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Key Trump quotes about US operation in Venezuela

Here are the highlights of the press conference, in Trump's own words:
On what comes next for Venezuela
"We're going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition."

"The people that are standing right behind me, we're going to be running it. We're going to be bringing it back." (Behind him were Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, senior aide Stephen Miller, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and top US General Dan Caine)
On wor...

Soundproofing foam in focus in probe of deadly Swiss bar fire

The question of whether safety standards were respected has been debated since the fire broke out at Le Constellation bar in Switzerland's glitzy resort town Crans-Montana at around 1:30 am (0030 GMT) on Thursday, as the venue was crammed with young partygoers.

Beatrice Pilloud, the lead prosecutor in Switzerland's southwestern Wallis canton, told reporters Friday that the leading hypothesis was that "sparklers or Bengal candles attached to champagne bottles and lifted too close to the ceil...

US allies, foes alarmed by capture of Venezuela's Maduro

US President Donald Trump said Nicolas Maduro and his wife would be taken to New York to face federal charges after military strikes and an operation which he described as looking like a "television show".

The Venezuelan government decried what it termed a "extremely serious military aggression" by Washington and declared a state of emergency.

Countries such as Russia and Iran, which had longstanding ties with Maduro's government, were quick to condemn the operation but their alarm was als...

US military seizes Maduro in bombing raid on Venezuelan capital

A months-long standoff ended swiftly and violently in a high-risk operation that Trump touted as an "amazing" success.

US-backed opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who won the Nobel Peace Prize last year, posted on social media: "the hour of freedom has arrived."

She called for the opposition's candidate in the 2024 election, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, to "immediately" assume the presidency.

But the United Nations chief said he was "deeply concerned that the rules of international law...

Sudanese flee across border and back to escape overrun oil town

Now, the 25-year-old mother of five -- paralysed from the waist down -- lies shell-shocked on a cot in the Abu al-Naga displacement camp, a dusty transit centre just outside the eastern city of Gedaref, nearly 800 kilometres (500 miles) from home.

But her family's actual journey was much longer, crossing the South Sudan border twice and passing from one group of fighters to another, as they ran for their lives with their children in tow alongside hundreds of others.

"We fled with nothing,"...

Real Madrid's Alonso unsure of Mbappe absence length

The French striker was diagnosed with a knee strain on Wednesday, expected to keep him out for at least three weeks.

"We'll try to make it happen quickly, it depends a lot on how he feels, but we'll try to get him back as quickly as possible," Alonso told a news conference.

"When is as soon as possible? That's the question. I don't know."

The coach said he hopes Mbappe will be back to take part in the Spanish Super Cup, with Los Blancos facing rivals Atletico Madrid in the semi-final on J...

Trump says Venezuela's Maduro captured in 'large scale' US strike

Trump's stunning announcement follows months of steadily mounting US military and economic pressure on leftist leader Maduro and his country's oil-export-dependent economy.

"The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country," Trump said on Truth Social.

"This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement."

Trump add...

Saudi-backed forces make advances in Yemen's Hadramawt: military officials

The Saudis and Emiratis have for years supported rival factions in Yemen's fractious government. But the UAE-backed secessionist Southern Transitional Council's recent offensive to capture Hadramawt angered Riyadh and left the oil-rich regional powers on a collision course.

Following repeated warnings and air strikes, including on an alleged Emirati weapons shipment this week, the Saudi-led coalition launched a wave of attacks on Friday, including on the Al-Khasha military camp in Hadramawt...

Iran security forces member stabbed, shot dead at protest: agency

The protests began on Sunday as an expression of discontent over high prices and economic stagnation, but have since expanded to include political demands.

The first deaths were reported as demonstrators clashed with authorities on Thursday, with at least eight people killed so far, including members of the security services, according to official figures.

"Ali Azizi, a member of the Basij, was martyred after being stabbed and shot in the city of Harsin during a gathering of armed rioters,...

US bombs Caracas, Maduro captured: Trump

"The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country," Trump said on Truth Social, around two hours after explosions rocked Venezuela's capital Caracas.

There was no confirmation from Venezuela's government of the fate of the leftist Maduro, in power since 2013.

His government accused the United States of an "extremely serious milit...

UN chief calls on Israel to reverse NGOs ban in Gaza

Guterres "calls for this measure to be reversed, stressing that international non-governmental organizations are indispensable to life-saving humanitarian work and that the suspension risks undermining the fragile progress made during the ceasefire," his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

"This recent action will further exacerbate the humanitarian crisis facing Palestinians," he added.

Israel on Thursday suspended 37 foreign humanitarian organizations from accessing the ...

Lens move four points clear of PSG at top of Ligue 1

Lens have held top spot since November 30 and will stay there for at least another fortnight as next weekend is given over to the French Cup.

After an even first 20 minutes, the game turned when Toulouse striker Emersonn was sent off for an ugly challenge on Odsonne Edouard.

Lens did not benefit from the one-man advantage until the start of the second half when they laid siege to the Toulouse goal.

Wesley Said broke the deadlock with a curling shot in the 57th minute before captain Adri...

2025 was UK's hottest and sunniest year on record

The previous record of 10.03C was set in 2022.

"2025 now joins 2022 and 2023 in the top three warmest years since 1884," the Met Office said in a statement, noting the United Kingdom's mean temperature through last year was 10.09C.

"This is an increasingly clear demonstration of the impacts of climate change on UK temperatures," it added.

"It is also only the second year in this series where the UK's annual mean temperature has exceeded 10.0C."

It means four of the UK's last five years n...

Tech campaigner decries US 'punishment' after visa sanctions

Ahmed, a US permanent resident, heads the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), a nonprofit watchdog that researches the harmful effects of online disinformation. He was among five European figures whom the State Department recently said would be denied visas.

