Russia and Ukraine set to begin Easter truce

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv had "repeatedly stated" it was ready for a ceasefire over Easter, and was willing to reciprocate.

By Afp 4 hrs ago

US-Iran: A look at more than four decades of enmity

On Saturday, the arch-foes are set to hold talks in Islamabad to end more than a month of war in the Middle East, as a fragile ceasefire holds despite deep mutual mistrust.

By Afp 4 hrs ago

Leo to become first pope to visit Algeria

Algeria is the first stop on an 11-day tour of four African nations, covering 18,000 kilometres and also taking in Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea from April 13 to 23.

By Afp 4 hrs ago

US and Iran envoys meet Pakistani PM as negotiations get under way

The warring parties still appeared to be far apart on key issues including sanctions, Lebanon and the opening of the strategic Strait of Hormuz and made no attempt to hide their mutual suspicion.

By Afp 50 mins ago

Russia and Ukraine trade drone strikes ahead of Easter truce

Russia launched at least 160 drones at Ukraine, killing four people in the country's east and south, Ukrainian authorities said.

By Afp 45 mins ago

At least 10 dead after boat hits bridge in India: police

At least 10 people were killed on Friday when a boat carrying dozens of passengers in northern India hit a pontoon bridge and capsized, police said.

By Afp 19 hrs ago

Premium

Melania Trump blasts 'lies' linking her to Epstein

Melania Trump denies being a victim or a fried of Jeffrey Epstein in her address at the White House.

By Afp 1 day ago

Pope Leo heads to Africa for first major foreign tour

Pope Leo XIV embarks Monday on an 11-day visit to Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea for his first major international trip since becoming pontiff last year.

By Afp 1 day ago

Djibouti votes in lopsided presidential election

Two hours after polls officially opened at 6:00 am (0300 GMT), voting had begun across the capital, Djibouti City, though some polling stations opened late, AFP journalists observed.

By Afp 1 day ago

Turkey's opposition under pressure as Istanbul mayor trial drags on

The corruption trial of Istanbul's jailed opposition mayor entered its second month Thursday, in a case widely seen as a major setback for Turkey's opposition.

By Afp 1 day ago

Angola name former Senegal boss Cisse as new coach

The Angolan football federation said Thursday it had hired Senegalese Africa Cup of Nations winner Aliou Cisse as the new head coach of the national team.

By Afp 1 day ago

Melania Trump denies any links to Epstein abuse

US First Lady Melania Trump on Thursday made a surprise statement denying unspecified allegations about her and Jeffrey Epstein, a scandal that her husband President Donald Trump has long downplayed.

By Afp 1 day ago

Putin announces Orthodox Easter ceasefire with Ukraine: Kremlin

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said earlier this week that he had passed a holiday truce proposal via the US, as talks to end the four-year conflict were derailed by the Middle East war.

By Afp 1 day ago

French military chief says possible war with Russia his 'primary concern'

The chief of the defence staff General Fabien Mandon spoke in parliament as he presented France's draft legislation to boost defence spending between 2024 and 2030.

By Afp 2 days ago

Italy PM suggests suspending EU spending rules over Iran war

Meloni's government has temporarily cut fuel excise taxes in the face of rising energy prices following war between the United States and Israel, and Iran.

By Afp 1 day ago

Stabbed for saying no: Is online misogyny fueling violence in Brazil?

Alana Anisio Rosa, 20, politely turned down the man from her gym who kept sending her flowers and chocolates, a month later, he burst into her home and stabbed her.

By Afp 1 day ago

Israel seeks Lebanon talks as its strikes threaten US-Iran truce

"In light of Lebanon's repeated requests to open direct negotiations with Israel, I instructed the cabinet yesterday to begin direct negotiations with Lebanon as soon as possible," Netanyahu said.

By Afp 1 day ago

Venezuela police tear-gas protesters demanding salary rises

Venezuelan police fired tear gas on Thursday to disperse around 2,000 protesters who marched towards the presidential palace to demand salary and pension increases.

By Afp 1 day ago

Robertson to leave Liverpool at end of season

Andy Robertson will bring down the curtain on his nine-year career at Liverpool at the end of the season, the faltering Premier League champions announced on Thursday

By Afp 1 day ago

France's Macron in Rome for first meeting with Pope Leo

French President Emmanuel Macron arrived Thursday in Rome on the eve of his first meeting with Pope Leo XIV, almost one year after the election of the US pontiff.

