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Ukraine to hold first war crimes trial over Russian invasion

Ukraine will launch its first war crimes trial over Moscow's ongoing invasion, bringing a 21-year-old Russian soldier to the stand, Kyiv's top prosecutor announced Wednesday.

Finnish political leaders to unveil NATO stance

Finland's president and prime minister will announce Thursday their highly awaited positions on whether to join NATO, the first step toward a formal decision after Russia's war in Ukraine triggered a swift turnaround in opinion.

Russia 'most direct threat to world order': EU's von der Leyen

Russia is the "most direct threat" to the international order because of its invasion of Ukraine, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Thursday in Tokyo.

Besieged Ukrainian commander asks Elon Musk for help

A Ukrainian commander in Mariupol appealed directly to Elon Musk on Wednesday, asking the world's richest man to intervene on behalf of those trapped by Russian forces in control of the southern city.

Colombia's Gulf Clan sows terror ahead of presidential vote

With dozens of villages under siege and as many as two dozen people killed in a week, Colombia's largest drug cartel is sowing terror among civilians, flexing its muscle with days to go to presidential elections.

New Cuban penal code 'turning the screw' on dissent, critics say

Ten months after unprecedented anti-government protests rocked Cuba, the government is pushing through a penal reform opponents say is designed to pre-emptively quell any future displays of growing public discontent.

Biden loses potent aide with departure of press secretary Psaki

She could be playing the charmer, hurling verbal explosives, or just applying spin, but whichever version of Jen Psaki appears at the White House podium, there's little question her departure Friday strips President Joe Biden of an able ally.

Ukrainian forces collect Russian dead left behind

After combing the forests and meadows west of Kyiv, a special Ukrainian unit finally found what they were searching for —- the body of a Russian "occupier".

Biggest white diamond ever auctioned fetches $21.9 million

The Rock, the biggest white diamond ever auctioned, sold for 21.7 million Swiss francs ($21.9 million) on Wednesday, far short of the record for such a jewel.

Finland joining NATO 'would not be against anyone': president

Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said on Wednesday that it "would not be against anyone", if the Nordic country joined NATO, despite Russia warning against the membership.

'No time to hide' for Ukraine social worker in town near front line

Shelling thundered from several directions and black smoke drifted upward in the distance as Zhanna Protsenko pedalled off for a house call in a war-hit Ukrainian town.

Cardinal, pop star bailed in latest Hong Kong security arrests

A Catholic cardinal critical of Beijing was released on bail by Hong Kong authorities, local media reported late Wednesday, as his arrest under the city's national security law prompted US demands that he be freed.

Coups undermining Sahel anti-jihadist force: UN chief

Military coups in Mali and Burkina Faso -- two members of the G5-Sahel anti-jihadist force -- are undermining the mission's operational capacity, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a Wednesday report.

France opens torture case against Interpol's UAE president

French authorities have opened a case against Interpol's Emirati president over accusations of torture and arbitrary detention by two Britons who were detained in the UAE, a source close to the inquiry told AFP on Wednesday.

Remittances to Ukraine to jump over 20 percent: World Bank

Payments from workers living abroad to low- and middle-income countries are expected to rise 4.2 percent this year, with Ukraine as the main beneficiary of the increase, the World Bank said Wednesday.

Russia urged to annex Ukraine's Kherson as battles rage

Pro-Kremlin authorities in Ukraine's Kherson said Wednesday they will ask Russia to annex the region as Moscow seeks to shore up its gains in the increasingly drawn-out and bloody war.

Australia's election foes get personal

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison derided his Labor Party opponent Wednesday as an unreliable "loose unit" on the economy as he fought to catch up in the opinion polls 10 days from May 21 federal elections.

Al Jazeera journalist shot dead during Israel West Bank raid

Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, a respected veteran of the Al Jazeera network, was shot dead Wednesday as she covered an Israeli army raid in the occupied West Bank.

Australia's election battle gets personal

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison derided his Labor Party opponent Wednesday as an unreliable "loose unit" on the economy as he fought to catch up in the opinion polls 10 days from the federal election on May 21.

Cardinal, pop star among latest Hong Kong security arrests: sources

An elderly Catholic cardinal critical of Beijing and a Cantonese pop star are among a group of veteran democracy advocates who have been arrested under Hong Kong's national security law, legal and police sources said Wednesday.