The department accused the group of attempting to "coerce" tech platforms into censoring Americans' viewpoints, a charge they reject. The European Union and several member states strongly condemned the US sanctions.

The US annou...

Ukraine says 19 wounded in Russian strike on Kharkiv housing area

The attack came a day after Russia accused Kyiv of a strike on a hotel and a cafe in Ukraine's occupied south, killing 27 people, and warned of "consequences" -- but Ukraine said the attack targeted a military gathering that was closed to civilians.

Kharkiv regional governor Oleg Synegubov said on Telegram after Russia's attack on Friday that "a total of 19 people suffered blast injuries, glass wounds, and abrasions", adding that a six-month-old baby was among them.

AFP images from the sit...

Budanov: Enigmatic spy chief set to become Zelensky's top aide

Referred to as the man "without a smile" in Ukrainian media, the 39-year-old has revealed little about his background or personal life, and maintains a low profile.

But he is credited with some of Kyiv's most audacious attacks inside Russia and occupied Ukrainian territory -- including an explosion on the Russian-built Crimean Bridge in 2022.

Regarded as a legend among Ukrainians but a wanted criminal in Russia, the combat veteran will now have unparallelled access to Zelensky and be at th...

Swiss investigators rush to identify victims of New Year's fire

It is not yet clear what set off the blaze at Le Constellation, killing around 40 people and injuring about 115 others, many seriously.

Bystanders described scenes of panic and chaos as people tried to break the windows to escape and others, covered in burns, poured into the street.

Swiss police warned it could take days or even weeks to identify everyone who perished, an agonising wait for family and friends.

"We've tried to reach our friends. We took loads of photos and posted them on I...

Maduro elusive on US attack, open to dialogue

"Wherever they want and whenever they want," Maduro said of the idea of dialogue with the United States on drug trafficking, oil and migration in an interview on state TV.

Maduro's government has neither confirmed nor denied what President Donald Trump announced Monday: a US attack on a docking facility that served Venezuelan drug trafficking boats.

Asked point-blank if he confirmed or denied the attack, Maduro said Thursday "this could be something we talk about in a few days."

The attac...

Trump blames bruised hand on aspirin, denies falling asleep

In the interview defending his health, Trump also changed his previous statement about receiving an MRI scan in October, saying it was instead a quicker CT scan.

Trump, who at 79 is the oldest person to assume the US presidency, told the Journal "my health is perfect" and expressed frustration with scrutiny of his well-being.

Trump has based much of his political image on projecting vigor -- whether through his frequent interactions with journalists, constant social media posting, or AI me...

The Crans-Montana fire: a Swiss tragedy that raises questions

Around 40 people were killed and over 100 others injured in the blaze at the New Year's party.

As investigators begin the gruelling task of identifying the victims and trying to determine what happened, here are some of the main issues they will seek to probe.
How did the tragedy occur?
"It was around 1:30 am (0030 GMT) when smoke was spotted" coming out of Le Constellation bar at the heart of the upscale resort, police commander Frederic Gisler told reporters.

A few seconds later, a witn...

Leftist Mamdani begins first day as New York mayor

The 34-year-old Democrat -- virtually unknown a year ago -- was officially sworn in as mayor of the largest city in the United States just past midnight as New Yorkers rang in the new year.

New York's first Muslim mayor took the oath of office during a private ceremony at a decommissioned subway stop under City Hall.

Later on Thursday, Mamdani is scheduled to take part in a larger, ceremonial inauguration with speeches from left-wing allies Senator Bernie Sanders and congresswoman Alexan...

Hakimi, Salah and Osimhen head star-packed AFCON last-16 cast

Paris Saint-Germain defender Hakimi was crowned 2025 African player of the year in November. Liverpool attacker Salah and Galatasaray striker Osimhen were the runners-up.

After 36 matches spread across six groups, the 16 survivors from 24 hopefuls clash in eight second-round matches over four days.

Fit-again Hakimi is set to lead title favourites Morocco against Tanzania, Salah will captain Egypt against Benin and Osimhen-inspired Nigeria tackle Mozambique.

AFP Sport looks at the match...

Israel says it 'will enforce' ban on 37 NGOs in Gaza

The groups will now be required to cease their operations by March 1, which the United Nations has warned will exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in the war-ravaged Palestinian territory.

"Organisations that have failed to meet required security and transparency standards will have their licenses suspended," the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism said in a statement on Thursday.

Several NGOS have said the requirements contravene international humanitarian law or endang...

Deadly fire ravages New Year celebration in bar at luxury Swiss ski resort

Police, firefighters and rescuers rushed to the popular resort, one of the top-ranked ski destinations in Europe, with Swiss media reporting the toll could soar into the dozens.

The "fire of undetermined origin" broke out in a bar popular with tourists, police in the Wallis canton in southwestern Switzerland said in a statement.

A police spokesman named the bar as Le Constellation, which has a capacity of 300 people and another 40 people on its terrace, according to the Crans-Montana webs...

Taiwan's president vows to defend sovereignty after China drills

Beijing launched missiles and deployed dozens of fighter jets, navy ships and coastguard vessels this week to encircle Taiwan's main island, in exercises condemned by Taipei as "highly provocative".

China claims democratic Taiwan is part of its territory and has threatened to use force to annex it.

"My stance has always been clear: to steadfastly defend national sovereignty, strengthen national defence and whole-of-society resilience, comprehensively establish effective deterrence capabili...

N. Korea's Kim hails 'invincible alliance' with Russia in New Year's letter

Pyongyang has sent thousands of troops to support Russia's nearly four-year invasion of Ukraine, according to South Korean and Western intelligence agencies.

At least 600 have died and thousands more have sustained injuries, according to South Korean estimates.

