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US, Chinese defense chiefs to meet following Taiwan tension
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will meet his Chinese counterpart, the Pentagon announced Friday, after Beijing carried out war games around Taiwan in a sign to the US-backed democracy's new leader.
Modi's struggling rivals to vote as India election resumes
India's six-week election resumes Saturday, with top rivals of Prime Minister Narendra Modi due to vote in the capital New Delhi after accusing him of unjustly targeting them with criminal probes.
Pandemic agreement talks end without a deal
Negotiations on a landmark global agreement on handling future pandemics ended Friday without a deal -- though countries said they wanted to keep pushing for an accord.
Pandemic agreement talks end without deal
Negotiations on a landmark global agreement on handling future pandemics came to a close on Friday without finalising a deal, though countries voiced the desire to keep pushing for an accord.
US couple among three missionaries killed by gang in Haiti
A US couple were among three missionaries shot and killed by a gang outside a church in the Haitian capital, which has endured months of extreme violence with deadly assaults on hospitals, prisons and government buildings.
Rebuilding hope for migrants aboard Med rescue ship
The shouts ringing out from the makeshift baseball court on the ship's deck are a far cry from the desperation of a few days ago, when the players were plucked from the often fatal waters of the Mediterranean.
Tens of thousands protest Taiwan parliament bills to 'defend democracy'
Tens of thousands of Taiwanese protesters rallied day and night outside parliament on Friday, as lawmakers inside traded insults, blows and theatrics over a series of bills to expand the legislature's power.
Top UN court orders Israel to halt Rafah offensive
The top UN court ordered Israel Friday to halt military operations in Rafah, a landmark ruling likely to increase mounting international pressure on Israel more than seven months into the war sparked by Hamas's October 7 attack.
Ex-regulator confirmed as new chief of Brazil's Petrobras
Brazil's state-run oil company, Petrobras, confirmed former regulator Magda Chambriard as its new chief executive Friday, 10 days after left-wing President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva sacked her predecessor.
Hong Kong spy case closed against UK ex-marine
A UK judge on Friday said two men accused of assisting Hong Kong's intelligence service would face a five-week trial next year, after the death of a co-defendant.
ICJ orders Israel to 'immediately halt' Rafah offensive
The top United Nations court on Friday ordered Israel to halt military operations in Rafah "immediately", a landmark ruling likely to increase mounting international pressure on Israel more than seven months into the Gaza war.
Italian activist goes on trial in Hungary assault case
An Italian anti-fascist activist on Friday went on trial in Hungary for allegedly attacking neo-Nazis in a case that has sparked tensions between the two EU allies.
ICJ orders Israel to 'immediately halt' offensive in Rafah
The top United Nations court Friday ordered Israel to halt military operations in Rafah, a landmark ruling likely to increase mounting international pressure on Israel more than seven months into the Gaza war.
UK's Starmer campaigns in key election battleground Scotland
UK Labour leader Keir Starmer visited Scotland on the second day of general election campaigning on Friday, targeting a key battleground as his party bids to reclaim power for the first time in 14 years.
Celebrations as new biopiracy treaty agreed at UN
Representatives of Indigenous peoples celebrated Friday at the United Nations following the agreement of a treaty against the pillaging of their traditional knowledge and genetic resources, like those from medicinal plants.
Taiwan's Kinmen Island lives life 'as usual' despite Chinese drills
After a night at sea, fishers unloaded their haul on a port in Kinmen on Friday, saying there was "no real impact" from war games that Chinese forces were running around self-ruled Taiwan.
Ukraine says has 'stopped' Russia in Kharkiv, now pushing back
Ukrainian forces have "stopped" Russia from advancing further into the northeastern Kharkiv region and are now counter-attacking, but Moscow is intensifying its assault on other parts of the front, Ukraine's army said Friday.
At China's window to Taiwan, unification is only a matter of time
Chinese tourists clamber over rocks to gaze at the misty horizon that holds Taiwan, the island that Beijing insists will not be self-ruled for very much longer.
Migration, infrastructure woes fuel S.Africa poll disinformation
Propagandists and scammers are exploiting xenophobia and anger over failing infrastructure to unleash a wave of disinformation ahead of South Africa's most contested polls since 1994, experts warn.
Russia 'bogged down' in battle for border town, Ukraine says
Russian forces have become "bogged down" trying to capture the northeastern border town of Vovchansk, but were putting intense pressure on Ukraine's army in the east, Kyiv's top general said Friday.
Norway struggles to keep ultra-rich tempted by exile
You can check out -- but you still have to pay! Norway is looking for ways to hang onto its ultra-rich who are increasingly moving abroad to escape one of the rare European countries to impose a wealth tax.
China warns of Taiwan 'war' as military drills encircle island
China said on Friday that Taiwan's leadership was pushing the self-ruled island into war and warned of further "countermeasures", as Beijing conducted military drills around the territory.
Mines, unexploded ordnance a daily menace for Afghanistan's children
The black mushroom cloud had barely faded in Ghazni province before kids clustered around the edge of the crater created by the mine, one of the devices that kills a child every other day in Afghanistan.
China's war drills practise seizing Taiwan
Chinese warships and fighter jets surrounded Taiwan on Friday in the second day of drills that Beijing said were testing its ability to seize the self-ruled island, days after its new president was sworn in.
Don't expect UN peacekeepers to stop wars, chief tells AFP
The world cannot look to UN peacekeepers as a way of stopping wars, whether in Gaza or other active conflict zones, the department chief told AFP, citing the famous Blue Helmets' inherent limitations.
Ukraine's soldier musicians thank America, urge more help
Ukrainian opera singer Yurii Ivaskevych traded his tuxedo for military fatigues to fight the Russian invasion. When he lost his leg in a mine explosion last year, music called him again.
Mexican presidential candidate far from hometown hero
In the rural Mexican town where opposition presidential candidate Xochitl Galvez grew up, the smiling face of her ruling party rival looks out from posters plastered around the streets.
China says drills around Taiwan test 'seizure of power' capability
Beijing on Friday said ongoing drills encircling Taiwan were testing the military's ability to seize power over the self-ruled island, days after a new president was sworn in.
US imposes visa restrictions, reviewing cooperation with Georgia
The United States was imposing new visa restrictions and reviewing relations with Georgia, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday, after it pushed forward a Russian-style "foreign influence" law that triggered mass protests.
Five key points in proposed pandemic agreement
Countries are trying to finalise a global agreement on how to prepare for and avert pandemics by Friday evening, after two years of negotiations triggered by the horrors of Covid-19.
Kenyan president warns debt clouds Africa climate potential
Africa's vast potential in the global fight against climate change is at risk due to the heavy burden of debt and lack of international investment, Kenyan President William Ruto said Thursday.
Biden woos Kenya's Ruto with major ally status on state visit
US President Joe Biden said he would make Kenya a major non-NATO ally Thursday as he hosted Kenyan counterpart William Ruto for a lavish state visit aimed at competing with Russia and China for influence in Africa.