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Gibraltar accuses Spain of 'gross sovereignty breach' over customs incident
Gibraltar on Friday accused Spain of a "gross violation of British sovereignty" after an incident on one of its beaches involving Spanish customs agents who were attacked by smugglers, during which shots were fired.
Taliban detain Afghan educator who protested women's school ban
Afghanistan's Taliban authorities have "beaten and detained" an academic who voiced outrage on live television against their ban on women's university education, his aide said Friday.
Iranian director Jafar Panahi released after hunger strike
Acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi has been released on bail after starting a hunger strike to protest against his almost seven-month detention, supporters said on Friday.
Ukraine to fight in Bakhmut 'as long as we can,' Zelensky wins EU praise
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday his forces would hold out as long as possible in war-battered Bakhmut, as he hosted a summit with EU chiefs who praised Kyiv's push for reforms needed to join the bloc.
Ethiopia PM holds first meeting with Tigray leaders since peace deal
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and other government officials on Friday held their first meeting with Tigrayan leaders since a November peace deal, officials and state media said.
EU helps Ukraine weather Russian attacks on grid with LED bulbs
Ukraine said Friday it had started replacing millions of regular light bulbs with energy-saving LED lamps as part of an EU-funded project to help with energy shortages caused by Russian strikes.
Pope urges S. Sudan leaders to make 'new start' for peace
Pope Francis on Friday urged the leaders of South Sudan to make "a new start" for peace, warning that history would remember them for their actions, as he began a three-day visit to the violence-wracked country.
Blinken scraps rare Beijing trip over alleged China spy balloon
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday scrapped a long-planned Beijing trip aimed at easing escalating tensions between the two superpowers, after the Pentagon said that China sent a spy balloon over the United States.
Paris chief organiser says external decisions shouldn't harm athletes
The president of the 2024 Paris Olympics organising committee on Friday said athletes should not "suffer" from decisions they do not control amid an escalating row over allowing Russians and Belarusians to compete.
China 'regrets' US air intrusion as Blinken visit in balance
China voiced regret Friday for an "unintentional" breach of US airspace by what it said was a civilian airship -- but the Pentagon called a spy balloon -- with a long-planned Beijing visit by Secretary of State Antony Blinken hanging in the balance.
US jobs surge, tech concerns send stocks lower, dollar higher
A surge in hiring in the United States renewed worries about aggressive interest rate hikes, bolstering the dollar and sending stocks lower.
Estonia hints at Olympic boycott if Russians allowed
Estonia's premier on Friday suggested her country might boycott the 2024 Olympics in Paris if Russian and Belarusian athletes are allowed to participate.
Ex-French PM says hair loss condition no barrier to ambition
France's former prime minister Edouard Philippe, a leading contender to succeed President Emmanuel Macron in 2027 elections, has opened up about a hair loss condition he says will not diminish his political ambition.
Cash and fuel crisis cranks up Nigeria election tensions
With just three weeks to go before Nigeria's presidential election, major cash and fuel shortages are stirring up public anger and tensions during campaigning for the country's top post.
'Mister Geopolitix': Global affairs for the YouTube generation
Donning khaki and adjusting the camera, 32-year-old French Youtuber Gildas Leprince becomes Mister Geopolitix, bringing foreign affairs to a younger crowd who might otherwise not be interested.
EU pledges support for Ukraine ahead of Kyiv summit
The EU on Friday pledged to support Ukraine "every step of the way" in its quest for bloc membership as top officials gathered in Kyiv for a highly symbolic summit.
Pentagon says tracking Chinese spy balloon over US
The Pentagon said Thursday it was tracking a Chinese spy balloon flying high over the United States, just days ahead of a rare visit to Beijing by the top US diplomat.
Indonesia tells outsiders not to use ASEAN as 'proxy'
Indonesia told major powers not to use Southeast Asia as a "proxy" for their rivalries Friday at the start of two-day talks between regional foreign ministers, while also calling for unity and progress on the Myanmar crisis.
As dancers leap, ballet members hope hearts flutter for Ukraine
When the United Ukrainian Ballet took the stage this week at Washington's Kennedy Center, the dancers performed works of art and also undertook a diplomatic and cultural mission of sorts.
