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US sanctions Palestinian rights groups over ICC probe
The United States has imposed sanctions on three leading Palestinian NGOs, accusing them of supporting International Criminal Court efforts to prosecute Israeli nationals.
Sax-playing pilot Anutin lands Thai prime ministerial vote
Saxophonist, occasional pilot and heir to a construction fortune, Anutin Charnvirakul was once banned from politics but MPs chose him on Friday as Thailand's next prime minister.
Thai tycoon wins parliament vote to become PM
Thai conservative construction magnate Anutin Charnvirakul on Friday won a parliament vote to serve as the nation's next prime minister, according to an AFP tally of lawmakers' ballots.
US AI giant Anthropic bars Chinese-owned entities
Anthropic is barring Chinese-run companies and organizations from using its artificial intelligence services, the US tech giant said, as it toughened restrictions on "authoritarian regions."
Putin threatens to target any Western troops in Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Friday that any Western forces deployed to Ukraine would be a "legitimate" target for Moscow's army, a day after Kyiv's allies said they had committed to a troop presence in the event of a peace deal.
Chinese firms pay price of jihadist strikes against Mali junta
Jihadists allied to Al-Qaeda have launched a blitz of raids on Malian industrial sites run by foreign firms, especially Chinese, as a tactic to undermine the ruling junta.
Lebanon to discuss army's plan to disarm Hezbollah
The Lebanese government is set to discuss on Friday an army plan to disarm Hezbollah, which the Iran-backed group opposes, accusing the cabinet of playing into the hands of Israel and the United States.
Trump rebrands Department of Defense as 'Department of War'
President Donald Trump is changing the name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War, the White House announced Thursday, insisting the rebrand will project a more powerful image.
Wildfires producing 'witches' brew' of air pollution: UN
Wildfires are releasing a "witches' brew" of pollutants that can end up wrecking air quality a continent away from the blaze, the UN's weather and climate agency said Friday.
Russia rejects Western security guarantees for Ukraine after coalition pledges force
Russia rejected the notion of Western security guarantees for Ukraine on Friday, after more than two dozen countries pledged to join a "reassurance" force to deploy in the wartorn country after any eventual peace deal with Moscow.
Rubio ramps up Ecuador support in tough anti-crime drive
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday promised security aid to violence-wracked Ecuador as he sought to rally the region behind a force-first anti-crime campaign following a US strike on a boat allegedly linked to Venezuela.
North Korea's Kim tells Xi hopes to 'steadily develop' ties: KCNA
North Korea's Kim Jong Un told China's President Xi Jinping that it was his "steadfast will" to "steadily develop" bilateral relations, state media said Friday, after the two leaders met in Beijing.
Trump defends RFK Jr, after heated Congress grilling
US President Donald Trump on Thursday threw his support behind his controversial health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., after he was grilled in Congress over decisions to fire scientists and overhaul the nation's vaccine policies.
Thai tycoon leads pack as parliament votes for new PM
Thailand's parliament is set Friday to vote in a right-wing tycoon as prime minister, ousting the nation's dominant political dynasty from office after their leader was sacked by court order.
Thai ex-PM leaves country before parliament votes on leadership
Thailand's influential former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra said Friday he has left the country by private jet, hours before his party looks set to be ousted from top office.
NZ army appeals soldier's 'inadequate' spying sentence
New Zealand's military said on Friday it had appealed a two year sentence for a soldier accused of attempted espionage, describing it as "manifestly inadequate".
Coalition of willing commits to Ukraine force if peace agreed
More than two dozen countries have pledged to join a force to deploy in Ukraine after any eventual peace deal with Russia, aiming to deter Moscow from again attacking its neighbour, leaders announced Thursday.
Trump's Fed pick plans to keep White House job while at central bank
Donald Trump's pick to join the Federal Reserve's board of governors said Thursday that he plans to take a leave of absence from his White House job while at the US central bank -- but vowed to uphold its independence.
In face of US 'threat,' how does Venezuela's military stack up?
With an ill-disciplined military and an outdated arsenal, Venezuela would be at a serious disadvantage in the event of an American invasion, experts say.
Israel military says controls 40 percent of Gaza City
The Israeli military on Thursday said it controls 40 percent of Gaza City, the largest urban centre in the Palestinian territory which it is preparing to conquer after nearly two years of devastating war.
Rubio ramps up Ecuador support in regional anti-crime push
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday promised security aid to Ecuador and announced terrorist designations as he vowed to ramp up a regional fight against criminals following a US strike on a boat allegedly linked to Venezuela.
UK court convicts asylum seeker of sexual assault
A court in England on Thursday convicted an Ethiopian asylum seeker of the sexual assault of a teenage girl and a woman, a case that ignited weeks of angry protests.
Trump's Fed governor pick vows to uphold central bank independence
Donald Trump's pick to join the Federal Reserve's board of governors pledged to uphold US central bank independence if confirmed -- but was coy about leaving his current White House role in the process, as the institution faces growing pressure from the president to slash interest rates.
France says 26 countries commit to Ukraine deployment if peace agreed
Over two dozen countries have pledged to take part in a force to be deployed in Ukraine after any peace accord with Russia, aiming to deter Moscow from ever again attacking its neighbour, French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday.
White House quietly drops WTO, ILO from foreign aid cut list
The World Trade Organization and the International Labour Organization told AFP on Thursday that they no longer figured among entities targeted in the White House's latest round of foreign aid cuts.
Xi tells Kim North Korea's importance to China 'will not change'
President Xi Jinping reassured Kim Jong Un of North Korea's enduring importance to China on Thursday, saying Beijing's position "will not change" as the two leaders met for talks.
Europe pledges postwar 'reassurance force' for Ukraine: Macron
Over two dozen countries have pledged to take part in a force to be deployed in Ukraine after any peace accord with Russia, aiming to deter Moscow from ever again attacking its neighbour, French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday.
US trade gap widest in 4 months as imports surged ahead of tariffs
The US trade deficit expanded more than expected in July to its widest in four months, government data showed Thursday, on a surge in imports before a fresh wave of President Donald Trump's tariffs kicked in.
Pro-Palestinian protests rock Spain's Vuelta cycling race
Spain's premier cycling race, La Vuelta, has been shaken by pro-Palestinian protests which riders believe have put them at risk and threaten to derail the event.
Europe leaders call Trump after Ukraine security guarantees summit
European leaders on Thursday spoke to US President Donald Trump after holding a summit with President Volodymyr Zelensky on security guarantees for Kyiv in the event of a peace accord to end Russia's three-and-a-half war against Ukraine.
Berlusconi media group takes control of German broadcaster
Italy's MediaForEurope (MFE) announced Thursday it had taken control of one of Germany's biggest private broadcasting groups, as it seeks to build a pan-European group able to compete with streaming giants.
European court faults France over sexual consent rules
The European rights court on Thursday found France's laws on sexual consent are insufficient, ruling against the authorities in a case involving a woman who accused her boss of coercing her into an abusive relationship.