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Trump toughens crackdown on immigration and diversity

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday deployment of an extra 1,500 US troops to the Mexican border, as he stepped up a crackdown against illegal immigration and diversity programs in a whirlwind start to his second term.

Trump's tariff threats are 'leverage,' says informal economic advisor

Donald Trump's recent threat to impose 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico are a negotiating tactic, the president's long-time informal economic advisor argued Wednesday.

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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.

AFP photographer's search for his mother in the Nazi camps

AFP photographer Eric Schwab recorded the horrors of the Holocaust -- the crematoria, the piles of skeletal bodies and emaciated faces -- as he went from one Nazi extermination camp to the next in the spring of 1945 searching for his mother.

Life after the unthinkable: Shoah survivors who began again in Israel

For years, Auschwitz survivor Naftali Furst kept his story to himself.

Israeli cabinet to vote on Gaza ceasefire deal

Israel's cabinet was expected to meet Thursday to approve a ceasefire and hostage-release deal with Hamas, Israeli media reported, a day after mediators announced an agreement they hope will lead to a permanent end to the Gaza war.

Biden warns of Trump 'oligarchy' in dark farewell speech

US President Joe Biden urged Americans Wednesday to stand guard against a "dangerous" oligarchy forming under Donald Trump as he delivered a dark farewell address before stepping down next week.

Asian stocks follow Wall St higher on welcome US inflation data

Asian markets extended a global rally Thursday after below-forecast US inflation provided a much-needed shot of relief to investors and revived hopes for interest rate cuts this year.

Biden warns of dangerous 'oligarchy' in dark farewell speech

US President Joe Biden urged Americans Wednesday to "stand guard" against a "dangerous" oligarchy forming under Donald Trump as he delivered a dark farewell address before stepping down next week.

South Korea's Yoon to avoid fresh questioning after dramatic arrest

South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol faced renewed questioning Thursday, a day after his dramatic arrest over a failed martial law declaration, but his lawyers said he would not take part.

Behind the Gaza deal: a US odd couple and last-minute snags

The Israel-Hamas deal was made possible by 18-hour days and a "remarkable" partnership between Joe Biden and Donald Trump's Mideast envoys -- but even then it seemed it might come apart at the last minute.

Cuba frees jailed protesters in Biden terror list deal

Cuba began releasing people Wednesday who had been jailed for protesting against the regime under a deal that saw departing US President Joe Biden remove the communist island from a list of terrorism sponsors.

Thousands across Gaza celebrate ceasefire deal

Crowds of Gazans chanted and embraced on Wednesday as news spread that a ceasefire and hostage release deal had been reached between Israel and Hamas aimed at ending more than 15 months of war in the Palestinian territory.

Qatar, US announce Gaza truce, hostage release deal

Qatar and the United States announced Wednesday a ceasefire and hostage-release deal between Israel and Hamas, adding that they hoped it would pave the way for a permanent end to the war in Gaza.

Quake-stricken Vanuatu heads to polls in snap election

The Pacific nation of Vanuatu votes in a snap general election on Thursday that some observers fear could be a distraction after last month's deadly earthquake.

Qatar, US announce Gaza truce, hostage release deal agreed

Qatar and the United States announced Wednesday a ceasefire and hostage-release deal between Israel and Hamas, adding they hoped it would pave the way for a permanent end to the war in Gaza.

Qatar PM says Gaza truce, hostage release deal agreed

Qatar's prime minister announced that Israel and Hamas had agreed Wednesday to a ceasefire and the release of hostages held in Gaza, adding he hoped the deal would pave the way for a permanent end to the fighting.

US firms concerned about Trump tariff, immigration plans: Fed

US businesses across the country are concerned about the economic impact of President-elect Donald Trump's proposals to raise tariffs and sharply curtail immigration, the Federal Reserve said Wednesday.

Yellen warns against extending Trump's first-term US tax cuts

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned Wednesday that plans to extend President-elect Donald Trump's 2017 tax cuts -- which remained in place under Joe Biden but are set to expire -- will add to unsustainable deficits.

Biden hails Gaza deal, says worked with Trump

US President Joe Biden announced Wednesday a "full and complete" ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the first part of their peace accord, and said he had acted as "one team" with incoming leader Donald Trump.

Trump's Energy Dept pick wants to develop renewables... and fossil fuels

Donald Trump's nominee for energy secretary, a fracking magnate who has previously expressed climate change skepticism, advocated for renewable energy and referred to the warming planet as a fact Wednesday, while still pushing for increased use of fossil fuels.

Cuba starts freeing prisoners after US terror list deal

Cuba on Wednesday began releasing prisoners under a deal with departing US President Joe Biden to remove the communist island from a list of terror sponsors, the detainees' relatives told AFP.

Mediators announce Gaza truce, but Israel says some points 'uresolved'

Mediators said Israel and Hamas agreed Wednesday to a ceasefire and a deal to release hostages held in Gaza, but Israel cautioned that some final sticking points still needed to be ironed out.

Rubio vows to confront 'dangerous' China, deter Taiwan invasion

Marco Rubio, Donald Trump's nominee for secretary of state, said Wednesday that a "dangerous" China cheated its way to superpower status as he vowed to ramp up support to deter an invasion of Taiwan.

Israel, Hamas agree deal for Gaza truce, hostage release: source briefed on talks

Israel and Hamas agreed on Wednesday to a deal for a ceasefire and the release of hostages being held in Gaza following separate meetings with Qatar's prime minister, a source briefed on the talks told AFP.

Kosovo raids Serbia-linked offices as tense elections loom

Kosovo police on Wednesday raided 10 Belgrade-linked government offices in ethnic Serb areas, the interior ministry said, the latest move by Pristina to dismantle a Serbian system of social services and political offices in the country ahead of parliamentary elections.

Upping defence spending 'key point' for NATO summit: ministers

A push for increased defence spending among NATO members will be a key point at an upcoming summit to be held later this year, Baltic states defence ministers said Wednesday.

Russian inflation climbs as Ukraine offensive weighs on economy

Inflation in Russia accelerated in 2024, official statistics published Wednesday showed, as the costs of Moscow's full-scale offensive on Ukraine weigh on the domestic economy.

Rubio says China cheated its way to power, rejects 'liberal world order'

Marco Rubio, Donald Trump's nominee for secretary of state, charged Wednesday that China cheated its way to superpower status and vowed to cast aside the "liberal world order" long promoted by the United States.

US tightens controls on advanced chips to curb flow to China

The United States unveiled further export controls Wednesday on advanced computing semiconductors, boosting due diligence requirements for businesses as it seeks to prevent diversion of tech to China despite existing restrictions.

Humanity has opened 'Pandora's box of ills:' UN chief

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Wednesday that humanity had unleashed a "Pandora's box of ills," including "out of control technology" that risks upending "our very existence."

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