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Court orders Greenpeace to pay $345 mn to US oil pipeline company
Greenpeace must pay $345 million in damages to the operator of the US oil pipeline it protested, a North Dakota court ordered Friday.
IAEA stresses 'urgency' to verify Iran's nuclear material
The UN nuclear watchdog stressed on Friday the "utmost urgency" of its request to verify all nuclear material in Iran, according to a confidential report seen by AFP.
UN urges action to prevent full civil war in South Sudan
The UN rights chief voiced alarm Friday at the deteriorating situation in South Sudan, calling for swift action to avert a return to full-scale civil war.
Ukrainian, Slovak leaders to meet over oil pipeline dispute
The leaders of Ukraine and Slovakia agreed on Friday to hold a face-to-face meeting as they wrangle over a blocked pipeline that takes Russian oil to Slovakia and Hungary, officials said.
Ukrainian, Slovak leaders hold call amid energy spat
The leaders of Ukraine and Slovakia held a call on Friday amid an escalating row over Russian oil supplies via Ukraine to both Slovakia and Hungary.
UK police arrest man after Churchill statue sprayed with graffiti
A 38-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated criminal damage, UK police said Friday, after pro-Palestinian graffiti was sprayed on a Winston Churchill statue in central London.
Red Cross urges Afghanistan-Pakistan 'de-escalation'
The president of the International Committee of the Red Cross called on Friday for a de-escalation of hostilities between Afghanistan and Pakistan, insisting that civilians must be protected and healthcare access guaranteed.
Coup role revelations revive calls for return of Spain's ex king
Calls for Spain's former King Juan Carlos I to return from exile have resurfaced after declassified files confirmed his role in stopping a 1981 coup and defending the country's fledging democracy.
Macron to set out how France's nuclear arms could protect Europe
French President Emmanual Macron is Monday to reveal his vision for how France's nuclear arsenal could bolster defence in Europe, with the continent scrambling to re-arm against an aggressive Russia and as Washington turns away.
Starmer vows to fight 'extremes' after UK Labour election drubbing
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer vowed Friday to fight "the extremes in politics" after left-wing and hard-right parties both beat his ruling Labour in what had been a traditional stronghold.
55 Ghanaians killed after being lured into Ukraine war: govt
Some 55 Ghanaians have been killed while fighting in Ukraine, the country's foreign minister said on Friday, promising a crackdown on illicit recruitment schemes luring citizens to Russia under false pretences.
France warns of 'provocation' if Russian drone buzzed aircraft carrier
France's foreign minister said Friday that if a drone seen this week near a French aircraft carrier visiting Sweden turned out to be Russian -- a claim Moscow called "absurd" -- it would be a "ridiculous provocation".
Isolated Kremlin critics lament lost future at Nemtsov memorial
On a bridge next to the Kremlin on a drizzly Friday morning, a lone Russian police officer stood looking at the half-dozen bunches of flowers laying in memory of slain opposition figure Boris Nemtsov.
UN urges action to prevent full civil war in S.Sudan
The UN rights chief voiced alarm Friday at the deteriorating situation in South Sudan, calling for "urgent action" to avert a return to full-scale civil war.
Starmer vows to take fight to rivals after 'seismic' UK Labour heartlands loss
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer vowed on Friday to fight "the extremes in politics" after left-wing and hard-right parties both beat his ruling Labour in a crunch vote in a traditional stronghold.
US allows non-emergency staff to leave Israel as Trump threatens Iran strikes
The United States authorised the departure of non-emergency embassy staff from Israel on Friday, as it threatened strikes on Iran and pressed its biggest military build-up in the Middle East in decades.
EU will provisionally apply contested South America trade deal
The European Union will implement a mammoth trade deal with the South American Mercosur bloc while waiting for a top court's ruling on its legality, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said Friday.
UK Labour party loses heartland parliament seat to left-wing Greens
Britain's ruling Labour party slumped Friday to a humiliating third-place finish as it lost a crunch vote in a traditional stronghold to the left-wing Greens, heaping fresh pressure on embattled Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Belarus opposition leader fears her country could become Putin's 'consolation prize'
Exiled Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya told AFP in an interview that her country must not become a "consolation prize" for Russian President Vladimir Putin amid intense efforts to end the Ukraine war.
Pakistan bombs Kabul in 'open war' on Afghanistan's Taliban government
Pakistan bombed major cities in Afghanistan including the capital Kabul on Friday, with Islamabad's defence minister declaring the neighbours at "open war" following months of tit-for-tat clashes.
Japan ruling party approves plans to beef up intelligence
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's ruling party has approved plans to beef up the country's intelligence capability, a party official said Friday, as the premier pushes ahead with a defence overhaul.
UK Labour party loses parliamentary seat to left-wing Greens
Britain's ruling Labour party on Friday lost a crunch local poll in one of its traditional northern English heartlands to the left-wing Greens, adding to the woes of unpopular Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Philippines, US, Japanese planes drill over Bashi Channel
The Philippine, US and Japanese militaries conducted joint exercises this week over the Bashi Channel that separates the Philippines from Taiwan, officials said Friday.
Nepal PM hopeful eyes 'change' in post-uprising elections
Nepali student leader-turned-politician Gagan Thapa has sought to rejuvenate his party's stale image, campaigning on generational change ahead of the Himalayan nation's first elections since a deadly youth-led uprising.
Pakistan bombs Kabul in 'open war' on Afghanistan's Taliban govt
Pakistan bombed major cities in Afghanistan including the capital Kabul on Friday, with Islamabad's defence minister declaring the neighbours at "open war" following months of tit-for-tat clashes.
Pakistan bombs Kabul after Afghanistan attacks border
Pakistan bombed major cities in Afghanistan including the capital Kabul on Friday, with Islamabad's defence minister declaring the neighbours at "open war" following months of tit-for-tat clashes.
Anthropic says won't give US military unconditional AI use
AI company Anthropic said Thursday it would not give the US Defense Department unrestricted use of its technology despite being pressured to comply by the Pentagon.
US-based man killed by Cuba coast guard wanted to spark uprising: ally
A US-based man identified as one of those killed by the Cuban coast guard in a shootout had wanted to liberate the communist island, a political ally told AFP on Thursday.
New Zealand's ex-prime minister Ardern now based in Australia: media
Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has moved to Australia after a stint in the United States, national broadcaster RNZ said, joining record numbers of her compatriots moving across the Tasman.
Civilian death toll in Sudan war more than doubled in 2025, UN says
Killings of civilians in Sudan's war more than doubled in 2025 compared with the previous year, the United Nations rights chief said Thursday, warning that thousands more dead are unidentified or remain missing.
Iran says 'good progress' in US talks, next round within a week
Iran and the United States made "significant progress" in talks in Switzerland on Thursday, mediators said, after the latest round of negotiations to avert a war between the longtime foes, and agreed to further discussions next week in Austria.
Zelensky says next Russia meeting soon as Geneva talks end
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday that he expected the next round of talks to end the war with Russia in early March in Abu Dhabi, after his officials concluded a meeting with US envoys in Geneva.