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Anxious Venezuelans seek clarity on new amnesty law
Families in Venezuela continued to wait anxiously outside prisons Friday, as questions swirled about a newly passed mass amnesty law pushed through by interim authorities following the US toppling of Nicolas Maduro.
Zelensky says no 'family day' in rare personal interview to AFP
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told AFP on Friday there was "no such thing as a family day", conceding that he was not able to spend much time with his wife and children as the Russian invasion drags into a fifth year.
Zelensky tells AFP that Ukraine is not losing the war
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told AFP on Friday that his country is not losing its war against Russia, has taken hundreds of square kilometres in a new counteroffensive, and that European troops should deploy right on the front line after any ceasefire.
US military assets in the Middle East
The USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier entered the Mediterranean Sea on Friday, further boosting American firepower in a region that has seen a massive military buildup ahead of potential strikes against Iran.
Trump says weighing strike on Iran as Tehran says draft deal coming soon
US President Donald Trump said he was considering a limited strike on Iran after ordering a major naval buildup in the Middle East aimed at heaping pressure on Tehran to cut a deal to curb its nuclear programme.
Ukraine Paralympics team to boycott opening ceremony over Russian flag decision
Ukraine's Paralympic athletes will skip the opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina Winter Games next month in protest at the International Paralympic Committee's decision to allow Russian athletes to compete under their national flag, Ukraine's National Paralympic Committee has said.
AI summit statement delayed to 'maximise' signatories: India
Dozens of national delegations at an artificial intelligence summit in India will issue their statement on how the world should handle the technology on Saturday, a day later than expected, the host country said.
French minister pledges tight security at rally for killed activist
French police will be out in force at a weekend rally for a slain far-right activist, the interior minister said Friday, as the country seeks to contain anger over the fatal beating blamed on the hard left.
Germany's Merz to visit China next week
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will visit China next week for talks with President Xi Jinping centred on trade between the top EU economy and the Asian giant, Berlin said.
US Olympic freeskier Hess embraces 'loser' tag after Trump blast
US Olympian Hunter Hess said Friday he had found extra motivation after President Donald Trump called him a "real loser" for saying he had mixed feelings about representing America in the current political climate.
'Alpha male' AI world shuts out women: computing prof Hall
Artificial intelligence could change the world but the dearth of women in the booming sector will undermine pledges for inclusive technology, top computer scientist Wendy Hall told AFP on Friday.
Thai activist's jail term for royal insult extended to 30 years
A Thai court sentenced a prominent lawyer to more than two years for royal insult on Friday, a rights group said, bringing his combined sentence for monarchy reform activism to over three decades.
UN touts panel for 'human control' of AI at global summit
A UN panel on artificial intelligence will work towards "science-led governance", the global body's chief said Friday as leaders at a New Delhi summit weighed their message on the future of the booming technology.
Ukraine Paralympics team to boycott Opening Ceremony over Russian flag decision: statement
Ukraine's Paralympic athletes will skip the Opening Ceremony of the Milan-Cortina Winter Games next month in protest at the International Paralympic Committee's decision to allow Russian athletes to compete under their national flag, Ukraine's National Paralympic Committee has said.
Outspoken Laos lawmaker's election exit sparks rare dissent
When one of the few lawmakers willing to call out corruption in single-party Laos was left off the candidate list ahead of this weekend's heavily managed election, a rare wave of dissent erupted.
Kim Jong Un vows to boost living standards as he opens rare congress
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed to lift living standards as he opened a landmark congress, state media said Friday, offering a glimpse of economic strains within the sanctions-hit nation.
Venezuela parliament unanimously approves amnesty law
Venezuela's National Assembly on Thursday unanimously approved a long-awaited amnesty law that could free hundreds of political prisoners jailed for being government detractors.
Kim Jong Un opens rare party congress in North Korea
North Korea's ruling party has opened a landmark congress, state media said Friday, launching a political spectacle expected to unveil the next phase in the nation's nuclear weapons programme.
Japan inflation eases in welcome news for Takaichi
Japanese inflation slowed in January, government data showed Friday, in welcome news for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi after her recent election landslide win.
FIFA to lead $75m Palestinian soccer rebuilding fund
FIFA will spearhead a $75 million fund to rebuild soccer facilities in Gaza that were destroyed by the war between Israel and Hamas, President Donald Trump and the sport's governing body said Thursday.
Striking Argentine workers clash with police in protest over labor reforms
Shops and supermarkets closed, flights were canceled and garbage piled up Thursday as Argentine workers staged their fourth general strike of President Javier Milei's term, some clashing with police.
North Korea opens key party congress
North Korea has opened a key party congress, state media said Friday, a once-in-five-years showcase that analysts say will outline a wide range of national priorities, including nuclear objectives.
US Fed Governor Miran scales back call for rate cuts this year
US Federal Reserve Governor Stephen Miran has scaled back his expectations of how much the central bank should lower interest rates this year, he said in an interview published Thursday.
Trump issues Iran with ultimatum as US ramps up military presence
US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Iran must make a "meaningful deal" in negotiations with Washington in the next 10 days or else "bad things happen", as he deployed warships, fighter jets and other military hardware to the region.
Belarus says US failed to issue visas for 'Board of Peace' meeting
The United States failed to issue visas for Belarusian officials to attend the inaugural meeting of President Donald Trump's "Board of Peace", despite inviting Belarus to join as a founding member, the country's foreign ministry said Thursday.
War-weary Sudanese celebrate as Ramadan returns to Khartoum
A familiar scene returned to Khartoum as men gathered in the streets of the war-scarred Sudanese capital to break their fast on the first day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Peru's new president under fire for child sex comments
Rights groups expressed concern Thursday at the choice of 83-year-old Jose Maria Balcazar as Peru's stand-in president given past utterances on girls and under-aged sex.
Belarus frees opposition politician Statkevich
Belarus has released opposition politician Mikola Statkevich from prison, five months after he refused to leave the country in a US-brokered prisoner release, his wife told AFP on Thursday.
Trump 'Board of Peace' opens with money and troops for Gaza
US President Donald Trump on Thursday promised $10 billion and Muslim-majority nations offered funding and troops for Gaza as he inaugurated his "Board of Peace," a new institution whose ultimate mission has drawn questions.
Starlink loss a blow to Russian forces in Ukraine: experts
US tech titan Elon Musk's move to cut Russian access to his Starlink satellites over Ukraine has probably disrupted Russian forces' tactical command and restricted their offensive capacity, but the war goes on.
UN's Sudan probe finds 'hallmarks of genocide' in El-Fasher
The United Nations' independent fact-finding mission on Sudan said on Thursday the siege and capture of El-Fasher by a paramilitary group bore "the hallmarks of genocide".
Belarus frees opposition politician Statkevich: wife
Belarus has released opposition politician Mikola Statkevich from prison, five months after he refused to leave the country in a US-brokered prisoner release, his wife said Thursday.