Agence France-Presse

Explosions Rock Damascus Near Macron’s Hotel, 18 Injured

Explosions have rocked Damascus, injuring around 20 people. It comes as French President Emmanuel Macron is being received by Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa in the capital.

AfD re-elects leaders as tens of thousands protest congress in Erfurt

Tens of thousands of protesters are trying to disrupt the Alternative for Germany (AfD) congress in Erfurt on Saturday, where the party re-elected its leaders.

Trump calls for end to killing after Russian strikes on Ukraine

Russia's extensive attacks on Ukraine are prompting strong reactions.

Russia launches massive overnight strike on Kyiv, killing at least 20

Russia has launched a major attack on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. At least 20 people have been killed. "A terrible night for Kyiv," says the city's mayor.

Zelenskyy warns Russia is preparing a massive attack on Ukraine as explosion hits Kyiv

A fire has broken out in central Kyiv after an explosion during an air raid, AFP reports, while President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warns of widespread Russian attacks.

Iran and US Agree to Set Up Communication Channel After Doha Talks

Iran announces that indirect talks in Doha on the memorandum of understanding between Tehran and Washington have ended, state media report.

South Africa on alert as xenophobic deadline expires, violence feared

South Africa is on full alert. Today is the deadline set by the civilian vigilante group: by today, all undocumented migrants must leave the country, they say.

Ukrainian oligarch and family injured in bomb attack in Monaco

Three people have been injured in a powerful explosion in a residential building in Monaco, the first of its kind in the principality, according to French media. The victims include a Ukrainian oligarch and his family.

Heat wave moves east as Balkan countries issue warnings over 40C temperatures

Eastern Europe is next in line as the heat wave continues. On the Balkan Peninsula, authorities are warning that temperatures could climb to 40 degrees in some places.

British American Tobacco to cut 9,000 jobs as sales growth slows

British American Tobacco, one of the world's largest tobacco companies, plans to cut 9,000 jobs, international media reports.

Israel says it destroyed 200-meter Hezbollah tunnel in southern Lebanon

Israel says its forces have destroyed a 200-meter-long Hezbollah tunnel in southern Lebanon. Israel's continued attacks constitute a violation of the ceasefire, the Iran-backed Shiite militia says.

Iraqi authorities arrest 47 in major anti-corruption raid in Baghdad

Iraqi authorities have arrested 47 civil servants and politicians in a major anti-corruption crackdown in Baghdad.

Migrants flee South Africa amid xenophobic vigilante attacks and repatriations

Violence, looting and forced repatriations. Armed vigilante mobs and a xenophobic deadline have driven thousands of African migrants to flee South Africa in fear. They chased us away like dogs, says Mozambican Thomas Vincent Baloyi.

Dramatic death toll from drownings in France heatwave

Europe's extreme heat continues. At least 150 million Europeans are currently experiencing temperatures of over 35 degrees Celsius. France is reporting a "dramatic death toll" from drownings, as the heat causes people to jump into water virtually anywhere.

Witnesses in Caracas say it sounded like a deep roar

Everything was moving and it sounded like a deep roar. That's what 48-year-old Maria Romero, one of the millions of residents of Caracas affected by the major earthquake in northern Venezuela, says. Circulating mobile phone videos show collapsed buildings and panicked residents.

Heatwave in Europe intensifies, three-year-old dies in car

Temperatures are expected to exceed 35 degrees Celsius for more than 100 million people across Europe on Thursday. In France, another child has died in an overheated car. In Spain, more than 200 deaths are linked to the heat. Meanwhile, the London Ambulance Service has registered a record number of emergency calls related to life-threatening heat.

Palestinian killed in Israeli raid in the West Bank village of al-Yamun

A man was shot dead in an Israeli raid on a house in the village of al-Yamun in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.

Record heat in several European countries

The oppressive heatwave continues to plague residents across Europe. Record heat in France left tens of thousands of homes without power on Wednesday. Spain and the UK also saw new record temperatures.

13 dead, more than 60 injured in factory explosion in Qatar

An explosion occurred at a factory in Qatar on Sunday. 13 people were killed and more than 60 were injured, according to Qatar's energy minister.

Algeria files complaint with FIFA after Messi's tackle

Algeria is filing a complaint with the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) after several, according to the team, unfair refereeing decisions were made in its World Cup match against Argentina. Among the incidents cited was a tackle by Lionel Messi.

EU foreign policy chief accuses China of training Russian soldiers to fight in Ukraine

China's military has trained Russian soldiers who will go to battle in Ukraine, according to the EU's foreign policy chief.

American musician Oliver Tree said to have died in helicopter collision in Brazil

American musician Oliver Tree has died in a helicopter collision in Brazil, a police source told AFP.

Iranian media shows protests against peace deal with the United States

Small street protests have broken out in Iran after Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said a peace deal with the United States could be close, the AFP news agency reports. Images of the protests are being circulated by hardline state media.

Gunmen kill 17 farmers, wound five in northwestern Nigeria