Featured
Last news
Israel president says Europe should back fight against Hezbollah as troops operate in Lebanon
Israel's President Isaac Herzog said on Monday that Europe should back his country's fight against Hezbollah, as Israeli forces carried out ground operations in Lebanon.
Israel president tells AFP Europe should back efforts to 'eradicate' Hezbollah
Israel's President Isaac Herzog told AFP Monday that Europe should back his country's fight against Hezbollah, as Israeli forces carried out ground operations in Lebanon.
Afghanistan accuses Pakistan of killing civilians in Kabul strike
The Afghan government on Monday accused Pakistan of killing civilians in fresh airstrikes on Kabul, but Islamabad said it had conducted precision strikes on military and "terrorist" targets.
South Lebanon's Christian towns insist they are not part of Israel-Hezbollah war
In southern Lebanon's Ain Ebel, close to the border with Israel, Suad Jallad holds a poster of her son, killed by Israel last week, saying she would rather be buried next to him than leave.
Securing the Strait of Hormuz: Tactics and threats
President Donald Trump is pressuring allies to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime choke point that has effectively been closed by Iran in response to the US-Israeli war launched last month.
Cuba hit by total blackout as US fuel blockade bites
A power outage struck the entire island of Cuba on Monday, the state-owned electric company said, the latest blackout as the United States pursues its oil blockade against the island's communist government.
Trump demands more enthusiasm from allies for Hormuz mission
President Donald Trump on Monday demanded US allies join an effort to secure the Strait of Hormuz, as European powers ruled out a NATO mission to reopen the vital waterway shut by Iran during the Middle East war.
Afghan govt accuses Pakistan after new strikes on Kabul
Afghan authorities on Monday accused neighbouring Pakistan of attacking Kabul, as AFP journalists heard loud explosions overhead and anti-aircraft defences swung into action.
Trump pushes for 'enthusiasm' from allies to secure Hormuz
President Donald Trump criticized US allies on Monday for their lukewarm response to his call to help protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz during the US war against Iran.
US, China hold 'constructive' talks on trade, but Trump visit in doubt
China and the US held what both sides described Monday as constructive talks aimed at addressing volatile trade ties that have been upended by President Donald Trump's tariffs and the Middle East war.
Stagflation risk in US 'quite high': Nobel-winning economist Stiglitz
The war in the Middle East has put the United States at high risk of falling into stagflation, Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz told AFP on Monday.
Israel army says ground assault against Hezbollah underway in Lebanon
The Israeli military said on Monday it was carrying out what it described as "limited" ground operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, with its defence minister warning that those displaced would not return home until northern Israel was secure.
Iran defiant as strikes hit Gulf transport, Trump to speak
Iran said it was ready to take the Middle East war "as far as necessary" as it launched strikes across the region on Monday, while US allies pushed back against Donald Trump's call for help to reopen a vital shipping lane.
Hours-long fuel queues in Laos capital Vientiane
Long queues formed at petrol stations across the Laotian capital Vientiane on Monday as fuel shortages deepened, with the ripples of the Middle East conflict reverberating across landlocked Laos.
Will Yemen's Houthis join the Mideast war?
With assault rifles, daggers and posters of Iran's late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei waving in the air as tens of thousands chant "death to America, death to Israel", there's little mistaking where the loyalties of Yemen's Houthis lie.
Oil eases, equities rise as market focuses on Strait of Hormuz
Oil prices dipped and equities rose on Monday as investors focused on the crucial Strait of Hormuz and the head of the IEA said more crude could be released on the market if necessary.
Rise of drone warfare sharpens focus on laser defense
The surge of drone use in conflicts worldwide, seen most vividly in the Ukraine and Middle East wars, will accelerate the race to develop high-power laser systems that could down the devices far more cheaply than traditional defensive weapons.
Nepal welcomes first transgender lawmaker
Draped in garlands, Bhumika Shrestha on Monday became Nepal's first transgender woman lawmaker, marking a proud milestone for the marginalised community in the Himalayan nation.
'Hollywood story': Russia's Mr Nobody makes history with Oscar win
Tributes to "Mr Nobody" poured in on Monday after Pavel Talankin, a videographer from a small-town Russian school, won an Oscar for his anti-Kremlin film and cemented his place in Hollywood history.
Iran, at UN, insists will not submit to 'lawless aggression'
Iran vowed at the United Nations on Monday that it would not submit to "lawless aggression", saying its citizens were in "grave danger" from US and Israeli strikes.
Israel army says begun 'limited targeted ground operations' against Hezbollah in south Lebanon
The Israeli military said on Monday it had begun what it described as "limited ground operations" against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, with Defence Minister Israel Katz warning that those displaced would not return home until northern Israel was secure.
Western allies push back on Trump call for NATO help to reopen Hormuz
NATO allies and other Western nations pushed back Monday on US President Donald Trump's demand that alliance members help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the critical conduit for crude oil that Iran has effectively closed.
Central banks meet as Mideast war fuels inflation fears
Some of the world's biggest central banks meet this week as fears grow the energy shock unleashed by the Middle East war could fuel inflation and weigh on growth.
Oil eases on hopes for Strait of Hormuz passage
Oil prices eased on Monday as investors balanced hopes for the crucial Strait of Hormuz reopening with concerns over further attacks on energy infrastructure.
Race for Paris mayor on knife's edge after first round
The race for Paris mayor looked uncertain Monday as a right-wing former minister hoping to wrest control of the French capital from the left claimed she had gained key support for a second-round run-off.
Russia targets Kyiv at rush hour, kills 3 across Ukraine
Drone debris crashed onto the historic Maidan square in central Kyiv early Monday as explosions echoed out during a rare daytime Russian attack on the Ukrainian capital, AFP journalists reported.
Iran defiant as strikes hit Gulf transport, energy hubs
Iran said it was ready to take the Middle East war "as far as necessary" as it launched strikes across the region Monday, while Donald Trump piled pressure on world powers to help reopen a shipping lane choked off by the Islamic republic.
Frenchman jailed in Azerbaijan for 10 years for 'spying'
Azerbaijan on Monday sentenced a Frenchman to 10 years in prison in an espionage case launched during a period of diplomatic tensions between Paris and Baku that have now eased.
EU wants to tap citizens' savings. Easier said than done
The idea sounds simple: tap trillions of euros of EU citizens' savings to unlock capital for European companies through a more integrated financial market.
China says 'maintaining communication' with US over Trump visit
Beijing said on Monday it is in talks with Washington over an expected visit by US President Donald Trump, who has pressured NATO allies including China to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Oil rises further above $100, most Asian stocks fall as Iran war rages
Oil prices jumped further above $100 Monday and Asian stocks mostly fell as the Iran war moved into a third week with both sides showing no sign of backing down and diplomats trying to ensure safe passage for tankers through the crucial Strait of Hormuz.
Blasts rock Kyiv in rare daytime Russian attack: AFP
Explosions rang out over the Ukrainian capital on Monday and AFP journalists witnessed air defence batteries fending off a barrage of Russian projectiles during a rare daytime attack on Kyiv.