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Colombia moves to arrest guerrilla leaders behind wave of violence

Colombia on Wednesday reinstated arrest warrants for dozens of guerrilla commanders blamed for armed attacks that displaced 32,000 people and sparked the country's most serious security crisis in years.

Fear abounds as M23 fighters close in on DR Congo's Goma

Luggage on their backs, they trudged all Wednesday morning along the road leading to downtown Goma, fleeing the advancing fighters in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

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Israeli security cabinet to finalise ceasefire deal

Israel's security cabinet was set to meet Friday to approve a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal that should take effect this weekend.

Trump says ceasefire 'would've never happened' without his team

US President-elect Donald Trump said Thursday the ceasefire and hostage release agreement between Israel and Hamas would have never been reached without pressure from him and his incoming administration.

South Korea's Yoon refuses questioning again

Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Friday again refused investigators' efforts to question him over his failed martial law bid, as the deadline on his detention neared.

US trade envoy finds China's shipbuilding policies warrant 'urgent action'

The US Trade Representative said Thursday that its probe into China's practices in the shipbuilding, maritime and logistics sectors found that Beijing's undermining of fair competition warranted "urgent action."

Russia and Iran to sign 'partnership' pact

Russia and Iran will sign a "comprehensive strategic partnership" treaty on Friday during a visit to Moscow by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, cementing ties between two of the world's most heavily sanctioned countries.

Israeli cabinet to meet on ceasefire after PM says hostage deal finalised

Israel's security cabinet was set to meet Friday after final details of a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal were ironed out, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said, with the United States "confident" the truce would begin as planned this weekend.

North Korea warns of stronger action over South's drills with US, Japan

North Korea condemned on Friday joint military drills between South Korea, Japan and the United States held this week, threatening to respond by exercising its right to self-defence "more intensively".

South Korea's Yoon refuses questioning again as warrant deadline nears

Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Friday again refused investigatgors' efforts to question him over his failed martial law bid, as the deadline on his detention neared.

600 police on duty for Israeli club's 'high-risk' Paris basketball clash

Hundreds of Paris police officers were deployed on Thursday for a basketball match classified as "high-risk" due to the participation of an Israeli team.

Canada ex-central banker Mark Carney launches PM bid

Mark Carney, the former governor of Canada's central bank, on Thursday launched his bid to succeed Justin Trudeau as Liberal Party leader and prime minister, immediately becoming a frontrunner in the race.

Israeli cabinet to vote on ceasefire, as US 'confident' deal will go ahead

Israel's cabinet was set to vote Friday on a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal, an official said, with mediator the United States "confident" the accord would take effect as planned.

US blacklists Sudan army chief as Blinken regrets failure to end war

The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on Sudan's army chief days after blacklisting his main rival, as outgoing Secretary of State Antony Blinken voiced regret at his failure to end the brutal war.

Fate of two child hostages grips Israel after Gaza deal

The fates of a baby and his four-year-old brother, taken hostage by Hamas on October 7, 2023, have been on everyone's mind in Israel since the announcement of a Gaza ceasefire.

US 'confident' Gaza truce will go ahead as Israel launches new strikes

The United States said Thursday it was "confident" that a fragile Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal would take effect on time, even as Israel carried out new air strikes ahead of a cabinet vote on the accord.

EU's ex-tech chief joins Bank of America as advisor

The EU's influential former tech enforcer Thierry Breton will join Bank of America's advisory council, he told AFP on Thursday, a move denounced by one lawmaker as flouting a lobbying ban.

French PM survives first no-confidence vote in parliament

French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou on Thursday survived his first vote of no confidence in parliament after the motion, brought by the leftist opposition, failed to gain traction on the far right.

Oligarchs already own much of US - can they buy democracy?

They increasingly own everything from access to space to how we get news on Earth and now outgoing President Joe Biden warns America's new breed of Donald Trump-allied oligarchs could gobble up US democracy itself.

'Impossible' to protect all undersea infrastructure: NATO commander

NATO members face an "impossible task" trying to protect their vast network of critical undersea cables and pipelines from sabotage, the head of the alliance's centre for securing the infrastructure said Thursday.

Wall Street stocks rally loses steam

Strong bank earnings failed to sustain a rally on Wall Street, but stocks in Europe and Asia pushed higher.

US Treasury nominee says Trump can usher in 'economic golden age'

Donald Trump's nominee for Treasury chief spoke Thursday of ushering in "a new economic golden age," as he faced grilling by lawmakers about the incoming US administration's economic agenda.

US could cut interest rates 3 or 4 times this year: Fed official

The US Federal Reserve could cut rates three or four times this year if inflation data cooperates, with a first cut possible before July, a senior bank official said Thursday.

European carmakers warn against EU-US trade war

Europe's biggest automakers called on the European Union Thursday to avoid a "trade conflict" with the United States, days before Donald Trump officially returns as president.

Israel strikes Gaza and accuses Hamas of backtracking on deal

Israel carried out fresh air strikes on Gaza on Thursday and accused Hamas of backtracking on parts of a fragile ceasefire and hostage release deal ahead of an expected vote by its cabinet.

Blasts in Kyiv as UK's Starmer inks 'landmark' 100-year accord

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed a "landmark" 100-year partnership agreement with Ukraine during an unannounced visit to the war-torn country on Thursday, seeking to shore up support for Kyiv before Donald Trump returns to the White House.

Air strikes in Gaza crush joy of ceasefire deal

After news of a ceasefire agreement sparked mass rejoicing in Gaza, residents woke up Thursday to columns of smoke, rubble and more deaths following new Israeli air strikes.

Cyprus hails new access to US defence goods

Cyprus on Thursday heralded a move by United States President Joe Biden allowing the strategic Mediterranean country access to military equipment.

Israel accuses Hamas of backtracking on fragile ceasefire deal

Israel accused Hamas on Thursday of backtracking on parts of a fragile ceasefire and hostage release deal in the Gaza war, and carried out fresh air strikes ahead of an expected vote by the cabinet.

Blasts in Kyiv as UK's Starmer visits to ink '100-year' accord

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Kyiv on Thursday on an unannounced visit to sign a "100-year accord" and shore up support for Ukraine before Donald Trump's return to the White House.

Spain raises flag at Damascus embassy after 12-year closure

Spain raised its flag at Madrid's Damascus embassy Thursday, in the presence of its top diplomat more than a decade after suspending activity and as Western countries resume ties following Syrian president Bashar al-Assad's ouster.

Spanish FM raises flag at Damascus embassy after 12-year closure

Spain's Foreign Minister raised his country's flag at their Damascus embassy on Thursday more than a decade after Madrid suspended diplomatic activity and as Western countries resume ties following President Bashar al-Assad's ouster.

South Korea's president arrest: what happens next?

Impeached leader Yoon Suk Yeol made history this week as the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested, ending a weeks-long standoff. But analysts say the country's political crisis is far from over.

South Korea's Yoon avoids fresh questioning after dramatic arrest

South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol refused to appear for fresh questioning by investigators Thursday, a day after his dramatic arrest over a failed martial law declaration.

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