Featured
Last news
China's diplomatic gambit heralds new 'Battle for the Pacific'
A 10-day South Pacific island-hopping tour by China's top diplomat focused world attention on a usually overlooked region, opened a new front in Beijing's quest for global influence and challenged decades of Western primacy.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine enters 100th day as fighting rages
Ukraine marked 100 days since Russia's invasion on Friday with fighting raging across the east of the country, where Moscow's forces are tightening their grip on the Donbas.
Asian markets track Wall St rally ahead of jobs data, oil holds gains
Asian equities rose Friday following a strong performance on Wall Street ahead of a key US jobs data release, while crude held most of the previous day's gains after an output hike disappointed traders.
US-Venezuela business picking up despite punishing sanctions
Venezuela's imports of US food and farming products are on the rise, with the private sector driving increased business between the two former partners despite punishing sanctions imposed on Caracas by Washington.
Biden makes emotional appeal for action on gun violence
US President Joe Biden pleaded with lawmakers Thursday to take action on gun violence plaguing the country, calling for a ban on assault weapons such as those used in recent massacres in Texas and New York state.
War enters 100th day with Russia controlling 'fifth of Ukraine'
Ukraine marked 100 days since Moscow's invasion on Friday with Russian forces hammering the Donbas in their push to capture the country's east.
Biden to visit former 'pariah' Saudi Arabia: reports
US President Joe Biden will visit Saudi Arabia this month, reports said Thursday, a stark reversal for a leader who once called for the kingdom to be made a pariah.
Civilians urged to evacuate Sloviansk as Russia bombing intensifies
The bombing in eastern Ukraine is becoming more intense and, with no water or electricity, 100 people or so heeded the mayor's call on Thursday to evacuate the city of Sloviansk which sits in Russia's crosshairs.
West must brace for 'long haul' in Ukraine: NATO chief
Western nations need to brace for a long "war of attrition" in Ukraine, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg warned Thursday following White House talks with US President Joe Biden.
No Covid cash for Poland before rule of law reform: EU chief
Poland will only receive the money from its 35.4-billion euro ($38 billion) post-Covid economic recovery package if it carries out rule of law reforms, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said on Thursday.
Liverpool dismayed by 'disgraceful' claims from French Interior Minister
Liverpool chief executive Billy Hogan has reacted with "disbelief" at French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin's insistence that the chaotic scenes at Saturday's Champions League final in Paris were caused by supporters of the English club.
Oklahoma shooter killed surgeon treating him for back pain: police
The gunman who shot dead four people at a hospital in the US state of Oklahoma killed the surgeon whom he blamed for pain after back surgery, police said Thursday.
'Russia controls fifth' of Ukraine' as war's 100th day looms
Russian forces hammered Ukrainian positions in the Donbas region on Thursday, as Kyiv said Moscow was in control of 20 percent of Ukrainian territory on the eve of the war's 100th day.
Oil price rises as OPEC boosts output more than expected
Oil prices rose Thursday even as major crude producers agreed to boost output by more than the usual amount following an EU ban on Russian imports.
Protests as N.Korea takes helm of world disarmament body
North Korea on Thursday skipped the diplomatic niceties for a combative tone when it took the helm of the Conference on Disarmament.
OPEC+ agrees bigger output boost amid Russian isolation
Major oil producers led by Saudi Arabia and Russia agreed on Thursday to open the taps wider than expected amid soaring prices and hard on the heels of an EU ban on Russian oil imports.
US blacklists Putin money-manager, luxury yacht brokerage for Russian elite
The United States placed Russian President Vladimir Putin's money-manager and a Monaco company that provides luxury yachts to Moscow's elite on its sanctions blacklist Thursday, stepping up pressure over Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
EU drops Russian patriarch from sanctions to seal new deal
EU ambassadors on Thursday dropped the leader of Russia's Orthodox church from a proposed blacklist, allowing them to agree a new round of sanctions after opposition from Hungary, diplomats said.
Displaced by rebel clashes, people in east DR Congo make uneasy trek home
People who fled fighting between DR Congo's army and M23 rebels have begun to make a nervous return home, with tensions in the volatile east of the country remaining on a hair trigger.
