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EU hikes military aid for Ukraine as Sweden edges to NATO membership

Europe pledged another half billion dollars in military support for Kyiv on Friday and Sweden edged closer to joining NATO as the war in Ukraine entered its 12th week.

In Sweden, misgivings over rushed debate to join NATO

Sweden is widely expected to apply for NATO membership after Russia's invasion of Ukraine sparked a surge in support, but many Swedes are uncomfortable with how quickly the decision-making process has gone.

Ukraine finance minister eyes reconstruction as war rages

The war is not over, but Ukraine's finance minister says the first signs of economic recovery are emerging after Russian troops retreated away from the capital and northern areas.

G7 to back Ukraine 'until victory', France says, as EU ups aid

The G7 group of industrialised nations are united in backing Ukraine "until victory", France said Friday, as the EU promised more military aid for Kyiv in its fight against Russia's invasion.

Russia war crimes allegations mount as Britain urges more weapons for Ukraine

Russia faced mounting accusations of war crimes in Ukraine including forcing thousands of people into interrogation camps, while Britain on Friday urged more weapons for Kyiv to sustain pressure on Moscow.

'Better dead than captured': Mother's pain as son killed in Azovstal

For two-and-a-half months, Iryna Yegorchenko prayed for the safe return of her son Artem, one of the soldiers defending the besieged Azovstal steelworks in the devastated Ukrainian port city of Mariupol.

Sri Lanka's new PM struggles to form unity government

Sri Lanka's new prime minister was struggling Friday to forge a unity government and forestall an imminent economic collapse after a senior opposition figure refused to helm the finance ministry.

Russia war crimes allegations mount as Ukraine refugees top six million

Russia faced mounting accusations of war crimes in Ukraine Friday including forcing thousands of people into interrogation camps, as the number of refugees reported to have fled the conflict surpassed six million.

Biden welcomes Southeast Asian leaders with energy, maritime pledges

President Joe Biden on Thursday welcomed Southeast Asian leaders to Washington with promises to support clean energy and maritime security, hoping to showcase a US commitment as China makes wide inroads.

Without Hariri, Lebanon's Sunnis leaderless ahead of vote

Lebanon's Sunni Muslim community is gearing up for Sunday's parliamentary polls without strong leadership for the first time in decades after former premier Saad Hariri stepped down from political life.

Women don't like Brazil's Bolsonaro. Cue the first lady

President Jair Bolsonaro has a problem heading into Brazil's October elections: he is unpopular with a demographic that makes up more than half the electorate -- women.

Biden welcomes Southeast Asian leaders with energy, security pledges

President Joe Biden on Thursday welcomed Southeast Asian leaders to Washington, promising support for clean energy and maritime security in the face of a rising China.

Thousands of Argentines protest soaring inflation

Thousands of Argentines brought central Buenos Aires to a standstill on Thursday in another massive protest against the South American country's soaring inflation.

Powell wins second term as Fed chief as inflation battle rages

The US Senate on Thursday confirmed Jerome Powell to a second term as head of the Federal Reserve, as the central bank ramps up its fight to crush soaring inflation.

One killed, 12 injured in Karachi bombing: police

One person was killed and 12 injured in a bomb blast late Thursday in Karachi, police said, just two weeks after a suicide attack by a Pakistan separatist group killed four in the same city.

Mexican teenager's death becomes media, justice 'spectacle'

The still-unsolved death of teenager Debanhi Escobar has brought into sharp focus not just the dangers facing women in Mexico but also the questionable judicial and media handling of the high-profile case.

Amnesty condemns 'misguided' remarks from Norman over Saudi Arabia

Amnesty International on Thursday criticised former world number one golfer Greg Norman over "wrong and seriously misguided" remarks about Saudi Arabia's human rights record and the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Qatar, EU say pushing stalled Iran nuclear talks

Qatar's emir and the European Union on Thursday said they are working to push forward stalled negotiations aimed at reviving a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and major world powers.

UK govt accused of 'cover-up' over Russian-born press baron

The UK government was accused Thursday of a "cover-up" after refusing to release security advice issued about the controversial 2020 appointment of a Russian-born newspaper baron to parliament.

Biden administration cancels 3 offshore oil lease sales

The Biden administration has scotched plans to hold three offshore oil and gas lease sales in Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico, a government spokeswoman said Thursday.