Analysts say North Korea is receiving financial aid, military technology and food and energy supplies from Russia in return.

On Thursday Kim praised his men fighting in an "alien land", congratulating their "heroic" defence of the ...

Trump bashes Clooney after actor becomes French

Trump, whose administration has backed anti-immigration parties in Europe, said key ally France had a "horrendous" problem with crime and immigration.

An official decree seen by AFP on Monday showed that 64-year-old Oscar winner Clooney, his wife Amal Alamuddin Clooney and their two children had become French citizens.

"Good News! George and Amal Clooney, two of the worst political prognosticators of all time, have officially become citizens of France which is, sadly, in the midst of a maj...

Trump says pulling National Guard from three cities -- for now

The Republican had sent troops into several cities run by Democrats during his first year back in power, in what he called a crackdown on illegal immigration and crime.

Local leaders slammed the moves as authoritarian overreach and launched a string of successful legal challenges, with the US Supreme Court last week blocking the Chicago deployment.

"We are removing the National Guard from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland, despite the fact that CRIME has been greatly reduced by having the...

China says to impose extra 55% tariffs on some beef imports

The price of beef in China has trended downwards in recent years, with analysts blaming oversupply and a lack of demand as the world's second-largest economy has slowed.

At the same time imports have surged, with China representing a hugely important market for countries such as Brazil, Argentina and Australia.

Investigators found that beef imports had damaged China's domestic industry, Beijing's commerce ministry said in a statement. The probe covered fresh, frozen, bone-in and boneless b...

Leftist Mamdani to take over as New York mayor under Trump shadow

After the clocks strike midnight (0500 GMT Thursday), bringing in 2026, Mamdani will take his oath of office at an abandoned subway stop, taking the helm of the United States' largest city. He will be New York's first Muslim mayor.

His office says the understated venue for the swearing-in reflects his commitment to working people, after the 34-year-old Democrat campaigned on promises to address the soaring cost of living.

But it remains to be seen if Mamdani -- virtually unknown a year ag...

Israel begins demolishing 25 buildings in West Bank camp

The buildings, home to some 100 families, are in the Nur Shams camp, a frequent site of clashes between Palestinian militants and Israeli forces.

Israeli military bulldozers and cranes tore through the structures early Wednesday, sending thick plumes of dust into the air, an AFP journalist reported. Many residents watched from a distance.

"Being torn away from our homes, our neighbourhoods and our memories is deeply painful," said Mutaz Mahr, whose building was being demolished.

"The occu...

US grants temporary licence to Russian-controlled Serbian oil firm NIS: Serbian minister

France plans social media ban for children under 15

The initiative is backed by President Emmanuel Macron, who said earlier this month that parliament should start debating such a proposal in January. Australia this month imposed a social media ban on under 16s, in a world first.

"Many studies and reports now confirm the various risks caused by excessive use of digital screens by adolescents," the French draft says.

Chidren with unfettered online access were exposed to "inappropriate content" and could suffer from cyber-harassment or exper...

Hoping for better year ahead, Gazans bid farewell to 'nightmare' of 2025

For residents of the battered territory, daily life is a struggle for survival.

Much of Gaza's infrastructure lies in ruins, electricity remains scarce and hundreds of thousands of people live in makeshift tents after being repeatedly displaced by the two years of fighting that began with Hamas's attack on Israel in October 2023.

"We in the Gaza Strip are living in an endless nightmare," said Hanaa Abu Amra, a displaced woman in her thirties living in Gaza City.

"We hope that this nightma...

Iran government building attacked as top prosecutor responds to protests

Spontaneous protests, driven by dissatisfaction at Iran's economic stagnation, began on Sunday in Tehran's largest mobile phone market, where shopkeepers shuttered their businesses, and have since drawn in students across the country.

"A portion of the provincial governors' office door and its glass were destroyed in an attack by a number of people," said Hamed Ostovar, the head of the judiciary in the city of Fasa, as quoted by the justice ministry's Mizan agency, without specifying how th...

Pistons pound Lakers as James marks 41st birthday with loss

The Lakers' final home game of the year got under way in a festive atmosphere, with the Crypto.com Arena hoping to salute James as he celebrated his birthday.

But the Lakers, missing the injured Austin Reaves and Gabe Vincent, were always chasing the game against a Pistons line-up who led for most of the contest.

The home side threatened to haul themselves back into contention after tying the game at 79-79 midway through the third quarter.

That though was the cue for Detroit to crank up t...

Taiwan coastguard says Chinese ships 'withdrawing' after drills

China launched missiles and deployed dozens of fighter jets, navy ships and coastguard vessels around the island on Monday and Tuesday in live-fire drills aimed at simulating a blockade of the Taiwan's key ports and assaults on maritime targets.

Taipei, which slammed the two-day war games as "highly provocative and reckless", said the manoeuvre failed to impose a blockade on the island.

Communist China has never ruled democratic Taiwan, but Beijing claims the island of 23 million people is...

Leftist Mamdani to take over as New York mayor under Trump shadow

After the clocks strike midnight, bringing in 2026, Mamdani will take his oath of office at an abandoned subway stop, taking the helm of the United States' largest city. He will be New York's first Muslim mayor.

His office says the understated venue for the oath-taking reflects his commitment to working people, after the 34-year-old Democrat campaigned on promises to address the soaring cost of living.

But it remains to be seen if Mamdani -- virtually unknown a year ago -- can deliver on ...

French duo stripped of Sydney-Hobart race overall win

New Caledonia-based duo Michel Quintin and Yann Rigal claimed victory for BNC in the overall Tattersall Cup, determined by a complicated handicap formula which allows smaller boats to compete with bigger and faster rivals.