Macron faces calls to finally make Ukraine trip
For months, French President Emmanuel Macron has used a stock reply to questions about why he has not visited Ukraine since the outbreak of war there.
Yemen's warring parties renew two-month truce: UN
Yemen's warring parties have agreed to renew a two-month truce, the United Nations said Thursday, in an 11th-hour move on the day it was set to expire.
Russia tightens noose around key Ukraine city on 99th day of war
Russian forces on Thursday hammered the last Ukrainian defences holding a strategic city in the Donbas region as the war approached its 100th day and Washington warned it could still last for months.
Asian markets drop on recession fears, output report hits oil
Equities fell in Asia on Thursday as traders grow increasingly worried that central bank moves to rein in inflation could tip economies into recession.
US, Taiwan launch trade talks in bid to deepen ties
The United States and Taiwan have launched talks aimed at deepening their trade ties as Washington vies to bolster its influence in the region to counter China.
Ukrainian musicians channel patriotism, anger into war anthems
The message behind Arsen Mirzoyan's new song "My Country" is simple -- stay in Ukraine and fight back.
Russians edge closer to taking key Ukrainian city
Russian forces edged closer Thursday to taking a key Ukrainian city after days of intense fighting, tightening their slow squeeze on the eastern Donbas region as Washington warned the war could last months.
South Korean ruling party wins landslide in local elections
South Korea's ruling party won a landslide victory in local elections for leaders of major cities and provinces, official results showed Thursday, giving newly elected president Yoon Suk-yeol a significant boost.
In Iraq, centuries-old black community still on the margins
Adnan Abdelrahman shows off the drums he learned to play at age 12. He belongs to Iraq's centuries-old black minority, guardians of musical traditions but relegated to the margins of society.
UN peacekeeper killed in Mali 'terrorist' attack
A UN peacekeeper was killed and three others wounded Wednesday in a "terrorist attack" on their convoy in Kidal, northern Mali, the MINUSMA mission said.
OPEC debates oil output boost amid Russian isolation
Major oil producers led by Saudi Arabia and Russia hold talks Thursday on whether to adjust output, hard on the heels of an EU ban on Russian oil imports.
Partner concerned for health of journalist detained in China
The partner of Chinese-Australian journalist Cheng Lei -- detained by Beijing authorities since August 2020 -- said he has serious concerns about her declining health behind bars in an interview aired Thursday.
Bread factory holds tough as Ukraine hopes for recovery
Balls of dough file past on the assembly line and a sweet scent fills the air at a bread factory that embodies Ukraine's determination and its tentative recovery 100 days on from Russia's invasion.
100 days of war in Ukraine: A timeline
Russia invaded Ukraine in the early hours of February 24, setting off the worst conflict in Europe in decades.
Russians advance on Severodonetsk as US boosts weapons to Ukraine
Russian forces edged closer Wednesday to taking the key eastern Ukraine city of Severodonetsk but Kyiv's hopes of holding off their invaders were boosted by a US pledge of more advanced rocket systems to help their defence.
Danes say 'yes' to joining EU common defence policy
An overwhelming majority of Danes, almost 67 percent, voted Wednesday in favour of joining the EU's common defence policy 30 years after opting out, results showed with 99 percent of ballots counted.
Biden wants Mexican leader at LA summit amid boycott threat
US President Joe Biden is eager for Mexico's leader to attend next week's Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles, a top aide said Wednesday, amid a scramble following boycott threats.
El Salvador's popular millennial president waging war on gangs
Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele's controversial war on gangs has led to tens of thousands of arrests and sparked criticism from rights groups, but helped win him sky-high popularity three years into his term.
Danes seen voting to join EU defence policy
Denmark on Wednesday held a referendum on whether to join the EU's common defence policy 30 years after opting out, with exit polls suggesting an overwhelming majority voted in favour.
Arms for Ukraine: Who has sent what?
The United States has agreed to supply Ukraine with advanced rocket launch systems to try to turn the tide of the war in the eastern Donbas region, where the city of Severodonetsk looks poised to fall to Russian forces.