Adani turmoil a key test for Modi's India Inc
The market rout suffered by Indian tycoon Gautam Adani is the latest corporate scandal to plague one of the world's largest economies despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts to root out corruption.
Markets mostly rise but tech earnings dent recovery optimism
Asian equities mostly rose Friday following gains on Wall Street but optimism over a possible pause in Federal Reserve interest rate hikes was being weighed against worries about the global economy after a year of monetary tightening.
After pope's call for peace, violence rages in east DR Congo
Pope Francis made repeated appeals for peace during his landmark trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo this week, but there was no let-up in fighting in the east.
Ukraine urges EU accession talks this year ahead of key summit
Ukraine will host a key summit with the European Union on Friday, with President Volodymyr Zelensky saying he wants to hold talks "this year" on his war-battered country joining the bloc.
The two-century-old mystery of Waterloo's skeletal remains
More than 200 years after Napoleon met defeat at Waterloo, the bones of soldiers killed on that famous battlefield continue to intrigue Belgian researchers and experts, who use them to peer back to that moment in history.
Brazil's Lula accuses Bolsonaro of preparing Jan 8 'coup'
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Thursday alleged that his predecessor Jair Bolsonaro actively participated in planning for his supporters to storm government buildings on January 8.
India's Adani denies rise due to Modi as shares slump again
Beleaguered Indian tycoon Gautam Adani denied Friday that his rise to become Asia's richest man -- a title he has lost in a phenomenal stock rout -- was due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as shares in his conglomerate slumped again.
Adani Enterprises shares suspended as price slumps again
Shares in the flagship firm of beleaguered Indian tycoon Gautam Adani were repeatedly suspended on Friday as a rout triggered by allegations of accounting fraud deepened.
Hong Kong's largest national security trial to begin with 47 in dock
The trial of 47 of Hong Kong's most prominent pro-democracy figures begins on Monday, in the largest prosecution under a national security law that has crushed dissent in the city.
Asian markets drift as weak tech earnings dent recovery optimism
Asian equities were mixed Friday as the optimism over a possible pause in Federal Reserve interest rate hikes again gave way to worries about the global economy as more than a year of monetary tightening kicks in.
Cyprus elections dominated by prices, corruption, migration
Cypriots in the divided island's south will vote Sunday for a new president, tasked with tackling a cost-of-living crisis, corruption scandals, irregular migration and a derailed peace process.
Pentagon tracking Chinese spy balloon over US
The Pentagon said Thursday that it was tracking a Chinese spy balloon flying high over the United States that appeared to be surveilling highly sensitive nuclear weapons sites.
Giving Ukraine jets would need 'months if not years' of training: UK PM
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Thursday said sending fighter jets to Ukraine would require "months if not years" of training and that he was looking for the most effective way of helping Kyiv secure victory.
Brazil to sink warship dubbed '30,000-tonne toxic package'
Brazil plans to sink a decommissioned aircraft carrier that has been towed around the Atlantic for months with a damaged hull, drawing criticism from environmentalists, who say it is packed with toxic materials.
Rugby World Cup organisers foresee record profits
"All the signals are green" for the Rugby World Cup in France, organising committee president Jacques Rivoal told AFP in an interview, adding that he anticipated record profits.
Guantanamo 'high value' prisoner released to Belize
A Pakistani who was tortured by the CIA and held in the Guantanamo Bay prison for 16 years after admitting to helping Al Qaeda was released to Belize, the US military announced Thursday.
Putin draws parallels between WWII and Ukraine conflict
President Vladimir Putin leveraged a World War II commemoration on Thursday to whip up support for his army's intervention in Ukraine, comparing the fighting to Nazi Germany's invasion and hinting Moscow could use nuclear weapons.
Putin warns West over arms deliveries to Ukraine
President Vladimir Putin on Thursday vowed a decisive response to any country threatening Russia and lashed out against Germany for promising tanks for Kyiv.
Turkey summons Western envoys in consulate closure row
Turkey on Thursday summoned the ambassadors and top envoys of nine Western powers to condemn the mass closure of European consulates in Istanbul due to security concerns.
UK minister says 'not ruling out' sending jets to Ukraine
The UK defence minister on Thursday said he did not rule out supplying Ukraine with fighter jets while cautioning they would not be a "magic wand" in the war.