But a race panel later added more than one hour to their finishing time after upholding a complaint by second-placed Min River over an incorrectly secured sail.

"Not in my wildest dreams did I think this would come true for me," said Min River co-skipper Jiang Lin afte...

Senegal top AFCON group, DR Congo to face Algeria in last 16

Sadio Mane's Senegal, African champions in 2022, came into the final round of group games needing to beat Benin in Tangier and hope that their Congolese rivals did not manage to move above them on goal difference.

Senegal ran out 3-0 winners against Benin, with Abdoulaye Seck and Habib Diallo scoring before skipper Kalidou Koulibaly was sent off in the second half. Cherif Ndiaye then added a late penalty.

DR Congo beat already-eliminated Botswana 3-0 at the same time in Rabat, meaning the ...

Drones dive into aviation's deepest enigma as MH370 hunt restarts

Armed with cutting-edge deep-sea robots and smarter data, US investigators are scouring the seabed for clues that have eluded governments, experts and grieving families for more than a decade.

MH370 took off from Kuala Lumpur just after midnight on March 8, 2014, bound for Beijing on what should have been an uneventful six-hour flight.

Less than an hour later, its transponder went dark, wiping the Boeing 777 from civilian radar. Military screens later showed the aircraft veering sharply we...

10 countries warn of 'catastrophic' Gaza situation

The warning came a day after US President Donald Trump warned Palestinian militant group Hamas there would be "hell to pay" if it fails to disarm in Gaza, as he presented a united front with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"As winter draws in, civilians in Gaza are facing appalling conditions with heavy rainfall and temperatures dropping," the ministers of Britain, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Japan, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland said in a joint statement released ...

Johnson still a Spurs player despite Palace interest, says Frank

Several British media outlets, including the BBC and Sky Sports, reported that the Eagles have had a £35 million ($47 million) bid for the 24-year-old accepted but that Johnson is yet to green light the move.

The former Nottingham Forest winger is also attracting interest from Bournemouth, who look set to lose their top scorer Antoine Semenyo to Manchester City in the early days of the January transfer window.

"Brennan has been a top professional," said Frank at his pre-match press confere...

I.Coast ruling party's dominance leaves opposition on brink

With the opposition all but out of the picture, Ouattara's party now boasts nearly 80 percent of seats in parliament, largely controls the Senate and dominates municipal and regional councils, in one of west Africa's fastest-growing economies and the world's top cocoa producer.
Electoral dominance
Supporters of the Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP) put its success down to a dynamic economy and stability in a troubled region under Ouattara's watch since coming to power in...

Trump says US hit dock for Venezuela drug boats

The US leader's confirmation of the incident comes as he ramps up a pressure campaign against Venezuela's leftist President Nicolas Maduro, who has accused Trump of seeking regime change.

"There was a major explosion in the dock area where they load the boats up with drugs," he told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida as he hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"So we hit all the boats and now we hit the area, it's the implementation area, that's where they implement...

China conducts second day of military drills around Taiwan

The two-day war games, code-named "Justice Mission 2025", started on Monday and were slammed by Taipei as "military intimidation" by Beijing.

China claims Taiwan as part of its sovereign territory and has refused to rule out using military action to seize the island democracy.

AFP journalists in Pingtan -- a Chinese island that is the closest point to Taiwan's main island -- saw a volley of rockets blasting into the air on Tuesday morning at around 9:00 am (0100 GMT), leaving trails of whi...

Hosts Morocco cruise as South Africa reach Cup of Nations last 16

African player of the year Achraf Hakimi made his comeback from almost two months out injured for Morocco as Mali also qualified for the next round and Mohamed Salah was rested for Egypt's 0-0 draw against Angola.

Morocco are the tournament favourites as the host nation and Africa's top-ranked team but they were booed off by supporters following a 1-1 draw against Mali in their last outing.

Nevertheless, Walid Regragui's team knew a win against Zambia at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium ...

Media on Bardot: France's biggest 'sex symbol' or 'crazy cat lady'

Images of the screen legend were splashed across media outlets around the globe following the announcement of her death on Sunday aged 91 .

All highlighted her lasting cinema and style impact, though many also noted prominently her decision to give up her film career to defend animal rights -- and her becoming a far-right supporter.

The New York Times saw Bardot as having "redefined mid-20th century movie sex symbolism", highlighting her "unapologetic carnal appetite" on screen.

It added,...

Brigitte Bardot to be buried in Saint-Tropez cemetery

Bardot, who died on Sunday aged 91 after decades as an animal rights campaigner, had said she wanted to be laid to rest in her garden with a simple wooden cross on her grave -- like those of her pets.

"I'd rather be there than in the Saint-Tropez cemetery, where a crowd of idiots might damage the graves of my parents and grandparents," she told Le Monde newspaper in 2018.

Despite her wishes, an official at the Saint-Tropez town hall said the plan is for her to be laid to rest in the town's...

India's navy sails back to the future with historic voyage

But none of its vessels is as unusual as its newest addition that sets sail on its maiden Indian Ocean crossing on Monday -- a wooden stitched ship inspired by a fifth-century design, built not to dominate the seas but to remember how India once traversed them.

Steered by giant oars rather than a rudder, with two fixed square sails to catch seasonal monsoon winds, it heads westward on its first voyage across the seas, a 1,400-kilometre (870-mile) voyage to Oman's capital Muscat.

Named Kaun...

Puel back as Nice manager after Haise exits

Puel, who was previously in charge at Nice between 2012-16, "begins today his priority mission of improving the team's performance", Nice said in a statement.

Nice thanked Haise and his assistants "for their commitment and the work accomplished in the red and black colours and wishes Claude Puel a good return to the bench".

Puel spent his entire playing career with neighbouring Monaco before becoming manager of the club.

