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North Korea fires ballistic missile after Seoul's apology demand
North Korea fired a ballistic missile, Seoul's military said Saturday, days after demanding an apology for a blast that wounded three South Korean soldiers in the DMZ that it blames on the North.
Asian carmakers besting US rivals at home, China poised to strike
Major US automakers have watched their domestic market share shrink even more thanks to their Asian competitors -- a situation that may worsen if Chinese firms are able to enter the US market, an idea floated by President Donald Trump.
Botched US execution leaves murderer unconscious on ventilator: lawyers
Convicted US murderer Christa Pike is unconscious on a ventilator after a botched attempt to execute her by lethal injection, her lawyers said in a court filing Friday.
China a better influence in Latin America than US: poll
China's influence in Latin America is now viewed more positively than that of the United States, a major poll conducted in 17 Latin American countries showed Friday.
Ethiopian pro-government militia claims Tigray airport as regional tensions spike
Pro-government militias in Ethiopia on Friday claimed they had captured a major airport near the Tigrayan capital from rebels, as the conflict triggered a breakdown in the country's relations with Eritrea and Egypt.
US jobs data boosts stocks as oil prices dip
Wall Street stocks advanced Friday after weak US jobs data lowered the odds of Federal Reserve rate hikes.
New rallies urged in France as protests disrupt over 730 schools
French high school students on Friday lit fires and hurled projectiles at police who responded by firing tear gas, as activists urged new rallies in an escalating protest movement demanding better conditions in education.
Brazil election debate chaos sparks censorship row
Brazil's judiciary came under fire Friday for sparking the cancellation of an election debate by meddling in its rules after President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva refused to attend.
G7 agrees deal to ease global energy supply concerns
G7 countries agreed Friday to release 100 million barrels of diesel and crude oil from their reserves over four months to ease global energy supply concerns, leaders said, pledging not to impose export restrictions on energy.
Lula, Bolsonaro trade blows in final scramble for votes in Brazil
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and rival Flavio Bolsonaro are pulling no punches in a last-ditch effort to win voters ahead of Sunday's election in Brazil, where the US suspended consular services Friday over security concerns.
Spain's government dealt blow as lawmakers reject housing bills
Spain's parliament on Friday shot down government bills aimed at quelling nationwide protests over a housing crisis that were sparked by the eviction of an 87-year-old woman.
New clashes erupt as protests disrupt over 560 French schools
French high school students on Friday lit fires and hurled projectiles at police who responded by firing tear gas, as new clashes erupted nationwide in an escalating protest movement demanding better conditions in education.
Food, medicine shortages deepen in Russian-occupied Oleshky
Residents of a frontline city on the Dnipro River caught in the crossfire between Russian and Ukrainian troops face worsening shortages of food supplies and medication, former residents told AFP.
Ethiopia Tigray rebels pushed back as regional tensions spike
Ethiopia's Tigray rebels have been pushed out of a neighbouring state by a government counter-offensive, a humanitarian source said Friday, but the conflict has triggered a breakdown in the country's relations with Eritrea and Egypt.
Stocks rise, yields fall as US job numbers disappoint
Wall Street stocks jumped and US bond yields fell Friday after data showed that job creation withered last month, while oil prices slumped as G7 leaders held urgent talks to coordinate action on lowering fuel prices.
China widens military footprint with Laos air base
When China opened its first overseas air force base this week, a joint facility in isolated Laos, it was sending a signal -- its foreign military foothold is set to grow, analysts said.
Ethiopia's conflict: the regional dimension
Renewed fighting between the Ethiopian government and Tigrayan rebels has worsened regional tensions, with Ethiopia and Eritrea breaking diplomatic ties on Thursday.
G7 talks as US pressures Europe over diesel stocks
G7 leaders were holding talks Friday to coordinate action on fuel prices, after the United States upped pressure on Europe to release its strategic reserves, threatening a diesel export ban.
Life expectancy almost back to pre-Covid levels, says WHO
Global life expectancy is close to the levels seen before the Covid-19 pandemic, but the outlook for years lived in good health is recovering more slowly, the WHO said Friday.
Swiss president to quit government
Swiss President Guy Parmelin announced Friday that he will quit the government at the end of the year, in a sudden move after more than a decade of ministerial service.
Europe rejects US threats over diesel stocks, urges joint G7 action
The EU pushed back hard Friday against US threats to impose a diesel export ban, as Washington pressures Europe to tap its strategic reserves in a bid to bring down fuel prices.
Oil slides, bonds steady as EU addresses diesel price surge
Oil futures slumped, the bond market steadied and stocks were mixed Friday as the European Union considered emergency measures to bring down diesel prices, while traders awaited key US jobs data.
Spain housing package at risk in parliament, as protests mount
Spain's parliament was to vote Friday on government housing decrees introduced after nationwide protests triggered by the eviction of an 87-year-old woman, but there were doubts the measures would pass.
Swedish Social Democrats leader to make new bid to form government
Sweden's parliament speaker said Friday that he had asked Social Democrats leader Magdalena Andersson to make a new attempt to form a government, days after a first bid failed.
North Korea calls Seoul 'despicable' after DMZ apology demand
Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korea's leader, called Seoul "despicable" on Friday after it demanded an apology over a demilitarised zone blast that wounded three South Korean soldiers.
North Korean leader's sister calls Seoul 'despicable' after DMZ apology demand
Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korea's leader, called South Korea "despicable" Friday after Seoul demanded an apology over a demilitarised zone blast that wounded three of its soldiers.
Taiwan receives its first US-made F-16V fighter jets
Taiwan received on Friday its first F-16V fighter jets made by the United States, as the island democracy upgrades its military capabilities to deter a potential Chinese attack.
Lula, Bolsonaro trade scandal fire in final scramble for votes
Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his election rival Flavio Bolsonaro are leaving no controversy unturned in their last-ditch efforts to discredit each other and win over voters ahead of Sunday's nail-biter election.
Arab Israeli candidate drops out of election race
An Arab Israeli politician Sami Abu Shehadeh withdrew his candidacy for next month's parliamentary election on Thursday after the country's Supreme Court indicated a majority of its judges supported barring him from the race.
Israel courts Europe's far right, finding friends but also unease
Facing growing isolation over the war in Gaza, Israel is increasingly allying itself with Europe's far right, despite some parties' legacies of antisemitism.
Lula, Bolsonaro both snub final debate before Brazil election
Brazilian presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro on Thursday bowed out of the final debate ahead of elections pitting him against leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who also declined to attend.
Saudi coalition accuses Houthis of drone attack on Medina
Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis struck an electricity distribution station in the holy city of Medina in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi-led coalition said Thursday, sparking strong condemnation from the Muslim world.