EU unblocks 90-bn-euro Ukraine loan after Hungary row

The EU on Wednesday gave the green light to unblock a 90-billion-euro ($106 billion) loan for Kyiv, after the deadlock was broken in a months-long row between Ukraine and Hungary.

By Afp 14 hrs ago

Russia says will halt flow of Kazakh oil to Germany

Russia confirmed Wednesday it will halt the pipeline flow of Kazakh oil to Germany next month, citing technical reasons, as Berlin stressed it does not expect an energy supply crunch.

By Afp 14 hrs ago

Under-fire Nepal minister quits after weeks in office

Nepal's home minister stepped down Wednesday over growing criticism of his finances, the second member of the cabinet to leave the new government just weeks after it was formed.

By Afp 14 hrs ago

Migrants deported from US stranded, 'scared' in DR Congo

Spending the past five days cooped up in a hotel in the capital of the DRC is not quite what a group of Latin Americans expected when they sought asylum in the United States.

By Afp 10 hrs ago

Pope in Equatorial Guinea criticises prison conditions

Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday made a tightly controlled visit to a notorious prison in Equatorial Guinea's biggest city, after launching a rare criticism of living conditions for inmates.

By Afp 10 hrs ago

Report says US blocked $500 mn cash shipment to Iraq over pro-Iran attacks

The US blocked a plane carrying nearly $500 million in banknotes from delivering the cash to Iraq, US media reported on Tuesday, piling pressure on Baghdad to fight Iran-backed militant groups.

By Afp 10 hrs ago

Man City, Inter, Chelsea and Juve to face off pre-season in Hong Kong

English and Italian football giants Manchester City, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Juventus will square up for pre-season friendlies in Hong Kong in August, the clubs announced on Tuesday.

By Afp 1 day ago

El Salvador holds mass trial of nearly 500 alleged gang members

Nearly 490 alleged members of the powerful Central American gang Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), went on trial collectively in El Salvador on Monday, accused of thousands of murders.

By Afp 1 day ago

Japan overhauls decades-old weapons export rules

Japan will ease decades-old arms export rules, the government's top spokesman Minoru Kihara said on Tuesday, a policy shift that paves the way for the sale of lethal weapons overseas.

By Afp 1 day ago

On Ukraine front, married medics face war side by side

While Ukrainian combat medic Anastasia Podobailo cleaned blood from a wounded soldier's arm, her colleague and husband Mykola Yasinenko checked if the intravenous drip was flowing.

By Afp 1 day ago

US and Iran warn they are ready for war as talks in limbo

The United States and Iran both warned they were ready for war as the clock ticked down on a ceasefire on Tuesday, with uncertainty over whether talks would resume in Pakistan.

By Afp 1 day ago

Apple's Tim Cook to step down as CEO after 15-year run

Apple's Tim Cook will step down as the California tech giant's chief executive this year, handing the top job to a company veteran as it navigates a technology landscape being upended by AI.

By Afp 1 day ago

Pope visits Equatorial Guinea on last stop of Africa tour

Pope Leo XIV arrives in Equatorial Guinea for the final leg of his African tour, where his increasingly vocal defences of human rights will be closely watched.

By Afp 1 day ago

7,900 people died, disappeared on migration routes in 2025: UN

Around 7,900 people died or disappeared on migration routes in 2025, taking the total dead and missing since 2014 beyond 80,000, the UNs' migration agency said Tuesday.

By Afp 1 day ago

Iran's foreign ministry says the US is not serious about pursuing diplomacy

Iran's foreign ministry said on Monday that the United States was not serious about pursuing diplomacy.

By Afp 2 days ago

Chad to deploy 1,500 troops to fight gangs in Haiti

Chad will deploy 1,500 soldiers to Haiti as part of the UN-backed security force to help quell ongoing gang violence, the country's president said Monday.

By Afp 2 days ago

Oil prices bounce back on Iran war escalation

Oil prices surged on Monday on a re-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East war after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz at the weekend

By Afp 2 days ago

Elon Musk snubs Paris prosecutors' summons over X and Grok

Elon Musk did not appear Monday for a voluntary interview with Paris prosecutors, who had summoned him over a probe into his social media platform X and AI chatbok Grok.

By Afp 2 days ago

Kenyan double-double as Korir, Lokedi defend Boston Marathon crowns

Defending champions John Korir and Sharon Lokedi completed a Kenyan double-double at the Boston Marathon on Monday.

By Afp 2 days ago

Trump says US delegation going to Pakistan Monday for Iran negotiations

US VP JD Vance to miss Monday US-Iran talks in Pakistan, President Trump says, citing security concerns; current ceasefire to expire on Wednesday.