Sri Lanka's economy on brink of collapse as troops quell unrest

Sri Lanka's economy will "collapse" unless a new government is urgently appointed, the central bank chief warned Wednesday, as security forces fanned out on the streets to restore order after spasms of mob violence.

Ferdinand Marcos Jr claims victory in Philippines election

The son of the late Philippines dictator Ferdinand Marcos on Wednesday claimed victory in the presidential election, vowing to be a leader "for all Filipinos", his spokesman said.

South Korea's new president opens Blue House to the public

Thousands of South Koreans poured into the presidential Blue House in leafy northern Seoul on Wednesday, after President Yoon Suk-yeol made good on a campaign promise to return the once-fortified compound to the people.

Hong Kong Tiananmen vigil organisers labelled 'foreign agents'

A Hong Kong court ruled on Wednesday that prosecutors could label organisers of the city's annual Tiananmen vigil "foreign agents" without having to reveal who the group is accused of working for.

Hong Kong defence fund trustee arrested at airport: sources

A Hong Kong scholar who helped run a now-disbanded defence fund for democracy protesters was arrested at the airport under the national security law, two legal sourcestold AFP on Wednesday.

Sri Lanka orders 'offensive' to contain riots

Sri Lankan police have been ordered to go on the offensive and use live ammunition to prevent "anarchy", a top official told AFP Wednesday after another night of sporadic arson attacks.

Ferdinand Marcos Jr claims victory in Philippine election

The son of the late Philippines dictator Ferdinand Marcos on Wednesday claimed victory in the presidential election, vowing to be a leader "for all Filipinos", his spokesman said.

Al Jazeera journalist killed during Israel West Bank raid

Veteran Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Aqleh was killed by Israeli troops Wednesday as she covered a raid on Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank, the network and Palestinian witnesses said.

'Many die': Ukraine throws it all to halt Russian surge

The casing of a cluster munition stood upright like a fence pole not far from a team of Ukrainian medics rushing a bleeding soldier from the eastern front.

Philippine election winner Marcos visits dictator father's grave

Ferdinand Marcos Junior visited the grave of his dictator father hours after his thumping victory in the Philippine presidential election, his team said Wednesday, posting photos of the intimate moment on social media.

Madrid rivals Miami as haven for Latin American dissidents

Well-known faces of Cuba's protest have in recent years gone into exile in Madrid, which is rivalling Miami as a haven for Latin American political opponents.

In Kyiv, boxing gyms offer chance to ease war stress

The sound of hip hop mixes with the dull thud of fists walloping heavy bags as a group of Ukrainian boxers unleash combinations, burning off weeks of pent up stress.

Al Jazeera journalist killed by Israeli forces in West Bank

Veteran Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Aqleh was shot dead by Israeli troops Wednesday as she covered a raid on Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank, an AFP photographer reported.

Ukraine war revives France-Spain MidCat gas pipeline project

Since Russia invaded Ukraine, Madrid has revived calls to build a huge gas pipeline between Spain and France dubbed MidCat that would boost Europe's energy independence from Russia.

After Israel ruling, West Bank families fear evictions 'at any time'

The threat of losing his West Bank land has loomed over Ali Mohammed Jabbareen for more than two decades, but he now fears an Israeli court decision may finally force him to go.

US takes first step to approve $40 bn in Ukraine aid

US lawmakers voted Tuesday to send a $40 billion aid package to Ukraine as Washington warned that Russia was likely girding for a long conflict with its neighbor.

Despite public anger, Lebanon vote set to entrench status quo

Lebanon's elections Sunday won't yield a seismic shift despite widespread discontent with a graft-tainted political class blamed for a painful economic crisis and a deadly disaster, experts say.

'A chance to survive': Ukraine's fortress steel mills

Food and water stockpiles, generators, toilets, stacks of mattresses and even wood-burning stoves in bunkers deep underground -- the Soviets built this Ukrainian steelworks with war in mind.

Ecuadoran police say 200 prisoners recaptured after prison riot

Ecuadoran police on Tuesday said 200 convicts that escaped following a deadly prison riot have been recaptured, with another 20 still at large.

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