Greenland Deal – and now?
Trump's attack on the Dollar
Trump's hesitation in Iran
Cuba’s bleak oil crisis
US jet downs Iran drone but talks still on course
UK police launching criminal probe into ex-envoy Mandelson
US-Iran talks 'still scheduled' after drone shot down: White House
Chomsky sympathized with Epstein over 'horrible' press treatment
Politics
French prosecutors stick to demand for five-year ban for Le Pen
French prosecutors on Tuesday demanded that an appeal court maintain a five-year ban on far-right leader Marine Le Pen from holding public office for a European parliament fraud, stepping up threats to her presidential ambitions.
Politics
Russia's economic growth slowed to 1% in 2025: Putin
Russia's economy grew by one percent in 2025, President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday, marking a much slower expansion compared to the 2024 figure as it stutters under the burden of the Ukraine war.
Last news
Culture
France plans social media ban for children under 15
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.
Sports
Mbappe suffers knee sprain in blow for Real Madrid
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.
Eurostar trains back with delays after power glitch sparks travel chaos
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.
Politics
Putin wishes Russians victory in Ukraine in New Year speech
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.
Economy
Iran government building attacked as top prosecutor responds to protests
A government building in southern Iran was attacked on Wednesday, authorities said, as the country's top prosecutor warned of a "decisive response" to any attempt to create instability after days of economic protests.
Boulevard
World begins to welcome 2026 after a year of Trump, truces and turmoil
New Year's Eve revellers toasted the end of 2025 on Wednesday, waving goodbye to 12 months packed with Trump tariffs, a Gaza truce and vain hopes for peace in Ukraine.
Sports
Fofana reckons 'small details' restricting Chelsea's progress
Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana believes "small details" are behind the Blues' frustrating habit of letting leads slip after they were again pegged back in a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.
Politics
Israel to ban 37 aid groups operating in Gaza
Israel has said 37 aid organisations will be banned from operating in Gaza from Thursday unless they comply with guidelines requiring detailed information on Palestinian staff, drawing criticism from the United Nations and the European Union.
Politics
Filmmaker Panahi says Iran protests 'to move history forward'
Award-winning Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi said Wednesday that protests which have gripped his country in recent days aimed "to move history forward".
Bulgaria takes hesitant step into the eurozone
Bulgaria will become the 21st country to switch to the euro when it enters the New Year on Thursday, amid concerns the move could usher in higher prices and add to political instability rattling the Balkan country.
Economy
Xi says China to hit 2025 growth target of 'around 5 percent'
China's economy is expected to have grown "around five percent" in 2025, President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday, despite "pressure" during a year he described as "very unusual", state media reported.
Boulevard
Turkey steps up anti-IS raids, arresting 125 suspects
Turkey on Wednesday detained another 125 Islamic State group suspects in a string of nationwide raids, a minister said, following warnings that IS militants planned attacks over the holidays.
Arteta says Arsenal reaping rewards for 'sacrifices and commitment'
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta believes his side are starting to see the benefits of their hard work as the Gunners head into 2026 at the top of the Premier League.
Politics
China says live-fire drills around Taiwan 'completed successfully'
China "successfully completed" military drills around Taiwan that included live-fire exercises aimed at simulating a blockade of key ports and assaults on maritime targets, its military said on Wednesday.
Sports
Nancy adamant he's still the man for Celtic job after Motherwell defeat
Wilfried Nancy insists he can oversee a revival in Celtic's fortunes following a 2-0 defeat by Motherwell that represented his fifth loss in seven game since taking charge of the Scottish champions.
Politics
Hoping for better year ahead, Gazans bid farewell to 'nightmare' of 2025
As 2025 draws to a close, Palestinians in Gaza are marking the new year not with celebration, but with exhaustion, grief and a fragile hope that their "endless nightmare" might finally end.
Things to know
Queen Camilla recalls fighting back against train attacker
Queen Camilla has spoken for the first time publicly about fighting off an attacker on a train when she was a teenager, in an interview broadcast Wednesday.
Economy
Stocks drop at end of record year for markets
Stock markets mostly fell Wednesday in thin trading, following a year of record gains for key assets as central banks cut interest rates and the tech sector boomed on growth of artificial intelligence.
Sports
Amorim still 'really confident' about Man Utd potential despite Wolves draw
Ruben Amorim is still optimistic about Manchester United's prospects this season despite ending a torrid 2025 with a lacklustre 1-1 draw at home to strugglers Wolves.