By Afp 3 days ago

Premium

Pope condemns use of AI to fuel conflict, fear as he lands Angola

Pope Leo XIV drew massive crowds in Cameroon and warned against AI-driven division before heading to Angola on his Africa tour amid tensions with Donald Trump.

By Afp 4 days ago

As Iran war strains ties with Trump's US, UK looks to Europe

Britain's government is set to announce legislation next month to move the country closer to the European Union, as the Iran war sours the UK's so-called special relationship with the US.

By Afp 3 days ago

Pope Leo to hold giant mass for Angola's Catholics

Pope Leo XIV will hold a giant open-air mass and visit one of southern Africa's holiest Christian sites Sunday on the first full day of a visit to Angola.

By Afp 3 days ago

Crisis-hit Bulgaria votes in eighth election in five years

Bulgarians voted in the country's eighth election in five years on Sunday, with ex-president Rumen Radev's grouping tipped to win on a pledge to fight corruption.

By Afp 3 days ago

DR Congo, M23 armed group agree to ease aid, free prisoners

The DR Congo government and the M23 group agreed to ease humanitarian aid deliveries and release prisoners within 10 days.

By Afp 3 days ago

Man City beat Arsenal to seize control of title race, Liverpool win

Manchester City beat stumbling Arsenal 2-1 on Sunday to take charge of the Premier League title race.

By Afp 3 days ago

Iran closes Strait of Hormuz again with ships mid-transit

Iran reimposes restrictions on Strait of Hormuz over ongoing US port blockade; says waterway will remain restricted until freedom of movement for vessels to Iran is restored.

By Afp 4 days ago

Pope arrives in Angola on Africa tour overshadowed by Trump

In the capital Luanda, he travelled in his popemobile to meet President Joao Lourenco, with hundreds of cheering and waving people lining the route.

By Afp 4 days ago

At least 5 killed after gunman opens fire in Ukrainian capital Kyiv

Footage posted by the UNIAN news agency, which AFP was unable to immediately verify, showed a man carrying a gun and shooting at a person from close range near a block of flats.

By Afp 4 days ago

Gabon's main opposition leader placed in pre-trial detention

Alain-Claude Bilie-By-Nze, arrested in his home on Wednesday evening, is under investigation for alleged fraud and breach of trust

By Afp 5 days ago

Stocks rise as optimism over Mideast war takes hold

Global stock markets have surged to record highs as optimism over a Middle East ceasefire raises hopes of easing oil disruptions and inflation pressures.

By Afp 6 days ago

Iran declares Strait of Hormuz open as Lebanon ceasefire begins

Tehran has declared the Strait of Hormuz open to commercial shipping on Friday, as a ceasefire came into effect in Lebanon

By Afp 5 days ago

Rice 'doesn't care' about Arsenal critics after reaching Champions League semis

Declan Rice said reaching another Champions League semi-final was "an amazing achievement" for Arsenal despite failing to silence critics in a 0-0 draw at home to Sporting Lisbon

By Afp 6 days ago

France boss Deschamps confirms Ekitike to miss World Cup

Liverpool and France forward Hugo Ekitike will miss the 2026 World Cup after suffering a serious injury in his club's Champions League loss to Paris Saint-Germain

By Afp 6 days ago

Julius Malema sentenced to five years in jail

A South African court sentenced radical left-wing opposition leader Julius Malema to five years in jail on Thursday for firing an assault rifle at a rally eight years ago.

By Afp 6 days ago

Guinea bloggers slam reported social media blackout

A group of bloggers in Guinea denounced what it called a "targeted" blockage of social media sites by the West African country's authoritarian government of President Mamady Doumbouya.

By Afp 6 days ago

Kane lauds Diaz 'moment of magic' after Bayern knock out Real Madrid

Harry Kane praised Luis Diaz's late "moment of magic" which delivered the killer blow as Bayern Munich eliminated Real Madrid to reach the Champions League semi-finals

By Afp 6 days ago

Meghan Markle claims to be 'most trolled person' in world

Prince Harry's wife Meghan Markle claimed Thursday she has been "bullied and attacked" on social media every day for a decade and was "the most trolled person in the entire world".

By Afp 6 days ago

Arteta: Relax, we are in the Champions League semi-finals

Mikel Arteta said Arsenal’s tense run to the Champions League semi-finals shows they have the resilience to handle pressure and chase a long-awaited trophy.

By Afp 6 days ago

Trump says Israel, Lebanon agree to ceasefire

US President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Lebanon had agreed to a ceasefire Thursday, and said he was trying to set up the first-ever meeting between the leaders of the two countries.

By Afp 6 days ago