He then went on to manage Lille, Lyon and Saint-Etienne in Ligue 1,...

Emirates mining company challenges Guinea licence withdrawal

Guinea, which has been run by a junta since a coup in 2021, has cancelled dozens of licences for international and domestic companies mining bauxite, gold, iron ore or diamonds over recent months.

Axis International, which is headquartered in the United Arab Emirates, had operated Guinea's second-biggest bauxite mine with estimated reserves of more than 800 million tonnes since 2010.

The company said it has appealed to the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Dispute (ICSI...

Myanmar pro-military party official says 'winning' junta-run poll

The armed forces snatched power in a 2021 coup, but on Sunday opened voting in a phased month-long election they pledge will return power to the people.

The massively popular but dissolved National League for Democracy (NLD) of democratic figurehead Aung San Suu Kyi did not appear on ballots, and she remains jailed since the military putsch which triggered a civil war.

Campaigners, Western diplomats and the United Nations' rights chief have condemned the vote -- citing a stark crackdown on...

Myanmar pro-military party 'winning' junta-run poll first phase: source

The armed forces snatched power in a 2021 coup, but on Sunday opened voting in a phased month-long election they pledge will return power to the people.

The massively popular but dissolved party of democratic figurehead Aung San Suu Kyi did not appear on ballots, and she remains jailed since the military putsch which triggered a civil war.

Campaigners, Western diplomats and the United Nations' rights chief have condemned the vote -- citing a stark crackdown on dissent and a candidate list ...

Bondi victims' families demand national probe into antisemitism

Father and son Sajid and Naveed Akram are accused of targeting a Hanukkah event on Sydney's Bondi Beach on December 14, killing 15 people and wounding dozens in what authorities have described as an antisemitic terrorist attack.

Seventeen families urged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in an open letter to "immediately establish a Commonwealth Royal Commission into the rapid rise of antisemitism in Australia" and examine "law enforcement, intelligence, and policy failures that led to the Bon...

South Korea's ex-first lady accused of taking over $200,000 in bribes

Kim Keon Hee, the wife of disgraced ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol, was arrested in August and is under investigation for alleged stock manipulation and receving gifts from the cult-like Unification Church.

She has also been accused of meddling in parliamentary elections.

In an announcement concluding their investigation, prosecutor Min Joong-ki said South Korea's institutions were "severely undermined by abuses of power" by Kim.

Kim allegedly "illegally intervened in state affairs behind the...

China's BYD poised to overtake Tesla in 2025 EV sales

The two groups are expected soon to publish their final figures for 2025, and based on sales data so far this year, there is almost no chance the American company led by Elon Musk will retain its leadership position.

At the end of November, Shenzhen-based BYD, which also produces hybrid vehicles, had sold 2.07 million EVs so far in 2025.

Tesla, for its part, had sold 1.22 million by the end of September.

Tesla's September figures included a one-time boost in sales, to nearly half-a-milli...

North Korea tests cruise missiles in show of 'combat readiness'

Leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the drill -- staged Sunday over the Yellow Sea to the west of the Korean peninsula -- and called for "unlimited and sustained" development of his nuclear weapons forces, the state-run Korean Central News Agency said.

The goal of the exercise was to review the "counter-offensive response posture and combat capability of long-range missile sub-units," KCNA said.

The missiles flew for more than two hours, state media said, sharing photos of the missiles being fired ...

Algeria advance to AFCON last-16, Cameroon hold Ivory Coast

Defending champions Ivory Coast failed to join the trio after drawing 1-1 with Cameroon in a lively Marrakesh showdown.

Elsewhere, Mozambique ended a 39-wait for a first AFCON victory by beating Gabon 3-2 while Sudan got back into contention for a last-16 slot by beating Equatorial Guinea 1-0 in Casablanca.

Captain Mahrez converted from the spot midway through the first half and Algeria then held on to win a bruising contest against a determined Burkinabe outfit.

The penalty that decided ...

Mahrez penalty takes Algeria through to Cup of Nations last 16

Captain Mahrez converted from the spot midway through the first half at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat and Algeria then held on to win a bruising contest against a determined Burkina outfit.

Algeria, African champions in 1990 and in 2019, have the maximum six points after two games in Group E and are yet to concede a goal, with Vladimir Petkovic's side living up to their billing as one of the pre-tournament favourites.

Burkina Faso and Sudan come next on three points each and play e...

Guinea junta chief headed for victory in presidential vote

As the polling stations began to close from 1800 GMT, officials began counting the votes.

By running, the strongman reneged on a pledge not to stand for office and to hand the west African country back to civilian rule by the end of 2024.

Since seizing power in 2021, Doumbouya has cracked down on civil liberties, and protests have been banned while opponents have been arrested, put on trial or driven into exile.

Some 6.8 million people were eligible to choose between the nine approved can...

Nkunku breaks Serie A goal duck to fire AC Milan top

Nkunku ended a league goal drought stretching back to February when he doubled Milan's lead two minutes after half-time with a penalty he earned.

Five minutes later he was on hand to tap home the third and give the hosts a two-point lead over local rivals Inter Milan.

The 28-year-old's only previous goal for Milan since signing from Chelsea for an initial 37 million euros ($43.6 million) in August came against Lecce in the Italian Cup in September.

"He's a sensitive lad, one who is keen ...

Trump says has 'productive' talks with Putin before Zelensky meet

Trump's renewed upbeat tone comes despite wide skepticism in Europe about Putin's intentions after Russia carried out another massive bombardment of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv just as Zelensky was heading to Trump's Florida estate.

"I just had a very good and productive telephone call with President Putin of Russia," Trump announced on his Truth Social platform.

Trump is set to meet Zelensky at 1:00 pm (1800 GMT) in the dining room of his Mar-a-Lago estate, where he frequently brings both ...

