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Key ally Poland pledges backing for Kyiv NATO bid
Poland assured on Wednesday its backing for Kyiv's NATO membership bid as Ukraine's leader visited the Polish capital in a show of thanks for support since Russia's invasion.
For deaf Ukrainians, smart watches can be life-saving
It took a second for Andrii Yeger, a deaf Ukrainian, to realise that the waves of energy he felt were coming from a Russian rocket landing near his car.
Possible Trump trial plunges 2024 race into uncharted territory
US voters woke Wednesday to a uniquely volatile 2024 presidential election landscape, where Donald Trump, the leading Republican candidate, now faces trial and the incumbent, Joe Biden, has not even confirmed he's running.
AI bot ChatGPT faces growing scrutiny in Europe
France's data regulator said on Wednesday it had received two complaints about the AI program ChatGPT, as European authorities deepened their scrutiny of the chatbot days after Italy banned it.
UN warns Taliban women staff ban violates world body's charter
A top UN official warned Wednesday that a Taliban government order banning Afghan women from working for its mission in the country "is going to violate" the world body's charter, which rejects gender segregation.
Under French coastguard's eye, migrants cross into English waters
Shortly after the sun rose Wednesday over the Channel, a small black dinghy weighed down by eight migrants crossed into UK waters, the latest illegal arrivals via this contentious route.
'They took my grandson': frontline Ukraine town evacuates children
Kateryna's blue eyes fill with tears as she tells how police ordered her grandson to evacuate from the frontline town of Avdiivka in Ukraine, where she lives in a cellar.
Thai opposition confirms Thaksin's daughter as PM candidate
Thailand's main opposition Pheu Thai party confirmed on Wednesday the daughter of billionaire ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra as one of its candidates to be prime minister in the kingdom's upcoming election.
Ex-Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi in intensive care
Italian ex-prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, who dominated politics for decades, was in intensive care on Wednesday for heart problems, a member of his entourage told AFP.
French pension talks end in 'failure' ahead of new protests
French unions said last-ditch talks with the prime minister on Wednesday had failed to ease tensions over a divisive pension reform and called for record turnout at protest rallies the next day.
Scottish Nationalists rocked by arrest of former leader's husband
Scotland's ruling party faced fresh turmoil Wednesday after the husband of its former leader Nicola Sturgeon was arrested as part of a police investigation into financial irregularities.
Global equities waver as US data raises recession fear
World stock markets wavered Wednesday as investors dwelled on US recession concerns and a bumper interest-rate hike in New Zealand.
Clashes erupt as Israel police storm flashpoint Jerusalem mosque
Israeli police clashed with Palestinians inside Jerusalem's flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque Wednesday, sparking an exchange of rockets and air strikes, in flaring violence as the Jewish Passover overlaps with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Outgoing Finnish PM Sanna Marin to step back from limelight
Finland's Prime Minister Sanna Marin, who lost a general election at the weekend, said Wednesday that she would step down as Social Democratic Party leader and dismissed notions of any international postings.
Philippines' defence shift towards US risks China's fury
The Philippines has pulled off a diplomatic U-turn, reviving its traditional defence ties with Washington years after spurning it in favour of Beijing.
Macron says China has 'major role' to play in path to Ukraine peace
French President Emmanuel Macron said Wednesday that China had a "major role" to play in finding a path to peace in Ukraine, as he kicked off a three-day visit to Beijing.
Video probe shows internal damage to Fukushima reactor
Fresh images from inside a crippled reactor at Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant revealed heavy damage to its foundation and significant debris, its operator said.
Jacinda Ardern delivers final speech to New Zealand parliament
Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern bowed out of parliament on Wednesday, making an impassioned plea during her tearful final speech to "please take the politics out of climate change".
US House speaker meets Taiwan president despite China's threats
US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy sits down with Taiwan's president on Wednesday for a highly symbolic meeting in California that has already prompted outrage and dire warnings from China.
Cypriots priced out as Russians, Israelis eye coastal city
In Cyprus's southern coastal city of Limassol, Russian and Ukrainian firms fleeing wartime conditions, and Israeli investors betting on real estate, have driven prices up and local residents out.
Russian official sought by ICC to speak at UN meeting
A senior Russian official, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on war crimes charges, is set to virtually attend an informal UN Security Council meeting on Wednesday.
Indigenous Colombians in standoff over wind farms
In Colombia's far north, wind farm expansion is unsettling the Indigenous Wayuu inhabitants of a semi-desert region earmarked as an El Dorado of renewable energy.
US House speaker meets Taiwan president despite Beijing's threats
US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy sits down with Taiwan's president on Wednesday for a highly symbolic meeting in California that has already prompted outrage and dire warnings from China.
With hunched shoulders and pursed lips, Donald Trump plays defense
Manhattan's towering criminal court complex has witnessed history time and again, hosting famous moments including Mark David Chapman's guilty plea after shooting John Lennon, and Harvey Weinstein's conviction for sex crimes.
France's Macron begins China trip with Ukraine, trade on agenda
French President Emmanuel Macron hopes to dissuade Beijing from supporting Russia's invasion of Ukraine, while also using his visit from Wednesday to forge closer ties with a crucial trade and geopolitical partner.
Russian cafe bomb suspect remanded in custody
A Moscow court on Tuesday ordered that Darya Trepova, the suspect in the fatal bomb attack on a high-profile military blogger, be held in custody for at least two months.
US details new $2.6 bn military aid package for Ukraine
The United States on Tuesday unveiled details of $2.6 billion in new military aid for Ukraine's war against invading Russian forces, including ammunition for HIMARS precision rocket systems, artillery rounds and small arms.
Long NATO delay spells trouble for Sweden and alliance: experts
While Finland Tuesday became a full NATO member, Sweden's membership bid remains blocked, an "embarrassing" delay if short-lived but which could make Sweden more vulnerable and create problems within NATO if it drags on, experts told AFP.
Finland joins NATO in historic shift sparked by Russia's war
Finland's blue-and-white Nordic cross flag was hoisted outside NATO headquarters on Tuesday as it became the 31st member of the alliance, in the first step of a historic realignment of Europe's defences sparked by Russia's war on Ukraine.
Polish right-wing pins election hopes on John Paul II
Poland's governing conservatives have thrown themselves into defending late pope John Paul II against allegations of covering up child sex abuse in an apparent bid to mobilise voters and distract from runaway inflation in an election year.
Finland in NATO: strategic shift with material gain
Finland on Tuesday becoming the 31st member of NATO is a strategic step that doubles the military alliance's border with Russia and provides the coalition with additional military capacity.
Stocks mixed on hopes of rate pause despite oil surge
Stocks posted gains in Europe but eased slightly on Wall Street on Tuesday as investors weighed the potential impact of rising oil prices and slowing economic activity on interest rate policies.