The latest developments of the war in the Middle East:

The Pentagon said US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the withdrawal of about 5,000 troops from Germany within the next year.

By Afp 1 hr ago

Lebanon says 13 killed in Israeli strikes in south

Israel has kept up deadly strikes on Lebanon despite the April 17 ceasefire that sought to halt more than six weeks of war between Israel and Hezbollah.

By Afp 38 mins ago

Rebels take key military base in Mali's north

Rebels killed Mali's defence minister and took the crucial northern town of Kidal.

By Afp 27 mins ago

Tanzania shuts camp housing thousands of Burundi refugees

As of late 2025, there were an estimated 142,000 Burundian refugees housed in two Tanzanian camps -- Nduta and Nyarugusu, according to the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR).

By Afp 17 mins ago

Iran military official says renewed war with US 'likely'

The war, launched by the United States and Israel in late February, has been on hold since April 8, with one failed round of peace talks having taken place in Pakistan since then.

By Afp 11 mins ago

Arsenal boss Arteta livid over Eze penalty review in Atletico draw

Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta left raging at the decision to overturn a penalty his team had been awarded in their 1-1 Champions League semi-final first leg.

By Afp 1 day ago

Ethiopia heads for one of 'least competitive' elections

Ethiopia holds a general election on June 1, with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed all but guaranteed of victory despite multiple armed conflicts and the economic impact of the Middle East war.

By Afp 22 hrs ago

Sudanese schoolchildren race to make up for years lost to war

Sudanese 13-year-old Afrah wants to become a surgeon, and nothing will stop her, not even the war that has ravaged her country and forced millions of children out of school.

By Afp 22 hrs ago

Premium

Almost half of French real estate agents enable racism: study

Almost half of French real estate agents enable racism: study

By Afp 2 days ago

Mamdani calls on King Charles to return Koh-i-Noor diamond

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called for King Charles to "return" the prized Koh-i-Noor diamond, which the British Empire took from the Indian in 1800s.

By Afp 1 day ago

Abuse of retired Bright 'too much', says Chelsea's Bompastor

Chelsea women's boss Sonia Bompastor said retired Blues captain Millie Bright should be celebrated after revealing the mental struggles caused by the abuse she has faced.

By Afp 1 day ago

Press freedom at lowest level in 25 years: RSF

Press freedom has fallen to its lowest level in a quarter of a century, Reporters Without Borders warned on Thursday.

By Afp 1 day ago

Iran's supreme leader defies US blockade as oil prices soar

Iran's supreme leader declared that the US had suffered a shameful defeat, defiantly rejecting a warning from President Trump that US naval blockade could be enforced for months to come.

By Afp 1 day ago

Cambodia deports more than 600 Thais linked to cyberscams: minister

Cambodia deported more than 600 Thais allegedly involved in online scams on Thursday, the information minister said, part of a crackdown against the multibillion-dollar illicit industry.

By Afp 1 day ago

What's next for OPEC after the UAE's withdrawal?

The exit of the UAE from OPEC and OPEC+ starting in May has cast doubts over the Saudi-led cartel's future after losing its fourth largest producer and further strains the Gulf rivals ties.

By Afp 1 day ago

US sanctions DR Congo ex-leader Kabila over rebel ties

The US has slapped sanctions on the DRC's long-serving former President Joseph Kabila, backing allegations he has assisted Rwandan-linked rebels who have seized vast parts of his country.

By Afp 1 day ago

Iraqi PM-designate says Trump invited him to US once govt formed

Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi received a call from US President Donald Trump, who congratulated him on his nomination and invited him to the US once his government is formed.

By Afp 1 day ago

Trump to put his picture in US passports

An image of Donald Trump will soon appear in some US passports, officials said Tuesday, shattering another norm as the president aggressively puts his personal stamp on government institutions.

By Afp 3 days ago

EU finds Meta failing to keep under-13s off Facebook, Instagram

The EU says Meta is failing to prevent children under 13 using Facebook and Instagram, potentially exposing them to inappropriate content -- and putting the tech giant at risk of a massive fine.

By Afp 3 days ago

Sexual violence in Sudan triggers mental health crisis: UN

The widespread use of rape and other sexual violence as a weapon of war in Sudan has spurred a massive mental health crisis, United Nations agencies and local aid groups warned.

