German parties agree on "grand coalition"

6 years ago

FRANKFURT,  Three German parties reached an agreement on a "grand coalition" after tough negotiations, local media reported Wednesday morning.  The Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Christian Social Union (CSU) and Germa...

Five children die in post-vote arson attack in Guinea

6 years ago

CONAKRY, Five young children perished in an arson attack during clashes in central Guinea on Tuesday, as anger over alleged fraud during weekend local elections turned deadly and tensions mounted...

'Fake' doctor accused of infecting 46 Indians with HIV arrested

6 years ago

NEW DELHI,  Indian police Wednesday arrested an unlicensed doctor accused of infecting at least 46 people with HIV by re-using a syringe, the latest case to expose the paucity of...

We will negotiate with no one on our weapons': Iran president

6 years ago

TEHRAN,  Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said Tuesday that negotiations on the country's missiles programme were out of the question.  "We will negotiate with no one on our weapons," said Rouhani...

Wedding of Japan princess to be postponed: reports

6 years ago

TOKYO,  The wedding of Princess Mako, the eldest granddaughter of Emperor Akihito, and her college sweetheart will be postponed until 2020 due to lack of "sufficient preparations", news reports said...

UN says probing suspected chemical weapons use in Syria

6 years ago

GENEVA,  United Nations war crimes investigators on Tuesday said they were investigating reports that chemical weapons were being used in rebel-held zones in war-ravaged Syria.  The UN Commission of Inquiry...

Afghan gov't sacks 7 army officials after IS-claimed attack kills 11 soldiers in Kabul

6 years ago

KABUL,  The Afghan government has sacked seven military officials, including two army generals, in the wake of a recent terrorist attack on a battalion for which the Islamic State (IS)...

Ukraine to invest record 650 mln USD in railway upgrade in 2018

6 years ago

KIEV,  The Ukrainian government will invest about 650 million U.S. dollars this year, a record sum in 10 years, to upgrade the railway infrastructure, Infrastructure Minister Volodymyr Omelyan announced on...

Maldives' top judge arrested as state of emergency declared

6 years ago

MALÉ, Maldives, The Maldives' top judge was arrested Tuesday as security forces stormed the Supreme Court at dawn, in a deepening confrontation with President Abdulla Yameen who has declared a...

64 percent of antibiotic cocktails sold in India 'illegal': study

6 years ago

PARIS,  Nearly two-thirds of multi-drug antibiotic cocktails sold in India between 2007 and 2012 were unapproved, said researchers Monday, warning such "illegal" compounds were fuelling the spread of drug-resistant diseases.&nb ...

Uzbek journalist freed early after years in jail

6 years ago

TASHKENT,  Uzbekistan has freed a prominent reporter who spent close to a decade in jail, the journalist told AFP Monday, feeding hopes for a thaw in one of the former...

Trump attacks Britain's public healthcare system

6 years ago

WASHINGTON,  US President Donald Trump on Monday attacked Britain's public healthcare system in comments that are likely to call his much-delayed visit to the country further into doubt.  "The Democrats...

Saudi says Yemen rebel ballistic missile shot down

6 years ago

RIYADH, Saudi air defences intercepted a ballistic missile fired at the kingdom by Yemen's Shiite Huthi rebels on Monday, state media reported.  The attack was launched from Yemen's northern governorate...

Syria strikes kill 23 civilians in rebel area near Damascus: monitor

6 years ago

BEIRUT,  At least 23 civilians were killed on Monday as Syrian government air strikes pounded the rebel-held enclave of Eastern Ghouta near the capital Damascus, a monitor said.  Four children...

947 militants "neutralized" in Turkey's operation in Syria: military

6 years ago

ANKARA,  A total of 947 militants have been "neutralized" since the beginning of Turkey's Operation Olive Branch in Syria's Afrin region, the military said in a statement on Monday.  Turkish authorities...