Touadera on path to third presidential term as Central African Republic votes

Polling stations will open at 0500 GMT and close at 1700 GMT with 2.3 million voters asked to select their president and legislators, as well as municipal and regional representatives.

After changing the constitution to allow him to seek a third term, Touadera is in pole position out of a seven-strong field.

The 68-year-old president concluded his campaign with a rally in a 20,000-seat stadium in Bangui, before a large and enthusiastic crowd.

The campaign unfolded without major inciden...

Iraqis cover soil with clay to curb sandstorms

Iraq has long suffered from sand and dust storms, but in recent years they have become more frequent and intense as the country falls prey to the effects of climate change.

Sand and dust storms -- driven by severe drought, rising temperatures and deforestation -- have cloaked cities and villages in an endless ochre haze, grounded flights and filled hospitals with patients suffering from breathing difficulties.

Iraqi authorities have warned that these suffocating storms will intensify furth...

Myanmar junta stages election after five years of civil war

Former civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi remains jailed, while her hugely popular party has been dissolved and was not taking part.

Campaigners, Western diplomats and the UN's rights chief have all condemned the phased month-long vote, citing a ballot stacked with military allies and a stark crackdown on dissent.

The pro-military Union Solidarity and Development Party is widely expected to emerge as the largest one, in what critics say would be a rebranding of martial rule.

The Southeast A...

Arsenal hold off surging Man City, Villa as Wirtz ends drought

Aston Villa remain just three points behind the leaders ahead of their trip to Arsenal on Tuesday after substitute Ollie Watkins struck twice in a 2-1 win at Chelsea.

Florian Wirtz scored his first Liverpool goal as the Reds beat Wolves 2-1 on an emotional occasion at Anfield, where Diogo Jota's former clubs met for the first time since his death.

City's 2-1 win in the lunchtime kick-off at the City Ground took them top for a couple of hours.

However, Arsenal hit straight back despite mak...

Cherki stars in Man City win at Forest

Pep Guardiola's side survived a scare from Forest to move to the top of the Premier League thanks to the inspired Cherki.

He set up Tijjani Reijnders' second-half opener at the City Ground and blasted the winner after Omari Hutchinson equalised with his first goal for Forest.

City have won eight successive games in all competitions, including six in a row in the league.

They sit one point clear of second-placed Arsenal, who will return to the top of the Premier League if they beat Brighto...

Morocco made to wait for Cup of Nations knockout place after Egypt advance

The Group A clash between Morocco and Mali at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat was a tale of two spot-kicks, with Brahim Diaz giving the tournament hosts the lead from a penalty deep in first-half injury time and Lassine Sinayoko equalising on 64 minutes.

The stalemate, watched by a crowd of almost 64,000 which included France captain Kylian Mbappe, ended Morocco's world record winning run after 19 matches.

It also means Morocco have not yet confirmed their last-16 place, althou...

Inside Chernobyl, Ukraine scrambles to repair radiation shield

The 1986 meltdown at the site was the world's worst ever nuclear incident. Since Russia invaded in 2022, Kyiv fears another disaster could be just a matter of time.

In February, a Russian drone hit and left a large hole in the New Safe Confinement (NSC), the outer of two radiation shells covering the remnants of the nuclear power plant.

It functions as a modern high-tech replacement for an inner steel-and-concrete structure -- known as the Sarcophagus, a defensive layer built hastily after...

North Korea's Kim orders factories to make more missiles in 2026

Pyongyang has significantly increased missile testing in recent years -- aimed, analysts say, at improving precision strike capabilities, challenging the United States as well as South Korea, and testing weapons before exporting them to key ally Russia.

In a visit to munitions factories accompanied by top officials, the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Kim had ordered the factories to prepare for a busy year ahead.

The North Korean leader said they needed "to further expand...

Guinea's presidential candidates hold final rallies before Sunday's vote

A total of 6.8 million people in the west African nation are eligible to vote Sunday between 7:00 am and 6:00 pm (0700 and 1800 GMT), choosing between nine candidates, including 41-year-old Doumbouya, who is running as an independent.

Despite his initial promise to return power to civilians when he took over in 2021, Doumbouya is running for president -- in an election with all the main opposition barred.

In the capital Conakry, the junta leader appeared in public on Thursday evening to ch...

Brazil's jailed ex-president Bolsonaro undergoes 'successful' surgery

The 70-year-old former president left prison on Wednesday for the first time since late November to undergo the procedure at the DF Star hospital in Brasilia.

"Successful surgery completed, without complications. Now we wait for him to wake up from anesthesia," his wife Michelle announced in an Instagram post.

Bolsonaro has grappled with health issues since being stabbed in the stomach during the 2018 presidential campaign, undergoing multiple surgeries related to his wounds. He was also r...

UK tech campaigner sues Trump administration over US sanctions

Imran Ahmed, a British national who heads the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), was among five European figures involved in tech regulation whom the US State Department said Tuesday would be denied visas.

The department accused them of attempting to "coerce" US-based social media platforms into censoring viewpoints they oppose. The European Union and several member states strongly condemned the move and vowed to defend Europe's regulatory autonomy.

The campaigner filed his complai...

New Anglican leader says immigration debate dividing UK

Currently the Bishop of London, Mullally, 63, will on January 28 become the first woman to lead the centuries-old mother church of the world's 85-million strong Anglican community.

In her Christmas sermon at St Paul's Cathedral in London, the incoming Archbishop of Canterbury raised concerns about the hot-button issue of immigration.

"Our national conversations about immigration continue to divide us, when our common humanity should unite us," she said.

She continued: "We who are Christ...

