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Starmer vows to fight 'extremes' after UK Labour election drubbing
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer vowed Friday to fight "the extremes in politics" after left-wing and hard-right parties both beat his ruling Labour in what had been a traditional stronghold.
55 Ghanaians killed after being lured into Ukraine war: govt
Some 55 Ghanaians have been killed while fighting in Ukraine, the country's foreign minister said on Friday, promising a crackdown on illicit recruitment schemes luring citizens to Russia under false pretences.
France warns of 'provocation' if Russian drone buzzed aircraft carrier
France's foreign minister said Friday that if a drone seen this week near a French aircraft carrier visiting Sweden turned out to be Russian -- a claim Moscow called "absurd" -- it would be a "ridiculous provocation".
Isolated Kremlin critics lament lost future at Nemtsov memorial
On a bridge next to the Kremlin on a drizzly Friday morning, a lone Russian police officer stood looking at the half-dozen bunches of flowers laying in memory of slain opposition figure Boris Nemtsov.
UN urges action to prevent full civil war in S.Sudan
The UN rights chief voiced alarm Friday at the deteriorating situation in South Sudan, calling for "urgent action" to avert a return to full-scale civil war.
Starmer vows to take fight to rivals after 'seismic' UK Labour heartlands loss
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer vowed on Friday to fight "the extremes in politics" after left-wing and hard-right parties both beat his ruling Labour in a crunch vote in a traditional stronghold.
US allows non-emergency staff to leave Israel as Trump threatens Iran strikes
The United States authorised the departure of non-emergency embassy staff from Israel on Friday, as it threatened strikes on Iran and pressed its biggest military build-up in the Middle East in decades.
EU will provisionally apply contested South America trade deal
The European Union will implement a mammoth trade deal with the South American Mercosur bloc while waiting for a top court's ruling on its legality, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said Friday.
UK Labour party loses heartland parliament seat to left-wing Greens
Britain's ruling Labour party slumped Friday to a humiliating third-place finish as it lost a crunch vote in a traditional stronghold to the left-wing Greens, heaping fresh pressure on embattled Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Belarus opposition leader fears her country could become Putin's 'consolation prize'
Exiled Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya told AFP in an interview that her country must not become a "consolation prize" for Russian President Vladimir Putin amid intense efforts to end the Ukraine war.
Pakistan bombs Kabul in 'open war' on Afghanistan's Taliban government
Pakistan bombed major cities in Afghanistan including the capital Kabul on Friday, with Islamabad's defence minister declaring the neighbours at "open war" following months of tit-for-tat clashes.
Japan ruling party approves plans to beef up intelligence
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's ruling party has approved plans to beef up the country's intelligence capability, a party official said Friday, as the premier pushes ahead with a defence overhaul.
UK Labour party loses parliamentary seat to left-wing Greens
Britain's ruling Labour party on Friday lost a crunch local poll in one of its traditional northern English heartlands to the left-wing Greens, adding to the woes of unpopular Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Philippines, US, Japanese planes drill over Bashi Channel
The Philippine, US and Japanese militaries conducted joint exercises this week over the Bashi Channel that separates the Philippines from Taiwan, officials said Friday.
Nepal PM hopeful eyes 'change' in post-uprising elections
Nepali student leader-turned-politician Gagan Thapa has sought to rejuvenate his party's stale image, campaigning on generational change ahead of the Himalayan nation's first elections since a deadly youth-led uprising.
Pakistan bombs Kabul in 'open war' on Afghanistan's Taliban govt
Pakistan bombed major cities in Afghanistan including the capital Kabul on Friday, with Islamabad's defence minister declaring the neighbours at "open war" following months of tit-for-tat clashes.
Pakistan bombs Kabul after Afghanistan attacks border
Pakistan bombed major cities in Afghanistan including the capital Kabul on Friday, with Islamabad's defence minister declaring the neighbours at "open war" following months of tit-for-tat clashes.