By Afp 3 days ago

King Charles to stress UK-US cultural, trade ties in New York

King Charles III will use a trip to New York on Wednesday to showcase cultural and economic ties between Britain and the US at a time when the "special relationship" is under strain.

By Afp 3 days ago

Starvation and drowning on the deadly Horn of Africa migrant route

On a vast, sun-scorched plain in Djibouti, dozens of men made the days-long trek home after their plan failed to cross one of the world's deadliest migration routes from Africa to the Gulf.

By Afp 3 days ago

Ghana military convoy attacked, three civilians killed

The convoy, transporting about 140 civilians from Bawku to Bolgatanga, came under gunfire at Binduri from unidentified assailants, according to a statement.

By Afp 4 days ago

Ukrainian, Russian strikes leave four dead

"Three civilians were killed following drone attacks by the Ukrainian armed forces," Belgorod regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov wrote on Telegram, adding that three others were wounded.

By Afp 4 days ago

UAE pulls out of OPEC oil cartels citing 'national interests'

The last OPEC member to withdraw from the cartel was Angola in 2024.

By Afp 3 days ago

Gunmen kill 29 in northeast Nigeria, some at soccer pitch

The latest attack comes as Nigeria's security crisis is increasingly under scrutiny -- both abroad and at home as general elections are less than a year away.

By Afp 4 days ago

Tuareg rebels in control of key Mali town

Defence Minister Sadio Camara has been killed, while ruler General Assimi Goita, who led the coup in 2020 that brought the junta to power, has not been seen or spoken publicly since the weekend.

By Afp 4 days ago

Japan prosecutor who accused boss of rape to resign

A Japanese prosecutor who publicly accused her boss of rape said on Tuesday she will resign after her office rejected a request for an independent probe into harassment within the organisation.

By Afp 4 days ago

Sri Lanka detains 22 Buddhist monks for drug smuggling

Twenty-two Sri Lankan monks returning from Thailand were arrested on Sunday at the main international airport with 110 kilogrammes (242 pounds) of powerful cannabis, officials said.

By Afp 4 days ago

North Korea's Kim reaffirms support for Russia's 'sacred' Ukraine war

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has reaffirmed Pyongyang's support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, vowing to help Moscow achieve victory in its "sacred" war, state media reported on Monday.

By Afp 5 days ago

'Joint venture in reverse': foreign carmakers seek edge with China partners

In a sprawling office in Hefei, hundreds of employees and several robotic arms sat refining software developed jointly by German behemoth Volkswagen and Chinese EV maker XPeng.

By Afp 5 days ago

Nations backing fossil fuel exit 'a new power': conference host Colombia

Around 60 nations are attending a world-first conference in Colombia to tackle an issue that has deadlocked the UN climate talks -- how to exit the fossil fuels that cause global warming.

By Afp 5 days ago

UN chief condemns Mali attacks, calls for 'coordinated international' response

United Nations chief Antonio Guterres on Saturday condemned "acts of violence" in Mali after jihadists and Tuareg rebels claimed attacks against the army across the junta-ruled Sahel state.

By Afp 6 days ago

Israel appoints first ambassador to Somaliland

Israel has appointed its first ambassador to Somaliland, months after formally recognising the breakaway region in the Horn of Africa, the foreign ministry said Sunday.

By Afp 5 days ago

Sawe breaks two-hour mark for first time in marathon history

He led a group of six as they passed the halfway point in a time of 1:00:29.

By Afp 5 days ago

President Trump, First Lady Melania safe after shooting incident at press dinner

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump "are safe," the US Secret Service has said after a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

By Afp 6 days ago

White House press dinner shooting not connected with Iran war, Trump says

The suspect, who exchanged gunfire with Secret Service agents but was not shot himself, will appear before a US district judge on Monday.

By Afp 6 days ago

Trump cancels Pakistan talks trip, says Iran war on hold

Trump said he scrapped the visit after being unimpressed with Tehran's negotiating position, adding that a revised proposal followed within minutes of his decision.

By Afp 6 days ago

What we know about the Trump press gala shooting

US President Donald Trump and other attendees at a glitzy media gala in Washington made a hasty exit Saturday night after gunshots were fired.

By Afp 6 days ago

China and Myanmar vow more trade, security cooperation

China and Myanmar have pledged to expand trade and security ties, especially along their border, during talks in the Southeast Asian nation.

By Afp 6 days ago