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Takaichi wins big in Japan election, media projections show

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi was projected Sunday to have won a thumping victory in snap elections, in a result that could however rile China and worry financial markets.

Iran defies US threats to insist on right to enrich uranium

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Sunday ruled out Tehran ever giving up uranium enrichment in its negotiations with Washington, insisting it will not be intimidated by the threat of war with the United States.

Japan votes in snow-hit snap polls as Takaichi eyes strong mandate

Japan voted in snow-hit snap elections Sunday with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi hoping to turn a honeymoon start into a resounding ballot box victory that could rile China and rattle financial markets.

Berlin's crumbling 'Russian houses' trapped in bureaucratic limbo

The thorny issue of what to do with Russian assets has not only stumped Western leaders but also officials in Berlin who are saddled with three crumbling buildings belonging to Moscow.

Haiti's transitional council hands power to PM

Haiti's presidential transitional council, which has run the impoverished Caribbean nation for nearly two years, on Saturday handed power to US-backed Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime, after failing to rein in rampant gang violence.

N. Korea to hold party congress in February, first since 2021

North Korea's leadership will hold a party congress later this month, state media announced Sunday, in what will be the first such major gathering since 2021.

Thailand votes after three leaders in two years

Thais vote Sunday in an election pitting the popular reformists who won last time against the conservative who ended up as prime minister, with ex-leader Thaksin Shinawatra looming large from his prison cell.

Takaichi tipped for big win as Japan votes

Japan votes in snap elections Sunday with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi hoping to turn a honeymoon start into a resounding ballot box victory that could rile China and rattle financial markets.

Demonstrators in Berlin call for fall of Iran's Islamic republic

Several thousand demonstrators rallied in Berlin on Saturday calling for an end to Iran's clerical-led government and its bloody repression of protests.

'Free the mountains!": clashes at Milan protest over Winter Olympics

Thousands of people marched through Milan on Saturday in protest against the Winter Olympics, with a small number setting off fireworks and clashing with police in riot shields.

'Free the mountains!": protest in Milan over Winter Olympics

Thousands of people marched through Milan on Saturday in protest against the Winter Olympics, the day after the opening ceremony in the northern Italian city.

Over 2,200 IS detainees transferred to Iraq from Syria: Iraqi official

Iraq has so far received 2,225 Islamic State group detainees, whom the US military began transferring from Syria last month, an Iraqi official told AFP on Saturday.

Iran FM looks to more nuclear talks, but warns US

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday he hoped talks with the United States would resume soon, while reiterating Tehran's red lines and warning against any American attack.

US pressing Ukraine and Russia to end war by June, Zelensky says

The United States wants Ukraine and Russia to end their nearly four-year war by June, and has offered to host talks between the two sides in Florida next week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Trump refuses to apologize for racist clip of Obamas as monkeys

President Donald Trump refused to apologize Friday for a video posted on his social media account depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as monkeys, though he said he condemned the post as the White House shifted the blame to staff.

Takaichi talks tough on immigration on eve of vote

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi pledged Saturday to make Japan "more prosperous and safer", including through tougher immigration screening, in a final appeal to voters on the eve of snap elections.

Pushed to margins, women vanish from Bangladesh's political arena

For more than three decades, Bangladesh was one of the few countries in the world to be led by women, yet there are almost none on the February 12 ballots.

A tale of two villages: Cambodians lament Thailand's border gains

A sign hanging from a rusty ice-green shipping container installed by Thai forces on what they say is the border with Cambodia proclaims: "Cambodian citizens are strictly prohibited from entering this area."

Cuba adopts urgent measures to address energy crisis: minister

The Cuban government on Friday announced emergency measures to address a crippling energy crisis worsened by US sanctions, including the adoption of a four-day work week for state-owned companies and fuel sale restrictions.

Trump says US talks with Iran 'very good,' more negotiations expected

US President Donald Trump said Friday Washington held "very good talks" on Iran after the two sides held an indirect dialogue in Oman.

Police warn Sydney protesters ahead of Israeli president's visit

Australian authorities warned protesters to avoid violence in Sydney's streets when Israeli President Isaac Herzog visits on Monday to honour victims of the Bondi Beach mass shooting.

Bolivia wants closer US ties, without alienating China: minister

Bolivia's new government plans to restore full diplomatic ties with Washington "as soon as possible," after a nearly two-decade rupture, Foreign Minister Fernando Aramayo told AFP.

Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics open with dazzling ceremony

The Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics opened on Friday with a glittering ceremony at the San Siro stadium echoed by festivities at Games venues across the snow-capped Italian Alps.

China overturns death sentence for Canadian in drug case

China has overturned the death sentence of Canadian Robert Lloyd Schellenberg, a Canadian official told AFP Friday, in a possible sign of a diplomatic thaw as Prime Minister Mark Carney seeks to boost trade ties with Beijing.

Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics open with glittering ceremony

The Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics opened on Friday with a glittering ceremony at the San Siro stadium echoed by celebrations at Games venues across the Italian Alps.

A French yoga teacher's 'hell' in a Venezuelan jail

A French yoga teacher who was held in a blood and feces-stained Venezuelan jail on suspicion of being a US spy described how guards put him "through hell" in an attempt to break him.

Violence-ridden Haiti in limbo as transitional council wraps up

Nearly two years after it was created to restore order in impoverished, violence-ravaged Haiti, the transitional council is ending its work -- with no end to the crisis in sight.

Hundreds protest in Milan ahead of Winter Olympics

Hundreds of people protested in Milan on Friday ahead of the Winter Olympics as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni hosted world leaders including US Vice President JD Vance.

France detects Russia-linked Epstein smear attempt against Macron

France has detected a Russia-linked disinformation effort alleging President Emmanuel Macron's involvement with convicted US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a government authority said Friday.

Winter Olympics to open with star-studded ceremony

The curtain will rise on the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics on Friday, with a star-studded ceremony at the San Siro stadium echoed by celebrations at Games venues across the Italian Alps and the Dolomite mountains.

Trump posts, then deletes, racist clip of Obamas as monkeys

President Donald Trump shared a post with a racist video depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as monkeys, sparking outrage across the US political spectrum Friday before deleting it in a rare backtrack.

Trump deletes racist video post of Obamas as monkeys