Economy
Berlin says decision postponed on European fighter jet
Efforts to break a deadlock in 2025 over plans for a new European fighter jet have been unsuccessful, a German government spokesman told AFP on Wednesday.
Boulevard
Iran prosecutor pledges 'decisive' response if protests destabilise country
Iran's prosecutor general said on Wednesday that economic protests that had gripped the country were legitimate, but any attempt to create insecurity would be met with a "decisive response".
Sports
Emery defends failure to shake hands with Arteta after Villa loss to Arsenal
Unai Emery said his failure to shake hands with opposing manager Mikel Arteta was because it was "cold" at the Emirates following his Aston Villa side's thumping 4-1 loss to Premier League leaders Arsenal.
Economy
China says to impose extra 55% tariffs on some beef imports
China said on Wednesday it will impose additional 55 percent tariffs on some beef imports from countries including Brazil, Australia and the United States that exceed a certain quantity from January 1.
Politics
Japanese women MPs want more seats, the porcelain kind
Nearly 60 women lawmakers in Japan, including Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, have submitted a petition calling for more toilets in the parliament building to match their improved representation.
Silver slips lower in mixed end to Asia trading year
Silver slipped further as Asian markets presented a mixed picture in the the final trading day of 2025 on Wednesday, with some stocks tracking Wall Street losses as investors eyed a New Year break.
Politics
Guinea junta chief Doumbouya elected president: election commission
Guinea's junta chief Mamady Doumbouya, who had pledged not to run for office after seizing power four years ago, has been elected president after securing a sweeping majority of the vote, according to initial results by the country's election commission published on Tuesday.
Sports
Pistons pound Lakers as James marks 41st birthday with loss
Cade Cunningham scored 27 points as the Detroit Pistons spoiled LeBron James' 41st birthday with a 128-106 drubbing of the depleted Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday.
Politics
Taiwan coastguard says Chinese ships 'withdrawing' after drills
Chinese warships and coastguard vessels are withdrawing from waters around Taiwan, the island's coastguard said Wednesday, with Beijing's military drills appearing to be "over".
Weather
France's homeless wrap up to survive at freezing year's end
In the biting cold, homeless friends Danish and Sylvain walked briskly in the dark towards a hot meal distribution point, rubbing their hands together, their huge backpacks weighing down on their shoulders.
Politics
Leftist Mamdani to take over as New York mayor under Trump shadow
Zohran Mamdani, young upstart of the US left, was readying Wednesday to take over as New York mayor for a term sure to see him cross swords with President Donald Trump.
Eurostar says full service to resume after power glitch sparks travel chaos
Eurostar said it plans to run a full service on Wednesday but warned of possible knock-on disruptions after a power supply issue halted Channel Tunnel train trips connecting London to the European mainland.
Sports
French duo stripped of Sydney-Hobart race overall win
A French crew were on Wednesday stripped of overall victory in the prestigious Sydney to Hobart yacht race over a rule infringement.
Politics
Thailand releases 18 Cambodian soldiers held since July
Thailand on Wednesday released 18 Cambodian soldiers captured in July, both governments said, after a fresh ceasefire between the neighbours held for more than three days following weeks of deadly border clashes.
Economy
Tiny tech, big AI power: what are 2-nanometre chips?
Taiwan's world-leading microchip manufacturer TSMC says it has started mass producing next-generation "2-nanometre" chips.
Culture
Libyans savour shared heritage at reopened national museum
In a historic building in central Tripoli, Libyans wander past ancient statues and artefacts, rediscovering a heritage that transcends political divides at their national museum which reopened this month after a 2011 uprising.
Politics
Asia markets mixed in final day of 2025 trading
Asian stocks were mixed at the start of the final trading day of 2025 on Wednesday, with some tracking Wall Street losses as investors eased towards the New Year break.
Politics
Global 'fragmentation' fuelling world's crises: UN refugee chief
The outgoing United Nations refugee chief fears an increasingly fragmented world is fuelling global conflicts and crises, and inflaming hostility towards people desperately fleeing for safety.
Education
Difficult dance: Cambodian tradition under threat
Cambodian master classical dancer Penh Yom walks between her teenage students, painstakingly adjusting a bent-back finger here and the tilt of a head there, as she passes on a centuries-old art form.
Nature
Regional temperature records broken across the world in 2025
Central Asia, the Sahel region and northern Europe experienced their hottest year on record in 2025, according to AFP analysis based on data from the European Copernicus programme.