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Heavy gunfire in Guinea capital, downtown access blocked
Heavy fire erupted on Saturday in the centre of the Guinean capital Conakry and security forces blocked off the area, witnesses told AFP.
Ghana's ruling party votes to elect candidate for 2024 ballot
Ghana's ruling party voted on Saturday in primaries to elect its candidate for next year's presidential ballot, with Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia widely favoured to win.
'We're losing': Ukrainians reel from war chief's stalemate warning
In eastern Ukraine, where another gruelling winter is descending -- along with it a likely freeze in major frontline movements -- one Ukrainian soldier had a grim assessment of the conflict.
Bangladesh garment workers clash with police as factories reopen
Striking Bangladesh garment workers clashed with police on Saturday near the capital as factories reopened in defiance of a protest campaign demanding a near-tripling of wages.
Australia's Albanese expected in China as relations thaw
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was due to arrive in China on Saturday for a landmark state visit, a sign that icy relations between the two countries are finally thawing.
UN chief 'horrified' by Israeli strike on Gaza ambulance convoy
The head of the United Nations was "horrified" by a strike by Israeli forces on a convoy of ambulances in Gaza on Friday, he said in a statement, adding that the conflict "must stop."
Blinken in Jordan as Gaza war rages
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets Jordan's King Abdullah II Saturday after leaving Israel empty-handed in his efforts to secure humanitarian "pauses" in its war to destroy Hamas.
Albanese expected in China as relations thaw
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was due in China on Saturday for a state visit, marking a long-awaited thaw in ties between Beijing and Canberra.
'Significant' pause needed in Mideast conflict to win hostages' release: US
Talks are being held on a "very significant" pause in the Middle East conflict to win the release of dozens of hostages taken by Palestinian militant group Hamas, a senior US official said Friday.
Amid war, US renews talk of Palestinian state but prospects bleak
With Israel's campaign against Hamas raging, the United States has renewed calls to work toward a Palestinian state, but few expect success now after decades of failure.
US stocks rally on slowing job gains, global markets mixed
Stocks rose Friday after data showed US job growth cooled in October, easing concerns about further interest rate hikes.
US to lower barriers on imposing 'too big to fail' label on firms
US regulators voted Friday to undo rollbacks under the Trump administration that made it tougher to place certain financial companies under heightened supervision -- if they posed stability risks.
Hezbollah chief warns Israel-Hamas war could become regional conflict
Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah warned Friday that war between Israel and Hamas could turn into a regional conflict if attacks on Gaza continue, placing responsibility firmly on the United States.
Panama bans new mining contracts in response to mass protests
Panama's parliament on Friday approved a moratorium on new metal mining contracts after thousands took to the streets for days on end to protest a deal with a Canadian copper company.
Hezbollah chief tells US 'we are ready to face your fleet'
Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah said Friday his Iran-backed group was not afraid of US warships and "all options" were open for an expansion of the Israel-Hamas conflict into Lebanon.
'Mother of all reforms': Italy seeks to directly elect premier
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni presented a constitutional reform bill Friday that would allow voters to directly elect the premier, a move designed to curb chronic political instability.
US urges 'pauses' in Gaza fighting as Israel besieges Gaza City
Top US diplomat Antony Blinken met Israeli leaders on Friday to call for more to be done to protect Palestinian civilians during the war to destroy Hamas.
US jobs data boosts equities; dollar slides
Stocks rose and the dollar fell Friday after data showed US job growth cooled in October, easing concerns about further interest rate hikes.
Philippines, Japan announce negotiations for key defence pact
Japan and the Philippines said Friday they will start negotiations for a defence pact that would allow the countries to deploy troops on each other's territory.
Ukraine reports 'massive' Russian drone attack
Ukrainian officials said Friday that Russia had launched a "massive" drone attack on its cities and infrastructure overnight, warning that Moscow could be escalating its strikes ahead of winter.
European stocks steady before US jobs data
European stocks and oil prices steadied Friday, while the dollar dropped, before the release of key US jobs data that should provide clues on the outlook for interest rates in the world's biggest economy.
Myanmar ethnic minorities claim gains in junta offensive
An alliance of Myanmar ethnic minority groups said it made more gains in its offensive against the ruling junta on Friday, with the regime vowing it would hit back at the biggest military challenge it has faced since it seized power.
Blinken in Israel seeking 'concrete steps' to reduce Gaza civilian harm
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Israel Friday, an AFP correspondent travelling with him said, in a trip focused on measures to minimise harm to civilians in the war in Gaza.
Myanmar junta vows to hit back at ethnic groups' offensive
Myanmar's junta chief vowed Friday to strike back after an alliance of ethnic minority groups seized towns and blocked trade routes to China in the biggest coordinated offensive against the military since it seized power in a coup.
Israel says troops encircle Gaza City as Blinken visits
Israeli ground troops encircled Hamas stronghold Gaza City on Friday, as top US diplomat Antony Blinken arrived in Tel Aviv for a trip focused on minimising civilian casualties.
Train platform of tears near Ukraine's front line
With a bunch of roses in his hand, Yuriy quickly climbs aboard the train to embrace his wife. She has come from Kyiv to Kramatorsk, near Ukraine's front line.
Courting votes: a campaign like no other for Defendant Trump
US presidential elections are described as a 50-state obstacle course, but the hurdles across Donald Trump's path in the coming year look particularly daunting as a crush of court dates competes with campaign commitments in his 2024 calendar.
Muslim anguish over Gaza holds electoral risks for Biden
Hairdresser Linda Shawish cuts to the chase when asked about President Joe Biden's decision to unequivocally back Israel's bombing and ground invasion of Gaza.
Israel says troops encircle Gaza City
Israeli ground troops encircled Hamas stronghold Gaza City on Friday, after close ally the United States urged "concrete steps" to minimise civilian casualties.
Myanmar military will hit back at ethnic armed groups' offensive: junta chief
Myanmar's junta chief said the military will strike back at ethnic armed groups waging an offensive in the north of the country, seizing towns and blocking trade routes to China, state media reported Friday.
Asia extends global stocks rally on rate optimism, jobs in focus
Equities extended a global rally Friday as investors were caught up in a wave of optimism that the Federal Reserve has finished its cycle of interest rate hikes, with eyes now on the release of US jobs data.
'No income, no life': Jerusalem's Old City suffers as war rages
The once bustling streets of Jerusalem's Old City have fallen eerily quiet, with the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas keeping away tourists and their much-needed cash.