AFP news

China and the U.S. are holding fresh trade talks in Malaysia as Vice Premier He Lifeng meets Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Both nations express optimism about resolving tensions, with Presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump expected to meet in South Korea next week to discuss broader economic cooperation.

China announced plans to massively expand its high-tech industries over the next decade, focusing on quantum computing, hydrogen and fusion energy, and brain-computer interfaces. Officials say the initiative will reshape the country's technological landscape and strengthen its global leadership.

They were freed in exchange for Israeli hostages held in Gaza, but instead of going home, 154 Palestinian ex-prisoners were exiled to Egypt, where they are confined to a hotel and kept under tight surveillance.

Composer William Barnett started his YouTube channel as an outlet for his music -- but today he also uses it to debunk the steady stream of White House rhetoric on autism while sharing his own experience living with it.

EU leaders Thursday tasked the European Commission to move ahead with options for funding Ukraine for two more years, leaving the door open for a mammoth loan using frozen Russian assets, diplomats told AFP. In broadly worded conclusions adopted after marathon talks in Brussels, EU leaders stopped short of greenlighting plans for the 140-billion-euro ($162-billion) "reparations loan" -- pushing that crunch decision to December.

Former Binance CEO Changpeng "CZ" Zhao has been pardoned by Donald Trump, wiping his criminal record for a US anti-money-laundering conviction and potentially paving the way for Binance to resume US operations.

Disneyland Paris has canceled its planned pop-up store and holiday window displays at BHV Marais amid protests over Shein's arrival at the historic Parisian department store. Trade unions and other brands have criticized Shein's expansion, leading to disruptions in seasonal events.

A new report reveals US oil and gas giants pay billions more in taxes overseas than at home, despite producing most of their fuel domestically. Tax loopholes and subsidies under Trump-era policies fuel this disparity.

The United States on Wednesday hit Russia's two biggest oil producers -- Rosneft and Lukoil -- with sanctions, the first against Russia since US President Donald returned to office.

A Belfast judge on Thursday acquitted a British ex-paratrooper of killing unarmed civilians during the 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre, a verdict condemned by victims' relatives and Northern Ireland's political leader.

Top US diplomat Marco Rubio warned that Israel's moves towards annexing the occupied West Bank risked undermining a fragile US-brokered truce in Gaza, as he headed to Israel on Thursday.

Brandishing bamboo sticks and chanting patriotic hymns, thousands of uniformed men parade in central India, a striking show of strength by the country's millions-strong Hindu ultranationalist group.

Hugo Ekitike scored against his old club as Liverpool got back on track with a 5-1 victory at Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League on Wednesday while Chelsea, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich were among the night's other winners.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that global debt has soared, leaving developing countries paying more on interest than on health or education. He launched the Sevilla Forum on Debt to improve financing, strengthen investment, and align trade policies with climate goals.

SpaceX has disabled more than 2,500 Starlink internet devices at suspected scam centres in Myanmar, where online fraud operations have thrived. The move follows reports that Starlink receivers were widely used to facilitate illegal activities, including romance and business scams targeting foreigners.

The United States and European Union on Wednesday promised a fresh wave of sanctions against Russia for its relentless invasion of Ukraine, with Washington accusing Russian leader Vladimir Putin of not being "honest" in responding to its peace efforts.

Lithuanian Defence Minister Dovile Sakaliene resigned after a dispute with Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene over the country's military spending plans. The disagreement centered on Lithuania's commitment to allocate 5% of GDP to defence as tensions with Russia remain high.

The International Court of Justice said Wednesday that Israel was obliged to ease the passage of aid into Gaza, stressing it had to provide Palestinians with the "basic needs" to survive.

US Vice President JD Vance warned Wednesday of the tough task ahead in disarming Hamas and building a peaceful future for Gaza, as Washington sought to reassure its ally Israel over the next steps in its ambitious ceasefire deal.

Gold and silver sank for a second day Wednesday, bringing a rally in the precious metals to a juddering halt, while stocks were mixed after US President Donald Trump remarked that a meeting with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping might not take place.

Incumbent Alassane Ouattara is the overwhelming favourite to secure a fourth term as Ivory Coast holds presidential polls Saturday, a task facilitated by the absence of several key opposition figures.

In Pakistan, where gender affirmation surgery was recently legalised, Bunty is one of the few trans women who could afford to get it done safely.

Paris Saint-Germain scored seven and both Barcelona and PSV Eindhoven hit six in big victories while Arsenal crushed Atletico Madrid 4-0 on a prolific night of Champions League action on Tuesday.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro met with US Charge d'Affaires John McNamara to discuss anti-drug strategies and strengthen bilateral cooperation. The meeting comes after tensions with Donald Trump over aid, tariffs, and drug policy enforcement.

Novo Nordisk plans to replace more than half its board, including the chair, following a governance dispute with its majority shareholder. The shake-up comes as competition for the Ozempic and Wegovy weight-loss drugs intensifies and the company cuts 9,000 jobs to adjust its growth strategy.

General Motors reported stronger-than-expected Q3 profits despite a $1.6 billion EV investment write-down and $1.1 billion in tariff costs. CEO Mary Barra's strategy pivot toward gasoline-powered vehicles and US plant investments drives a positive outlook, sending shares up over 15 percent.

Embraer posts a record $31.3 billion order backlog in Q3 2025, driven by strong commercial and executive aircraft demand. The Brazilian aviation giant delivered 62 planes and benefited from US tariff exemptions, representing a 38% increase from last year.

Adidas posts record third-quarter revenue of €6.63 billion, driven by brand momentum and successful tariff mitigation. The German sportswear giant raises its 2025 earnings forecast to €2 billion, signaling strong recovery after the Yeezy disruption and robust global sales performance.

OpenAI unveils Atlas, a new AI-powered web browser built around ChatGPT, offering agent mode to search the web autonomously. Available first on Mac computers, Atlas challenges Google Chrome with smart browsing, app integration, and AI-assisted web navigation, while paid users unlock advanced agent features.