By Afp 1 day ago

Strait of Hormuz traffic remains becalmed despite ceasefire

Iran and the United States said the 167 kilometer (104 mile) strait between the Gulf and the Indian Ocean would reopen after the two-week truce was announced on Wednesday.

By Afp 1 day ago

Israel tensions surface as Democrats plot US midterms

"The DNC made clear today that all Democrats, including millions who are AIPAC members, have the right to participate fully in the democratic process," AIPAC said in a statement to AFP.

By Afp 1 day ago

UK PM Starmer says Israel attacks on Lebanon are 'wrong' and 'should stop'

"Let's be really clear about it, they're wrong", Starmer told Britain's ITV News when asked about Israel's continued attacks on Lebanon.

By Afp 1 day ago

Rocket alerts sound in north Israel as troops battle Hezbollah

Calls have been mounting for the ceasefire between the US and Iran -- agreed late on Tuesday -- to be extended to Israel's war with Hezbollah, which Israel has said is not included.

By Afp 1 day ago

First ships through Strait of Hormuz since ceasefire

Two ships have passed through the Strait of Hormuz since Iran agreed to reopen the waterway as part of a ceasefire deal, maritime monitor Marine Traffic said Wednesday.

By Afp 3 days ago

Veteran president set to win sixth term in strategic Djibouti

Djibouti's leader Ismail Omar Guelleh is expected to win a presidential election on Friday, extending his 27-year rule of the tiny, highly strategic Horn of Africa nation.

By Afp 3 days ago

Both sides claim victory after US, Iran agree to 11th-hour truce

The US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire barely an hour before President Donald Trump's Wednesday deadline to obliterate the country was set to expire.

By Afp 3 days ago

'Pinprick of light': Artemis crew witnesses meteorite impacts on Moon

"Amazed," replied Kelsey Young, the mission's lunar science lead, as she followed the spacecraft from more than 250,000 miles (400,000 kilometers) away on Earth.

By Afp 3 days ago

US-Iran truce: what we know

The US will suspend attacks on Iran for two weeks, and Tehran will in turn temporarily reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil thoroughfare, according to Washington.

By Afp 3 days ago

Premier League secures fifth Champions League spot

The Premier League has secured a fifth UEFA Champions League spot after topping UEFA’s performance rankings for the second consecutive season.

By Afp 2 days ago

Overnight attacks kill children in Ukraine, Russia

Moscow has been launching drones and missiles at Ukraine almost nightly throughout its offensive -- the bloodiest conflict in Europe since World War II.

By Afp 4 days ago

Thai police seize 1.6 tonnes of drugs hidden under cabbages

The Thai man, aged 39, was arrested over the weekend when he stopped his truck at a petrol station in central Ayutthaya province, police said.

By Afp 4 days ago

Saudi petrochemical complex hit after barrage targets country's east

"An attack caused a fire at the SABIC plants in Jubail. The sounds of explosions were very loud," the source said, referring to the Saudi Basic Industries Corporation.

By Afp 4 days ago

Indonesian couple get 100 lashes each for sex outside marriage

A couple was publicly flogged in Indonesia's staunchly Islamic Aceh province on Tuesday for having sex outside of marriage in the country's only region to apply a version of Sharia law.

By Afp 4 days ago

Iran reports strikes on bridges, key highway and railway

Iranian officials reported damage to at least two bridges, railway infrastructure and a key highway on Tuesday as part of a wave of deadly US-Israeli airstrikes on infrastructure targets.

By Afp 3 days ago

Trump warns 'whole civilization will die' in Iran if ultimatum expires

In his Truth Social post, Trump left the door open for a last-hour agreement.

By Afp 3 days ago

Napoli's Serie A title defence boosted by beating AC Milan

Napoli are still in the hunt to retain their Serie A title after the champions beat Scudetto rivals AC Milan 1-0 on Monday.

By Afp 4 days ago

Bayern's Kompany waiting on Kane for 'toughest' game at Real Madrid

Kompany says he would wait until matchday to make a final call on Harry Kane's fitness to start the Champions League visit to face Real Madrid

By Afp 4 days ago

PSG look to pile misery on Liverpool as sides meet again in Champions League

When PSG and Liverpool last met in the UCL a year ago, the Anfield outfit were marching towards the Premier League title and were described as "an almost perfect team"

By Afp 4 days ago

Australian soldier charged with war crimes in Afghanistan

Commissioner Krissy Barrett said the 47-year-old was allegedly complicit in a string of unlawful killings between 2009 and 2012.

By Afp 4 days ago