Prime minister hopeful Tarique Rahman arrives in Bangladesh

Rahman, the son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia and heir apparent of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), shook hands with party leaders after touching down at the Dhaka airport.

Accompanied by his wife and daughter, a visibly emotional Rahman took off his shoes, stood on the grass outside the airport and scooped up the soil as a mark of reverence.

He waved to supporters before ducking into a convoy under tight security, video posted by his party showed.

Since early Thursday, BNP...

Trump-backed Nasry Asfura declared winner of Honduras presidency

Asfura, a 67-year-old son of Palestinian immigrants, defeated fellow conservative TV personality Salvador Nasralla, who had demanded a full recount due to alleged irregularities.

The plenary session of the national electoral council CNE "declares Nasry Juan Asfura Zablah elected for a four-year term," the council's president Ana Paola Hall said.

Rixi Moncada, a lawyer from the leftist Libre Party, which currently runs the government, was trailing far behind in third.

Within minutes of th...

Brazil's imprisoned Bolsonaro hospitalized ahead of surgery

AFP journalists saw a convoy of black cars escorted by motorcycles enter the parking garage of the DF Star hospital ahead of Bolsonaro's surgery Thursday.

It was unclear how long he would remain hospitalized.

The permission to leave prison granted by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who oversaw Bolsonaro's trial, comes after an expert review last week stated that the operation was medically necessary.

Bolsonaro, 70, has grappled with health issues since being stabbed in the stom...

Serbia court drops case against ex-minister over train station disaster

The case is one of three probes linked to the tragedy in November 2024 that sparked a huge protest movement that has still not abated, with the disaster at the newly renovated station being seen as a symbol of entrenched corruption.

Goran Vesic, 56, who resigned days after the accident, was charged in September along with 12 others with a "serious crime against public safety" by the Novi Sad chief prosecutor.

However, the Novi Sad High Court said there was "insufficient evidence to support...

UN experts slam US blockade on Venezuela

The United States has deployed a major military force in the Caribbean and has recently intercepted oil tankers as part of a naval blockade against Venezuelan vessels it considers to be under sanctions.

"There is no right to enforce unilateral sanctions through an armed blockade," the UN experts said in a joint statement.

A blockade is a prohibited use of military force against another country under the UN Charter, they added.

"It is such a serious use of force that it is also expressly r...

Two police killed in explosion in Moscow

The blast occurred close to the site where a Russian general was killed earlier this week.

"An explosive device was triggered" as the officers approached the suspect who was near their service vehicle, said the statement by the committee, which probes major crimes.

An earlier statement on Telegram said investigators were inspecting the scene and carrying out forensic analysis, including "medical and explosive examinations".

The area was cordoned off and had a large police presence, accord...

EU 'strongly condemns' US sanctions against five Europeans

They were responding after the US State Department announced Tuesday it would deny visas to the five, accusing them of seeking to "coerce" American social media platforms into censoring viewpoints they oppose.

France and Germany also condemned the news from Washington.

A statement from the Commission said: "We have requested clarifications from the US authorities and remain engaged. If needed, we will respond swiftly and decisively to defend our regulatory autonomy against unjustified meas...

Kosovo, Serbia 'need to normalise' relations: Kosovo PM to AFP

Kurti has been in office since 2021 and previous accords signed with Serbia -- which does not recognise the independence of its former province -- have yet to be respected.

"We need to normalise relations with Serbia," said Kurti. "But normalising relations with a neighbouring authoritarian regime that doesn't recognise you, that also doesn't admit to the crimes committed during the war, is quite difficult," he added.

Tensions between the two neighbours are regularly high, and renewed unr...

Black box recovered from Libyan general's crashed plane

The Falcon 50 aircraft requested an emergency landing because of electrical failure minutes after it took off from the Turkish capital Ankara, but contact was lost, Turkish officials said. The plane was returning to Tripoli.

The wreckage was located by Turkish security personnel in the Haymana district near Ankara.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya told reporters at the crash site that the plane's voice recorder and the flight data recorder (black box) had been recovered.

"The examinatio...

El Salvador defends mega-prison key to Trump deportations

The Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) is a maximum security facility lauded by Bukele as part of his attempts to rid the Central American country of prolific narco-gangs.

US broadcaster CBS News had been due to air an investigation Sunday about alleged abuses at CECOT on its flagship "60 Minutes" program, but it was pulled at the last minute, leading to accusations of political meddling.

Bukele fired back Tuesday against allegations about the prison's conditions, saying that "if you ar...

Grief, trauma weigh on survivors of catastrophic Hong Kong fire

Yip, 68, is among thousands grieving the 161 killed at the Wang Fuk Court housing complex, a disaster few could imagine happening in one of Asia's safest and most developed cities.

Even as the Hong Kong government forges ahead with investigations and relief efforts, experts caution that the psychological scars will be hard to heal for survivors, bereaved families and onlookers alike.

In dozens of shots compiled into a memorial video, Yip's wife of four decades, Pak Shui-lin, 66, gently smi...

North Korean POWs in Ukraine seeking 'new life' in South

Previous reports have indicated that the two men, held captive by Kyiv since January after sustaining injuries on the battlefield, were seeking to defect to the South.

But the letter represents the first time the two of them have said so in their own words.

"Thanks to the support of the South Korean people, new dreams and aspirations have begun to take root," the two soldiers wrote in a letter dated late October to a Seoul-based rights group which shared it with AFP this week.

North Korea...

Libya's top military chief killed in plane crash in Turkey

The wreckage of their Falcon 50 aircraft was located by Turkish security personnel in the Haymana district near Ankara, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said. Three crew members were also killed.

Libya's Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah said on his Facebook page: "It is with deep sadness and great sorrow that we learnt of the death of the Libyan army's chief of general staff, Lieutenant General Mohammed al-Haddad."

