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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."
Hamas approves Gaza truce deal: Palestinian sources close to talks
Hamas has approved a Gaza truce and hostage release deal, Palestinian sources close to negotiations said Wednesday, after mediator Qatar expressed hope an agreement to end the war could be reached very soon.
TikTok plans total US shutdown as ban deadline looms: report
Social media giant TikTok plans to completely shut down its operations in the United States this Sunday if a ban ordered by legislators goes through as planned, a report said.
UN rights chief says transitional justice 'crucial' in Syria
United Nations rights chief Volker Turk on Wednesday said transitional justice was "crucial" for Syria after the fall of Bashar al-Assad, during the first-ever visit by someone in his post to the country.
US consumer inflation rises to 2.9 percent in December
US consumer inflation rose for a third straight month in December as energy prices rose, according to government data published Wednesday, adding pressure on the Federal Reserve to pause rate cuts.
Russia PM meets Vietnam president, seeking deeper ties
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin met Vietnam's President Luong Cuong Wednesday, seeking to bolster support from its long-standing ally as Moscow's isolation over the war in Ukraine grows.
German economy shrinks again amid political crisis
Germany's economy shrank for a second straight year in 2024, official figures showed Wednesday, with little hope of a speedy recovery as Europe's traditional powerhouse is also mired in political crisis.
Russia strikes Ukraine energy sites in 'massive' barrage
Russia launched dozens of missiles and drones at the Ukrainian energy sector, Kyiv said Wednesday, ramping up a months-long bombing campaign at a precarious moment of the war for Ukraine.
Australia mulls 'all options' after citizen reported killed by Russian forces
Australia said Wednesday that "all options are open" in its response to the reported killing of one of its citizens after his capture by Russian forces in Ukraine.
India's triple naval launch shows 'self-reliance': Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Wednesday the launch of two Indian-made warships and a submarine was key to its "quest towards self-reliance" as New Delhi bolsters defence against regional rivals.
Trump's policies won't push up inflation, economic advisor says
Donald Trump's policies are not likely to cause inflation to reignite as many analysts fear, one of the president-elect's longtime economic advisors told AFP Tuesday, less than a week before Trump returns to the White House.
Pakistan's Imran Khan defiant even as longer sentence looms
Imran Khan, Pakistan's most popular politician, is facing a 14-year prison term this month in a case his party says is being used to pressure him into silence.
S. Korea's Yoon: from rising star to historic arrest
South Korea's Yoon Suk Yeol rose from star prosecutor to the presidency in just a few years, but after a series of scandals and a bungled martial law decree, he's become the country's first-ever sitting president to be arrested.
South Korea's six weeks of political chaos
South Korea has endured six weeks of political turmoil since President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law and sent soldiers and helicopters to parliament.
Mediators make final push for Gaza truce deal
Mediators were making a final push Wednesday to seal a Gaza truce and hostage release deal, after a Qatari official involved in the talks expressed hope an agreement could be reached "very soon".
Biden issues land protections after LA fires delay ceremony
US President Joe Biden on Tuesday designated two large areas of California as protected national monuments, after the initial ceremony was called off due to wildfires breaking out in Los Angeles.
Cuba to free over 550 prisoners after removal from US terror list
Cuba said Tuesday it would release 553 prisoners in response to Washington removing the communist country from its list of terror sponsors in a deal hailed by relatives of jailed protesters.
Cuba to free 553 prisoners after removal from US terror list
Cuba said Tuesday it would release 553 prisoners in response to an announcement from Washington that it will remove the communist country from its list of state sponsors of terrorism.
US removes Cuba from state sponsors of terror list
President Joe Biden is removing the US designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism, the White House said Tuesday, in a deal that will see imprisoned protesters released in the communist country.
Venezuela restricts diplomats from 'hostile' European countries
Venezuela on Tuesday announced restrictions on French, Italian and Dutch diplomats on its soil, citing their governments' "hostile" response to Nicolas Maduro's presidential inauguration, widely rejected as a power grab.
Trump's Pentagon pick grilled by senators as cabinet hearings begin
Controversial Pentagon nominee Pete Hegseth faced tough questions from senators Tuesday about his views on women serving in combat and his qualifications to lead the Defense Department as confirmation hearings for Donald Trump's cabinet picks get underway.
From ban to buyout: What next for TikTok in the US?
TikTok faces an imminent shutdown in the United States after Congress passed a law last year forcing its Chinses owner ByteDance to either sell the platform or close it by this Sunday.
Venezuela restricts diplomats from France, Italy, Netherlands
Venezuela said Tuesday it would limit the number of accredited diplomats at the French, Italian and Dutch embassies, citing their governments' "hostile" response to Nicolas Maduro's inauguration for a third presidential term.
Trump cabinet hearings start with controversial Pentagon pick
Confirmation hearings for Donald Trump's cabinet nominees kicked off Tuesday with a combative session for controversial Pentagon pick Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News host dogged by allegations of sexual misconduct and who lacks experience leading large organizations.
Blinken proposes UN role, Palestinian state path in Gaza
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday proposed international security forces and temporary UN leadership to stabilize post-war Gaza but said Israel in turn must agree on a pathway to a Palestinian state.
Trump would have been convicted of election subversion: special counsel
Donald Trump would have been convicted for his "criminal efforts" to retain power after the 2020 election if the case had not been dropped because of his November White House victory, special counsel Jack Smith said Tuesday.
Stocks mixed as they track tariffs, inflation and earnings
Stock markets moved in different directions on Tuesday with traders' attention fixed on President-elect Donald Trump's tariff plans, earnings updates and inflation data.
Transnistria leader visited Moscow for energy talks: reports
The leader of breakaway Moldovan region Transnistria visited Moscow recently for talks on resolving its energy crisis, local media reported Tuesday.
Trump's cabinet hearings kick off with controversial Pentagon pick
Confirmation hearings for Donald Trump's cabinet nominees kicked off Tuesday with his controversial Pentagon pick, Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News host dogged by sexual assault allegations and no experience leading large organizations.
Lebanon's new PM says reaching out to all sides to save country
Lebanon's new Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Tuesday that he was reaching out to all political persuasions to help "rescue" his crisis-hit country ahead of talks aimed at forming a government.
US to ban smart cars containing Chinese tech
The United States finalized a rule Tuesday effectively barring Chinese technology from cars in the American market, taking aim at software and hardware from the world's second biggest economy over national security risks.
Trump to make online address to global elite's Davos meeting
Donald Trump will speak online to the annual meeting of the global political and business elite in Davos next week, days after taking office as US president, the World Economic Forum said on Tuesday.