French far-right newcomer Zemmour to seek parliamentary seat

French far-right TV pundit-turned-politician Eric Zemmour said Thursday he would seek a seat in parliament standing in the glitzy constituency around Saint-Tropez, three weeks after failing with a presidential bid.

Getting used to war, Ukraine refugees flood back to Kyiv

Teenager Maria Pshenychna embraces her father, Yuriy, as she descends from a train from Poland at a Kyiv station, returning home after fleeing the Russian invasion two months ago.

Qatar emir blames Israel for Al Jazeera journalist death

The emir of Qatar on Thursday accused Israel over the death of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh during an Israeli army raid in the occupied West Bank.

Russia using energy 'as weapon', says Berlin

German Economy Minister Robert Habeck accused Russia on Thursday of using energy as "a weapon", after Moscow slapped sanctions on Western energy firms and slowed gas flows to Europe.

Top Turkey court upholds jail for opposition figure

Turkey's supreme court of appeals on Thursday upheld a prison sentence for the head of the Istanbul branch of the country's main opposition party, a party official told AFP, in a move seen as another crackdown on opponents ahead of next year's presidential election.

Crisis-hit Sri Lanka appoints new PM to replace president's brother

Sri Lanka's president swore in a new prime minister Thursday to replace his brother, who was banned from leaving the country after his supporters launched violent attacks on a protest against the nation's dire economic crisis.

UK will act unless N.Ireland Brexit deal is changed: FM Truss

The UK will have "no choice but to act" unless the European Union agrees to change post-Brexit trading arrangements in Northern Ireland, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said on Thursday.

Finland poised for NATO membership as Ukraine war crimps Russian gas

Finland on Thursday took a step towards fast-track membership of NATO, triggering a warning from the Kremlin, as the war in Ukraine throttled supplies of Russian gas to Europe.

As Finland and Sweden eye NATO, alliance sees mutual gains

With Moscow's invasion of Ukraine pushing Finland and Sweden to join NATO, the trans-Atlantic alliance could soon welcome valuable partners for deterring any future Russian aggression.

'We don't matter': Fuming at Kyiv under Russian bombs

The pudgy Ukrainian policeman taking pasta and bread to villagers trapped under bombs on the eastern front sometimes feels like he is entering enemy territory.

Russian ex-mercenary says Kremlin should stay off foreign soil

For almost half a decade former Russian soldier Marat Gabidullin was a fighter with the controversial mercenary outfit Wagner, deployed in the east of Ukraine and then in Syria, where he was badly wounded.

Crisis-hit Sri Lanka set for new PM, unity government

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was set Thursday to name a new prime minister, hoping to assemble a unity government after weeks of anti-government protests triggered by a dire economic crisis turned violent.

Iraq strikes deal with Iran to secure summer gas imports

Iraq has agreed to pay $1.6 billion in debt to Iran by June 1 to secure a steady gas supply for power generation through the summer, its electricity minister said.

Covid-19 in North Korea: Five things to know

North Korea announced its first official cases of Covid-19 on Thursday, saying the highly transmissible Omicron variant had been detected and a national emergency declared.

Russians fleeing Putin face lukewarm welcome in France

Artyom Kotenko's world collapsed when Russia invaded Ukraine.

Finnish president, PM in favour of joining NATO 'without delay'

Finland's president and prime minister said on Thursday they were in favour of joining NATO and a formal decision would be taken this weekend, after Russia's war in Ukraine sparked a swift u-turn in opinion.

Palestinians honour slain journalist, reject joint probe

Palestinians planned a memorial service Thursday for journalist Shireen Abu Akleh who was killed while covering an Israeli raid in the West Bank, but have rejected US-led calls for a joint investigation into her death.

China defends Hong Kong cardinal's arrest as Western alarm grows

China on Thursday defended the arrest of a 90-year-old Catholic cardinal under Hong Kong's national security law, a move that triggered international outrage and deepened concerns over Beijing's crackdown on freedoms in the financial hub.

US, China congratulate Marcos for Philippine election win

The United States and China have congratulated Ferdinand Marcos Jr on his win in the Philippine presidential election, as the superpowers jostle to have the strongest ties with the Southeast Asian nation.

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