Featured
Last news
Fiji vote tightening as police question opposition leader
Fiji's election count was tightening Saturday following a tumultuous night for opposition leader Sitiveni Rabuka, who police called in for questioning after he urged the military to intervene.
US to begin refilling oil reserve after huge Biden release
The US Energy Department announced Friday a plan to add oil back to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) after a historically large release undertaken by the Biden administration.
Thousands of tourists stranded but Peru rejects bringing forward vote
Peru's Congress on Friday rejected a move to bring forward elections as deadly protests left thousands of tourists stranded in the gateway city to Machu Picchu.
Bomb wounds Russian in C.Africa, France denies claim it was responsible
A Russian representative in the Central African Republic was badly wounded Friday after opening a parcel bomb, Moscow's embassy said, as a prominent pro-Kremlin figure claimed France was behind the blast, which Paris denied.
Analysts doubt Ukrainian claims about Russian offensive
Ukraine claims that Russia is preparing a fresh offensive against Kyiv early next year, but analysts doubt that Moscow can regenerate its battered forces for such a major operation is so short a timeframe.
Protests strand 5,000 tourists in Machu Picchu gateway city
Around 5,000 tourists have been left stranded in Cusco, the Peruvian gateway city to the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, due to protests against the ousting of president Pedro Castillo, a local mayor said Friday.
Kyiv warns of long cuts after Russian missiles batter grid
A barrage of deadly Russian strikes battered Ukraine's grid on Friday, worsening dire conditions for Ukrainians across the winter-worn country by knocking out water and electricity services in several regions.
'So good to be home:' Griner speaks out after release from Russia
US basketball star Brittney Griner said Friday in her first remarks since being released from a Russian prison that it was "so good to be home" and vowed to play again for the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury.
S.Africa's Ramaphosa favourite to keep ANC leadership despite scandal
Africa's ruling ANC party went into a closely watched conference Friday that is expected to re-elect Cyril Ramaphosa as leader for a second term, despite a tarnishing cash-heist scandal.
France accused as parcel bomb wounds Russian in Central Africa
The head of the Russian cultural centre in the Central African Republic was badly wounded Friday after opening a parcel bomb, Moscow's embassy said, amid accusations France was behind the blast.
Putin 'planning for a long war' in Ukraine: NATO chief
Russia is readying for a protracted war in Ukraine and Kyiv's NATO backers must keep sending weapons until President Vladimir Putin realises he "cannot win on the battlefield", alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg told AFP on Friday.
Rebel clashes break out in DR Congo's east
Fighting resumed on Friday in eastern DR Congo between M23 rebels and rival armed groups after 10 days of relative calm, civilian and security sources said.
Wagner chief blames France after parcel attack on Russian in C.Africa
The head of Russia's Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, on Friday urged Moscow to declare France a "sponsor of terrorism" after a parcel bomb wounded a Russian official in the Central African Republic.
UK working 'flat out' for deal in N.Ireland: Sunak
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Friday his government was working "flat out" to settle post-Brexit trading problems in Northern Ireland to end political paralysis in Belfast.
Serbia bids to send soldiers back into Kosovo
Serbia on Friday asked NATO-led peacekeepers in Kosovo to allow the return of Serbian military and police to its former breakaway province, a minister said.
Argentina fans protest over World Cup final tickets
Argentina fans staged a second day of demonstrations Friday outside a Doha hotel demanding that their country's national federation help them to get tickets for the World Cup final.
Climate change fuelling cholera surge: WHO
Climate change is fuelling a global cholera upsurge, the WHO said Friday, warning the situation was compounded by vaccine shortages and will only worsen unless it is stamped out soon.
Russia fires missile barrage at Ukraine grid
A fresh barrage of deadly Russian strikes battered Ukraine on Friday, cutting water and electricity in major cities and piling pressure on the grid in sub-zero temperatures.
UN force in Lebanon urges swift probe into Irish peacekeeper's death
The United Nations' peacekeeping force in south Lebanon on Friday urged Beirut to ensure a "speedy" investigation into an Irish soldier's shooting death near the Israeli border.
Japan approves major defence overhaul, warning of China threats
Japan's government approved a major defence policy overhaul Friday, including a significant spending hike, as it warned China poses the "greatest strategic challenge ever" to its security.
S. Africa's Ramaphosa set to win ANC leadership vote despite scandal
South Africa's ruling party on Friday launches a closely watched conference that looks set to re-elect Cyril Ramaphosa as leader, despite a tarnishing cash-heist scandal.
Russia fires 'massive' missile barrage at Ukraine grid
A fresh barrage of deadly Russian strikes hit Ukraine on Friday, cutting water and electricity in major cities and piling pressure on the grid in sub-zero temperatures.
Counterstrikes and controversy: Japan's defence overhaul
Japan has laid out plans to expand its defence capabilities drastically over five years.
Japan approves major defence overhaul on China threats
Japan's government approved a major defence policy overhaul Friday, including a significant spending hike, as it warned China poses the "greatest strategic challenge ever" to the country's security.
'Heavy losses': Ukraine soldiers count war's cost away from front
In a near pitch-black home set back from fierce fighting in Donbas, Ukraine soldier Volodymyr relishes a few moments of calm before deploying again to the front.
Varadkar to become Irish PM for second time
Leo Varadkar takes over for the second time as Ireland's prime minister this weekend, in a handover of power between the two main political partners in the three-party governing coalition.
Three years into Covid, are we ready for the next pandemic?
Three years after the first Covid case was identified in China, preparations to stave off the next pandemic are starting to ramp up but far more needs to be done to avoid repeating past mistakes, experts told AFP.
US citizens trapped in Tigray, detained in Addis Ababa
US citizens trapped in war-torn Tigray are being detained and interrogated by Ethiopian authorities while trying to leave the country, interviews with fleeing people and family members show.
Ukraine war providing lessons for future conflicts
Russia invaded Ukraine hoping for a quick victory over Kyiv's forces, but is instead locked in a grinding, protracted war that has failed to achieve Moscow's main aims.
S. Africa's Ramaphosa on track for re-election as ANC leader despite scandal
South Africa's ruling party on Friday launches a closely watched conference that looks set to re-elect Cyril Ramaphosa as its leader, despite a tarnishing cash-heist scandal.
North Korea tests solid-fuel motor, aiming to build new weapon: state media
North Korea has successfully tested a "high-thrust solid-fuel motor" with the aim of developing a new weapon, state media said Friday.
Japan to approve major defence overhaul on China threats
Japan's government is poised to approve a major defence policy overhaul Friday, including a significant spending hike, as it warns China poses the "greatest strategic challenge ever" to the country's security.