Haddad earlier Tuesday held talks in Ankara with Turkish Defence Mi...

Ukraine retreats in east as Russian strikes kill three, hit energy

Kyiv had to withdraw forces from Siversk, a town in the heavily embattled Donetsk region on the way to two last strongholds held by Ukraine. Russia announced the capture of Siversk almost two weeks ago.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the pre-Christmas strikes showed that the Kremlin had no intention of ending the invasion it launched in February 2022.

The attacks also came two days after US-mediated settlement talks in Miami, which lasted for a few days as the warring sides ...

Greta Thunberg arrested at pro-Palestinian protest in London

Thunberg's arrest makes her the highest profile person to be detained by police since the government banned the Palestine Action group under anti-terror laws.

Prisoners for Palestine, which organised the protest, said in a statement that Thunberg was arrested under the UK Terrorism Act.

Thunberg, 22, was holding a sign reading: "I support the Palestine Action prisoners. I oppose genocide."

City of London Police said several people were arrested.

They did not directly name Thunberg, but ...

Pakistani firm wins auction for state airline PIA

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), long accused by critics of being bloated and poorly run, has been burning through cash as the government struggles with a balance of payments crisis.

Three Pakistani firms competed in the auction carried live by state broadcasters, with representatives placing their offers in a clear box during several rounds of bidding.

The Arif Habib investment group emerged on top with a bid of 135 billion rupees for the 75 percent stake on offer. It has an option ...

Russian strike could collapse Chernobyl shelter: plant director

Kyiv has accused Russia of repeatedly targeting the facility, the site of a 1986 meltdown that is still the world's worst ever nuclear disaster, since Moscow invaded in February 2022.

A hit earlier this year punched a hole in the outer radiation shell, triggering a warning from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that it had "lost its primary safety functions."

In an interview with AFP, plant director Sergiy Tarakanov said fully restoring that shelter could take three to four yea...

Thousands of new Epstein-linked documents released by US Justice Dept

At least 8,000 files were posted online, including hundreds of videos or audio recordings, notably surveillance footage from August 2019, the month Epstein was found dead in his jail cell while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

The DOJ posted around 11,000 links to new documents online, but some of them appeared to lead nowhere.

The Epstein Files Transparency Act (EFTA), passed nearly unanimously by Congress and signed by President Donald Trump, mandated the complete release of th...

Bangladesh summons Indian envoy as protest erupts in New Delhi

The garment worker was accused of blasphemy and lynched on December 18 as anti-India sentiment rises in the neighbouring majority Muslim nation. Seven suspects have been arrested over the killing.

On Tuesday, hundreds of demonstrators converged near Bangladesh's High Commission in New Delhi waving saffron flags and banners, including one that read: "Stop Killing Hindus in Bangladesh".

"Hindus are warning Bangladesh that it is taking the wrong approach," said Puneet Gautam, 37, a protester ...

Outcry follows CBS pulling program on prison key to Trump deportations

CBS had been due to air the investigation late Sunday about alleged abuses at the CECOT center in El Salvador on its flagship "60 Minutes" program, seen by many as one of the most prestigious and hard-hitting institutions in US journalism.

But the broadcaster quietly announced hours before showtime that the segment would "air in a future broadcast," replacing it with a piece on the sherpas working on Mount Everest.

A 13-minute video about CECOT bearing the "60 Minutes" logo was widely circ...

Amazon says blocked 1,800 North Koreans from applying for jobs

In a post on LinkedIn, Amazon's Chief Security Officer Stephen Schmidt said last week that North Korean workers had been "attempting to secure remote IT jobs with companies worldwide, particularly in the US".

He said the firm had seen nearly a one-third rise in applications by North Koreans in the past year.

The North Koreans typically use "laptop farms" -- a computer in the United States operated remotely from outside the country, he said.

He warned the problem wasn't specific to Amazon ...

Australian state poised to approve sweeping new gun laws, protest ban

Father and son Sajid and Naveed Akram are accused of targeting a Hanukkah event on Bondi Beach, killing 15 people in what authorities have said was an antisemitic terrorist attack.

Facing growing political pressure over the attack, state and federal governments have proposed radical changes to gun laws and a broad hate speech ban.

The government of New South Wales -- where the shooting took place -- has recalled its parliament to introduce what it called the "toughest firearm reforms in th...

Trapped under Israeli bombardment, Gazans fear the 'new border'

In her small, devastated village near Khan Yunis city, recent Israeli strikes shattered the tenuous sense of peace delivered by a ceasefire that has largely held since October 10.

Residents say the attacks have targeted neighbourhoods east of the so-called Israeli-controlled Yellow Line -- a demarcation established under the truce between Israel and Hamas.

More than two years after a devastating war, tens of thousands of Gazans still live in tents or damaged homes in these areas, where the...

Myanmar's long march of military rule

A decade-long democratic thaw saw martial rulers loosen their grip and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi lead, before a junta snatched back power in a 2021 coup triggering a ferocious civil war.

The military has organised elections starting Sunday but the vote is being shunned at home and abroad, and the generals have pledged to preserve their role in politics.

Here is a brief history of military rule in Myanmar:
Founding force
Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, won its independen...

Salah, Foster take Egypt and South Africa to AFCON Group B summit

Unsettled Liverpool star Salah struck in the first minute of added time to snatch a 2-1 win for record seven-time champions Egypt over gallant Zimbabwe in Agadir.

Earlier, second-half dominance by one-time title-holders South Africa paid off when Burnley striker Foster netted on 79 minutes to deliver a 2-1 victory over Angola in Marrakesh.

The stage is now set for a top-of-the-table showdown between the Pharaohs and Bafana Bafana in Agadir on Friday. They have met three times in AFCON tour...