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Taiwan slams China 'intervention' after Pacific bloc alters statement
The Taiwanese foreign ministry on Saturday accused China of an "arbitrary intervention" after a joint declaration by Pacific leaders was altered to remove mentions of Taiwan.
China manufacturing contracts for fourth straight month
Chinese manufacturing contracted for a fourth consecutive month in August, official data showed Saturday, a worse-than-expected result reflecting the world's second-largest economy's struggle to recover.
Harris steers clear of race, gender despite historic bid
Kamala Harris is aiming to make history as America's first Black and South Asian woman president -- but she has not leaned into the prospect.
Migrant influx fuels debate in Spain over illegal migration
A steep rise in the number of arrivals of migrants in Spain's Canary Islands from Africa has fuelled a fierce debate in the country over how to tackle illegal immigration.
Power gradually returning in Venezuela after nationwide outage
Power was gradually returning to Venezuela Friday after a nationwide blackout that authorities blamed on sabotage of the national electrical grid -- the latest crisis to hit the country after a disputed presidential election.
Trump moves to contain fallout of abortion, IVF rows
Republican White House nominee Donald Trump sought Friday to contain the blast radius of a fierce backlash over his remarks publicly backing away from right-wing positions on reproductive rights.
Deadly strikes hit Russian, Ukrainian border cities
Aerial strikes on Russian and Ukrainian border cities killed at least a dozen people on Friday, bombardments that came as Kyiv dismissed its air force commander in a major military shake-up.
Death toll from Israeli raid in West Bank hits 20 on third day of operation
The death toll from a three-day Israeli raid on the occupied West Bank rose to 20 on Friday, Israel and the Palestinian Red Crescent said, while violence raged on in the Gaza Strip.
Stocks waver as investors weigh inflation data
US and European stock markets wobbled on Friday as investors digested inflation figures that raised the prospect of interest rate cuts in the two major economies next month.
Venezuela hit by nationwide power outage
A blackout left most of Venezuela without power Friday in what authorities blamed on sabotage of the national electrical grid -- the latest crisis to hit the oil-rich country after a disputed presidential election.
Russian mercenaries pulled out of Burkina Faso to defend Kursk: commander
Ukraine's cross-border incursion into Russia has disrupted Russian mercenaries' plans in junta-led Burkina Faso, with many now pulled out to help boost Moscow's defences back home, a paramilitary commander said on Friday.
US Fed's preferred inflation gauge steady as rate cut looms
The US Federal Reserve's favored measure of inflation held steady in July according to government data Friday, sustaining expectations that the central bank is on its way to interest rate cuts starting next month.
Stocks climb as inflation data fuels rate-cut hopes
Stock markets advanced on Friday as US and eurozone inflation figures met expectations, raising hopes that interest rate cuts are coming next month in the two major economies.
Taliban's morality ministry refuses to cooperate with UN Afghan mission
The Taliban government's morality ministry said it would not cooperate with the United Nations mission in Afghanistan, calling it "an opposing side".
Stocks rise as eurozone inflation cools, US economy thrives
Stock markets rose on Friday as investors welcomed data showing eurozone inflation cooled to a three-year low and the US economy was stronger than expected.
Israel air strike kills three Palestinians on third day of West Bank raid
Israel said it killed three Hamas militants in an air strike in the occupied West Bank on Friday, taking the death toll from a large-scale military operation now in its third day to at least 19.
Israeli air strike hits West Bank on third day of raid
Israel carried out an air strike in the occupied West Bank on Friday as its large-scale military operation entered a third day, with both sides reporting at least 16 Palestinians killed.
China pushes rivals' limits in regional disputes
China's campaign of confrontation, from remote reefs in Southeast Asia to Taiwan and far-flung Japanese islands, is designed to wear down regional rivals competing with it for contested territories, analysts say.
Pacific bloc backs joint police plan, maintains Taiwan ties
Pacific leaders wrapped up a key summit in Tonga on Friday, endorsing a major joint policing initiative and rebuffing moves from China's regional allies to sideline long-term partner Taiwan.
With Hasina gone in Bangladesh, a rival family tastes power
Two women dominated Bangladeshi politics for decades. One was chased into exile. The other is newly free from custody and too sick to rule, but her heir looks set to take power.
In war-fatigued east Ukraine, Zelensky loses his shine
Olena Semykina, the owner of a village shop in east Ukraine, voted for President Volodymyr Zelensky five and a half years ago, hoping the fresh-faced political newcomer would end the fighting unleashed by Russian proxy forces in 2014.
Ukrainian sport will recover from 'devastating blow': sports minister
Ukraine's sporting infrastructure has been dealt a "devastating blow" since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, but the government is determined to rebuild its sports infrastructure, Sports Minister Matviy Bidnyi told AFP.
Asian markets rally on US data after Dow hits record on Wall St
Asian markets rose Friday after a record day on Wall Street, boosted by a strong round of US data that reassured investors over the health of the world's top economy, while focus turns to the release of key inflation figures.
Harris says in first interview US ready to turn page on Trump
Kamala Harris declared Thursday that Americans are ready to turn the page on Donald Trump as she reached out to centrist voters in her first interview since her dramatic entry into November's presidential election.
At 87, pope defies expectations with epic voyage
By embarking aged 87 on the farthest journey of his papacy, Pope Francis is doing something some believed impossible -- and seeking to silence those who doubt his ability to fulfil his role.
From Indonesia to Singapore: Four stages of pope's trip
Pope Francis will visit Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Singapore over the next fortnight in his most ambitious trip in 11 years leading the worldwide Catholic Church.
Pope heads to Southeast Asia in ambitious trip
Pope Francis embarks Monday on a 12-day trip to Southeast Asia, the longest and farthest of his papacy that will challenge the 87-year-old's increasingly fragile health.
Solomon Islands voices 'concern' over Pacific police deal
Solomon Islands aired reservations Friday about a landmark Pacific policing deal brokered by Australia, saying it should not preclude them from working alongside newfound ally China.
Harris says in first interview US ready to move on from Trump
Kamala Harris declared Thursday that Americans are ready to turn the page on Donald Trump and chart a new path for the country, in her first major interview since her dramatic entry into November's presidential election.
UN aid official questions world's 'humanity' as Gaza war rages
A top UN aid official on Thursday questioned "what has become of our basic humanity," as the war in Gaza rages and humanitarian operations struggle to respond.
Harris rejects 'flip-flop' claims in first campaign interview
Kamala Harris played down Republican claims she had shifted her stance on key issues Thursday as she gave the pivotal first interview of her presidential campaign.
'More died than remained alive': Kyiv honours fallen soldiers
Kateryna Nosko hung two portraits on a wall in Kyiv as Ukraine marked a day of remembrance on Thursday for the soldiers who died defending the country under the shadow of Russia's invasion.