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US optimistic about reaching peace deal with Iran
The United States is discussing a possible second round of peace talks with Iran in Pakistan and is optimistic about reaching a deal, US officials said Wednesday, as Tehran threatened to shut down Red Sea trade unless Washington lifted a naval blockade of its ports.
S&P 500, Nasdaq end at records as markets bet on US-Iran accord
Major Wall Street stock indices finished at records Wednesday, extending an upward climb on optimism about an accord in the US-Iran conflict as the White House signaled plans for more talks.
US says optimistic about reaching peace deal with Iran
The United States said on Wednesday it was discussing a possible second round of peace talks with Iran in Pakistan and was optimistic about reaching a deal, as Tehran threatened to shut down Red Sea trade unless Washington lifted a naval blockade on its ports.
IMF and Argentina agree deal unlocking $1 bn in assistance
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Wednesday it had reached an agreement with the highly indebted Argentine government as it reviews the country's financial reforms, paving the way for a $1 billion dollar disbursement.
World Bank chief economist warns of hunger risk from war in Iran
The conflict in the Middle East could push millions more towards hunger as its economic fallout reverberates further around the globe, the World Bank's chief economist warned in an AFP interview on Wednesday.
Pope urges Cameroon's leaders to examine 'conscience'
Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday urged Cameroon's leaders to examine their "conscience" and tackle corruption and rights abuses, in a pointed speech on the first day of his visit to the central African country.
'Fantastic feeling': Sudan capital returnees relieved after three years of war
Sudanese pilot Mohamad Daafallah grins as he shakes hands with passengers after their landing at Khartoum Airport, exactly three years after it was bombed to shreds during the outbreak of war in Sudan.
Pope urges Cameroon authorities to examine 'conscience'
Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday called on Cameroon's authorities to examine their "conscience" and break "the chains of corruption" on the first day of a visit to the country.
Donors pledge 1.5 bn euros as Sudan marks three years of war
Donors pledged about 1.5 billion euros ($1.8 billion) for Sudan at an international meeting held in Berlin Wednesday to mark three years of a war that has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions.
Teenager kills nine, wounds 13 in Turkey school shooting
A 14-year-old armed with five guns opened fire at a Turkish school on Wednesday, killing nine people, wounding 13 and sparking scenes of mayhem as students jumped out of windows to escape.
Trump says will fire Fed chair if he stays beyond mandate
President Donald Trump renewed pressure Wednesday on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, with the US leader threatening to fire the central bank chief if he stays beyond his mandate.
Donors pledge 1.3 bn euros as Sudan marks three years of war
Donors pledged about 1.3 billion euros ($1.5 billion) for Sudan at an international meeting held in Berlin Wednesday to mark three years of a war that has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions.
Oil rises, stocks mixed as investors eye chances for end of Mideast war
Crude prices climbed Wednesday while stocks diverged as investors digested mixed signals about talks to end the war in the Middle East and get oil and gas flowing through the Strait of Hormuz once again.
France's Gulf veteran minehunter patrols Channel
Just a stone's throw from the chalk cliffs of Dieppe in northern France, French Navy minehunter L'Aigle -- a veteran of the Gulf war -- scans the seabed with ultrasound for unexploded devices.
Bosnia approves gas project by Trump-linked investors
Bosnia approved Wednesday a $1.5 billion energy project led by investors close to US President Donald Trump that aims to reduce the Balkan country's reliance on Russian natural gas.
Pupil kills nine, wounds 13 in new Turkey school shooting
A 13-year-old opened fire at a Turkish school on Wednesday, killing nine people and wounding 13, with students jumping from windows to escape the second school shooting in the country in as many days, officials said.
Left-wing candidate Sanchez climbs to second place in Peru vote count
Left-wing candidate Roberto Sanchez climbed to second place in Peru's presidential election on Wednesday, positioning himself to face conservative Keiko Fujimori in a June runoff, while his nearest challenger threatened protests over alleged voter fraud.
Cameroonians welcome pope on second leg of African tour
Thousands of people, singing and dancing, welcomed Pope Leo XIV to Cameroon on Wednesday for a three-day trip that includes a visit to the epicentre of a nearly decade-long separatist conflict, where he is expected to bring a message of peace.
Stocks edge higher as investors eye chances for end of Mideast war
Stock markets were mostly higher Wednesday on signs that talks were continuing to end the war in the Middle East, bolstering hopes that Gulf oil and gas could again be flowing soon through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran ups threats over naval blockade, but still talking to US
Iran's military threatened on Wednesday to shut down Red Sea trade unless the United States lifted its naval blockade on Tehran's ports, saying the ceasefire was at risk.
Pupil kills four wounds 20 in new Turkey school shooting
A student aged about 13 opened fire at random in a Turkish school Wednesday killing four people and wounding 20, just one day after a shooter wounded 16 people and then killed himself in another school, officials said.
Left-wing radical 'confident' after late surge in Peru presidential poll
Radical left-wing Peruvian presidential candidate Roberto Sanchez told AFP Tuesday that he was confident of reaching the second round of voting after a late surprise surge from rural polling stations.
New Hungarian leader Magyar says pro-Orban president must resign
Hungary's new leader Peter Magyar said Wednesday he had told President Tamas Sulyok, a supporter of ousted prime minister Viktor Orban, that he should resign following Orban's election defeat.
After three years of war, Sudan confronts devastation as donors gather in Berlin
Three years into the war in Sudan that has killed tens of thousands, displaced millions and spawned numerous war crimes allegations, Germany said Wednesday it hoped donors would pledge more than $1 billion towards humanitarian efforts.
Trump says Iran talks could resume within 'days'
President Donald Trump has indicated peace talks with Tehran could resume this week, as the United States turned the screws Wednesday with a naval blockade it said had cut off maritime trade with Iran.
Keiko Fujimori: Peru's biggest political loser inches toward victory
Peru's Keiko Fujimori has run for the presidency three times and lost three times -- in a country that has had eight presidents in the last decade alone.
Ukraine veteran stages puppet shows to honour killed soldiers
When Oleksiy Kravchuk joined the Ukrainian military at the start of Russia's invasion in 2022, he fought as a sniper and was known by his military nickname Saint Nicholas.
Peru candidate demands vote annulment as count tightens
Peruvian right-wing presidential hopeful Rafael Lopez Aliaga gathered hundreds of supporters in Lima on Tuesday and gave authorities 24 hours to annul the first round of the country's election over allegations of fraud.
Xi meets Russian FM as leaders flock to China over Middle East war
China's President Xi Jinping met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday, Chinese state media said, as a string of leaders of countries impacted by the Middle East war flock to Beijing.
'Industrial' clickbait disinformation targets Australian politics
From anti-transgender narratives about Olympic swimmers tofabricated comments from right-wing politicians, a slew of Facebook pages managed from Vietnam are capitalising on Australia's febrile politics to promote AI-generated articles on websites designed for profit.
Indonesia, France agree to boost defence industry ties
Indonesia, fresh off concluding a defence pact with Washington and an oil deal with Russia, has also agreed to boost defence industry cooperation with France, Jakarta said Wednesday after the countries' presidents met in Paris.
Peru candidate calls for vote annulment as count tightens
Peruvian right-wing presidential hopeful Rafael Lopez Aliaga on Tuesday called for the first round of the country's election to be annulled, alleging fraud without providing proof of his claim.