US President Donald Trump piled on criticism Wednesday of a decision to grant Hollywood superstar George Clooney French passports after a junior government official in Paris labelled the move a "double standard".
Soaring global demand for semiconductors fuelled by a boom in artificial intelligence sent South Korea's exports to their highest-ever level in 2025, official data showed Thursday.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te vowed on Thursday to defend the democratic island's sovereignty in a New Year's speech, after China carried out military drills.
- N. Korea's Kim hails 'invincible alliance' with Russia in New Year's letter
- In Venezuela, price of US dollar up 479 percent in a year
Sports
Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood were Thursday named in a spin-heavy provisional Australian squad for this year's Twenty20 World Cup after their Ashes campaign was ruined by injury.
January 01, 2026
RECENT NEWS
Bulgaria adopts the euro, nearly 20 years after joining the EU
Economy
December 31, 2025
Israeli bulldozers began demolishing 25 buildings housing Palestinians in a refugee camp on Wednesday, in what the military said was an effort to root out armed groups in northern areas of the occupied West Bank.
December 31, 2025
RECENT NEWS
Eighteen Cambodian soldiers received a hero's welcome Wednesday after Thailand released them as part of a truce deal that ended weeks of deadly fighting along their contested frontier.
December 31, 2025
Sudan must face 2022 champions Senegal in the last 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations after losing 2-0 to Burkina Faso in their final group game on Wednesday, while Algeria beat Equatorial Guinea 3-1 at the same time.
December 31, 2025
Rodri and Jeremy Doku could both be involved when Manchester City travel to Sunderland on New Year's Day, manager Pep Guardiola said Wednesday.
December 31, 2025
Economy
A junior member of President Emmanuel Macron's government Wednesday criticised the French passports given to Hollywood superstar George Clooney despite him speaking poor French, saying the move suggested a "double standard".
December 31, 2025
RECENT NEWS
Ukrainians marking their fourth New Year's Eve since Russia's invasion said their biggest wish for 2026 was peace -- as well as an end to the power cuts that had made life "hell".
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner gave little away Wednesday regarding his club's pursuit of Tottenham forward Brennan Johnson.
Gary Neville has branded Manchester United's performance in their draw with winless Wolves as "the baddest of the bad".
New Year celebrations took on a sombre tone in Sydney as revellers held a minute of silence for victims of the Bondi Beach shooting before fireworks lit up the harbour city at the stroke of midnight.
December 31, 2025
Economy
Stock markets mostly retreated Wednesday in thin trading, following a year of record gains for key assets as central banks cut interest rates and the tech sector boomed thanks to the growth of artificial intelligence.
December 31, 2025
RECENT NEWS
France will make a fresh attempt to protect children from excessive screen time, proposing a ban on social media access for children under 15 by next September, according to a draft law seen by AFP.
Real Madrid on Wednesday said that Kylian Mbappe had suffered a knee sprain, delivering a blow to their bid to reel in Liga leaders Barcelona.
Rail traffic through the Channel tunnel slowly resumed with more cancellations and delays Wednesday after an electricity failure stranded thousands of passengers and trapped some for a night in a powerless train.
President Vladimir Putin said Russia believed it would win in Ukraine in an address Wednesday, as his country marked another New Year -- their main holiday -- at war.
December 31, 2025
- Iran government building attacked as top prosecutor responds to protests
- World begins to welcome 2026 after a year of Trump, truces and turmoil
- Fofana reckons 'small details' restricting Chelsea's progress
- Israel to ban 37 aid groups operating in Gaza
- Filmmaker Panahi says Iran protests 'to move history forward'
- Bulgaria takes hesitant step into the eurozone
- Xi says China to hit 2025 growth target of 'around 5 percent'
- Turkey steps up anti-IS raids, arresting 125 suspects