Anthropic says won't give US military unconditional AI use
AI company Anthropic said Thursday it would not give the US Defense Department unrestricted use of its technology despite being pressured to comply by the Pentagon.
US-based man killed by Cuba coast guard wanted to spark uprising: ally
A US-based man identified as one of those killed by the Cuban coast guard in a shootout had wanted to liberate the communist island, a political ally told AFP on Thursday.
New Zealand's ex-prime minister Ardern now based in Australia: media
Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has moved to Australia after a stint in the United States, national broadcaster RNZ said, joining record numbers of her compatriots moving across the Tasman.
Civilian death toll in Sudan war more than doubled in 2025, UN says
Killings of civilians in Sudan's war more than doubled in 2025 compared with the previous year, the United Nations rights chief said Thursday, warning that thousands more dead are unidentified or remain missing.
Iran says 'good progress' in US talks, next round within a week
Iran and the United States made "significant progress" in talks in Switzerland on Thursday, mediators said, after the latest round of negotiations to avert a war between the longtime foes, and agreed to further discussions next week in Austria.
Zelensky says next Russia meeting soon as Geneva talks end
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday that he expected the next round of talks to end the war with Russia in early March in Abu Dhabi, after his officials concluded a meeting with US envoys in Geneva.
UK Labour party fights hard right, leftists in traditional stronghold
Voters in northern England cast ballots Thursday in a local poll seen as a key test of the ruling Labour party's ability to fend off growing support for the hard right and leftists, as the country's traditional two-party system splinters.
Will the fight to succeed 'El Mencho' spark a new wave of Mexico violence?
The killing of the head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) by Mexican authorities on Sunday sparked widespread violence, with gang members opening fire on soldiers and setting up burning roadblocks in various parts of the country.
Iran, US make 'significant progress' in talks, says Oman FM
Iran and the United States made "significant progress" in talks in Switzerland on Thursday, Oman's foreign minister said, at the end of the latest round of negotiations to avert a war between the longtime foes.
US, Ukraine conclude talks in Geneva as Russia says 'no deadlines' to end war
US and Ukrainian officials concluded talks in Geneva on Thursday to discuss advancing efforts to end Russia's four-year invasion of Ukraine, just as Moscow signalled it was in no hurry to sign a deal.
Danish PM calls March 24 election amid US, Russia tensions
Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Thursday called a general election for March 24, against a backdrop of tensions with the United States and Russia.
Hillary Clinton calls for Trump to testify as she faces US House Epstein panel
A Republican-led panel grilled Hillary Clinton on Thursday over her links to Jeffrey Epstein, but she called for Donald Trump to testify about the president's own connections to the convicted sex offender.
Carney on route to Asia to promote Canada trade as US ties falter
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney was flying to Asia on Thursday for a three-country tour with a first stop in India, where he hopes to double trade to offset the damage of his country's fracturing relations with the United States.
Cuba vows to counter 'terrorist' attacks after clashing with US-based boat
Cuba vowed Thursday to defend against "terrorist and mercenary" attacks after reporting it had killed four gunmen on a US-registered boat -- a bloody incident that added to deepening tensions between Havana and Washington.
Noosha Aubel: Scandal in Potsdam over severely disabled child
As little Heidrun celebrates her second birthday today, she is still waiting for something that should be a matter of course in a constitutional state: a place in an inclusive daycare centre with individual assistance. Her parents have been fighting for this right for over a year and have now filed disciplinary complaints, criminal charges and petitions. What they are experiencing in Potsdam (Federal state of Brandenburg) is, according to citizens, ‘the pitiful face of an administration that ignores laws and cold-heartedly abandons the weakest members of society, children with severe disabilities’.Back in January 2025, representatives of the Children, Youth and Family Department of the state capital Potsdam (Germany) acknowledged in writing that Heidrun needs special support due to her severe disability – since birth, the toddler has suffered from a KBG gene defect (100 per cent severe disability with care level 4 and, among other things, the designation ‘H’ = ‘helpless’ and ‘aG’ = ‘exceptionally mobility impaired’).