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CK Hutchison begins arbitration against Panama over annulled canal contract

Hong Kong-based conglomerate CK Hutchison said in a statement Tuesday it has initiated international arbitration against Panama, after a ruling by the country's top court annulled a concession allowing it to operate ports at the Panama Canal.

'Unprecedented mass killing': NGOs battle to quantify Iran crackdown scale

When the first pieces of information circumvented a near-total blackout during Iran's protests last month, rights defender Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam was already ready to say the scale of the crackdown was "unbelievable".

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Colombian ex-president Uribe sentenced to 12 years house arrest

A Colombian judge on Friday sentenced still-powerful former president Alvaro Uribe to 12 years of house arrest, capping a long and contentious career that defined Colombian politics for a generation.

Prosecutors call for PSG's Achraf Hakimi to face rape trial

French prosecutors on Friday called for Paris Saint-Germain star Achraf Hakimi to face trial for the alleged rape of a woman in 2023 which the Moroccan international denies.

Brewed awakening: German beer sales lowest on record

It is news that will leave brewers feeling flat -- German beer sales hit their lowest level in the first half of the year since records began over three decades ago.

Indonesia volcano belches six-mile ash tower

An Indonesian volcano spewed a 10-kilometre (6.2-miles) molten plume of ash topped by lightning into the Friday night sky, weeks after another huge eruption triggered dozens of flight cancellations in Bali.

Musk's X accuses Britain of online safety 'overreach'

Elon Musk-owned social network X on Friday accused Britain's government of "overreach" with a new law designed to protect children from harmful online content such as pornography.

UK top court to rule on multi-billion pound car loan scandal

Britain's highest court will Friday determine whether controversial car loans were unlawful, which could pave the way for millions of motorists to claim billions of pounds in compensation from banks.

French wine industry warns of 'brutal' impact from US tariffs

The French wine industry on Friday warned of a "brutal" impact from US tariffs and a weak dollar, urging France and the European Union to "continue negotiations".

Outrage grows in France over US plan to destroy contraceptives

A US plan to destroy women's contraception products reportedly worth $9.7 million spurred growing outcry on Friday in France, where the products could be incinerated.

South Korea's Yoon resists questioning by lying in underwear

South Korea's impeached former president Yoon Suk Yeol lay on his prison cell floor in his underwear to resist attempts to interrogate him, prosecutors said Friday.

Nintendo quarterly revenue surges thanks to Switch 2

Nintendo on Friday said quarterly revenue had more than doubled year-on-year thanks to the Switch 2, which became the world's fastest-selling console after its launch in June.

French cities impose curfews for teens to curb crime

Several French cities have this summer introduced a curfew for teenagers in a bid to curb youth violence, but even some mayors are not sure if the ban should be enforced.

Sweden jihadist jailed for life over Jordan pilot burned alive

A Stockholm court on Thursday handed down a life term to Swedish jihadist Osama Krayem over the 2015 murder of a Jordanian pilot burned alive by the Islamic State group in Syria.

Pakistan opposition leader given 10 years for Imran Khan protests

The opposition leader in Pakistan's parliament was among more than 100 people convicted Thursday over nationwide protests in support of Imran Khan in 2023, his party said.

Macau ex-lawmaker arrested in city's first national security law action

A former Macau pro-democracy lawmaker became the first person to be arrested under the city's national security law, with authorities alleging on Thursday that he had ties to foreign groups endangering China.

Japan lifts tsunami advisory after Russia quake

Japan's weather office on Thursday lifted a tsunami advisory imposed a day earlier after Russia's Far East was rocked by one of the strongest earthquakes on record.

Vatican embraces social media 'digital missionaries'

Sister Albertine, a youthful French Catholic nun, stood outside the Vatican, phone in hand, ready to shoot more videos for her hundreds of thousands of followers online.

Tale of love, passion behind Mexico's 'boundary-pushing' Quintonil

Behind the growing international success of a Mexican restaurant named one of world's best is a love story between two gourmets with a passion for blending traditional and contemporary flavors.

Millions return home as Pacific tsunami warnings lifted

Tsunami warnings were lifted across the Pacific rim Wednesday, allowing millions of temporary evacuees to return home.

Millions return home as Pacific tsunamis warnings lifted

Tsunami warnings were lifted across the Pacific rim Wednesday, allowing millions of temporary evacuees to return home.

Ukraine will fix anti-graft law, minister tells AFP ahead of crucial vote

Ukraine will fix a controversial anti-graft law that sparked protests last week, its foreign minister told AFP ahead of a crucial parliamentary vote Thusday, but critics said some MPs might be reluctant to back the changes.

Millions evacuate in face of Pacific tsunamis after Russia quake

One of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded struck Russia's sparsely populated Far East Wednesday, causing tsunamis that forced millions to evacuate homes across the Pacific rim, from Japan to Ecuador.

Palestine Action wins bid to challenge terror ban in London court

The co-founder of pro-Palestinian activist group Palestine Action can launch a court bid to overturn the UK government's decision to ban the group under anti-terrorism laws, a judge ruled Wednesday.

Russia relieved as tsunami spares far east from major damage

Russia lifted a tsunami alert on Wednesday after a massive quake and tsunami largely spared the country's sparsely populated far east from casualties and major damage.

London court rules oligarch liable over $1.9 bn Ukraine loan scheme

The Ukrainian oligarch Igor Kolomoisky and his former business partner are likely to be forced to repay $1.9 billion that they "unlawfully" appropriated from a Ukrainian bank they owned, London's High Court ruled Wednesday.

Shanghai police bust gang selling counterfeit Labubu toys

Police in Shanghai busted a gang making and selling fake Labubus this month, detaining eight people and 5,000 counterfeit toys worth $1.7 million, local state-owned media reported.

Huge quake off Russia sparks Pacific tsunamis

One of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded struck Russia's sparsely populated Far East on Wednesday, causing tsunamis up to four metres (12 feet) across the Pacific and sparking evacuations from Hawaii to Japan.

Russian TV shows buildings swept away as tsunami hits coast

Russian state television on Wednesday aired footage of a tsunami wave sweeping through a coastal town in the far east of the country, carrying buildings and debris into the sea.

Intimate no more? Japan clamps down on 'host clubs'

Japan is waging war on "host clubs" -- where men entertain women willing to pay for romance, but authorities and industry insiders say customers have long been scammed and saddled with debt.

Huge quake off Russia sparks Pacific tsunami warnings

Tsunamis hit parts of Russia's Far East and Japan on Wednesday after a huge magnitude 8.8 earthquake, with warnings in place around the Pacific of waves of over three metres (10 feet) in places.

Portugal battles to contain wildfires

Almost 2,700 firefighters battled Tuesday to contain forest blazes across Portugal that have led to almost the whole country being put on high alert for fires.

Tens of thousands of Catholics head to Vatican's Jubilee of Youth

Pope Leo XIV made a surprise appearance in a crowd of 120,000 young Catholics who gathered on Tuesday in Rome for the Vatican's Jubilee of Youth -- an event that takes place every 25 years.

Trump says fell out with Epstein because he was taking Mar-a-Lago spa staff

US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he fell out with Jeffrey Epstein because the convicted sex offender had poached staff from his club's spa, including the woman at the center of an underage sex scandal involving Prince Andrew.

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