when soldiers arrested him in his pyjamas and took him for execution in Syria's Hama in 1982, during one of the darkest chapters of the Assad clan's rule.
Rwanda-backed M23 advances towards second DR Congo regional capital
The Rwandan-backed armed group M23 moved south as it closed in on a key military airport in DR Congo on Friday, a day after pledging to take the capital Kinshasa and as international criticism mounted.
Myanmar junta extends state of emergency by six months
Myanmar's junta extended a state of emergency by six months on Friday, four years after it seized power triggering a civil war that has claimed thousands of lives.
Germany's conservatives to seek far right support on immigration
Germany's conservative opposition leader was set Friday to again seek far-right support in parliament on the flashpoint issue of immigration, after his first effort sparked widespread condemnation and street protests.
Thousands of protesters call for VP Duterte impeachment
Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Manila on Friday, urging the Philippine House of Representatives to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte.
Thailand orders stubble burning crackdown as pollution spikes
The Thai government has ordered a crackdown on farmers flouting a ban on crop burning, as pollution in Bangkok spiked on Friday a week after toxic air forced hundreds of schools to close.
Trump's point man for drilling agenda confirmed by Senate
The US Senate on Thursday confirmed Donald Trump's pick to lead the Interior Department, a role that oversees the nation's vast public lands and waters that are vital to the president's agenda of expanding drilling.
Nicaragua legislature cements 'absolute power' of president, wife
Nicaraguan strongman Daniel Ortega and his wife were granted control of all state powers Thursday under a constitutional amendment ratified by the country's legislature that also elevated her to the position of "co-president."
'Not interested': Analysts sceptical about US, Russia nuclear talks
The United States and Russia have pledged their readiness to resume nuclear disarmament talks after years of confrontation, but analysts are sceptical that Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin can or even want to reach a breakthrough new agreement.
Trump to decide on oil tariffs on Canada, Mexico
US President Donald Trump said he expected to decide Thursday whether to include crude oil imports in tariffs on Canada and Mexico that are due to take effect within days.
'The region will die': Ukraine's Donbas mines within Russia's grasp
Fighting desperately to cling on to coal mines that were once the lifeblood of its industrial east, Ukraine's soldiers conceded they were struggling against intensifying Russian attacks.
'Campaign of terror': Georgia's escalating rights crackdown
Georgian rights activists have denounced what they say is a mounting campaign of repression being waged by the government, accused of democratic backsliding and of moving Tbilisi closer to Russia.
Trump insists Egypt, Jordan will take Gazans
US President Donald Trump insisted Thursday that Egypt and Jordan would take in displaced Gazans, despite the two Arab nations dismissing his plan to move Palestinians from the territory.
Syria's new leader pledges 'national dialogue conference'
Syria's interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, promised Thursday to hold a "national dialogue conference" in his first address to the nation since the fall of ousted leader Bashar al-Assad.
Barca's Bonmati voices opposition to Saudi Arabia hosting Spanish Super Cup
Barcelona's two-time Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmati said Thursday she was against Saudi Arabia hosting the women's Spanish Super Cup.
On first trip, Rubio to wield big stick in Latin America
Traditionally, when US secretaries of state make their international debuts, they travel to major US allies and offer bromides about working together.
Rwanda-backed force vows to march on capital in DR Congo conflict
The Rwanda-backed armed group M23 vowed on Thursday to march on the DR Congo capital, Kinshasa, as its fighters made further advances in the mineral-rich east of the country.
Russian drone attack kills nine in east Ukraine
A Russian drone attack on a residential block killed nine people including three elderly couples in the eastern Ukrainian city of Sumy, officials said on Thursday.
New abnormal begins for east DR Congo's looted Goma after siege
Strewn with rubble from mortar and artillery fire, the eastern DR Congo city of Goma awoke on Thursday to a new abnormal -- hiding from bandits and counting the dead.
Lula says if Trump hikes tariffs, Brazil will reciprocate
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Thursday that if US counterpart Donald Trump hiked tariffs on Brazilian products, he would reciprocate -- but that he would prefer improved relations over a trade war.
Russian drone barrage kills eight in east Ukraine
A Russian drone attack on a residential block killed eight people including three elderly couples in the eastern Ukrainian city of Sumy, prosecutors said on Thursday.
Israel releases Palestinian prisoners after hostages freed
Buses carrying freed Palestinian prisoners left an Israeli prison on Thursday, after chaos during the release by Gaza militants of three Israeli hostages and five Thais led to a brief delay in the process.
Stock markets rise on ECB rate cut, healthy corporate results
US and European stock markets rose Thursday as the European Central Bank cut interest rates again and companies posted healthy earnings.
Tears of joy for Thai hostages freed in Gaza
The families of Thai farm workers held for over a year in Gaza cheered and wept with relief Thursday as they were freed in a hostage-prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas.
Rwanda-backed M23 pledges to 'march all the way to Kinshasa'
The Rwanda-backed M23 armed group vowed Thursday to "continue the march of liberation" to the DR Congo capital Kinshasa, as its fighters made further advances in the mineral-rich east of the country.