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Taiwan receives its first US-made F-16V fighter jets

Taiwan received on Friday its first F-16V fighter jets made by the United States, as the island democracy upgrades its military capabilities to deter a potential Chinese attack.

Lula, Bolsonaro trade scandal fire in final scramble for votes

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his election rival Flavio Bolsonaro are leaving no controversy unturned in their last-ditch efforts to discredit each other and win over voters ahead of Sunday's nail-biter election.

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Trump eyes 65% staff cut at US environmental agency

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said his administration aims to cut around 65 percent of staff at the Environmental Protection Agency, a key regulatory body that works on a range of areas, including climate change.

Britons advised to cut meat, air travel to reach net zero targets

Britons will have to pay more to fly and should forego two-steaks worth of meat a week if the country is to meet net zero targets, the government's advisory body said Wednesday.

UN rejects 'annexation' proposals for Palestinian territories

The UN rights chief on Wednesday rejected as "unlawful" proposals for the annexation of or forced transfer from Palestinian territories, warning they posed a threat to the entire region.

Hamas says to hand over four Israeli hostages' bodies in private

Hamas will forgo its usual handover ceremony when it returns the bodies of four Israeli hostages on Wednesday night, with Israel expected to free more than 600 Palestinian prisoners in exchange, the militant group said.

Zelensky eyes Trump meeting Friday, Russia launches deadly strikes

President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday he hopes to visit Washington this week to meet Donald Trump and discuss future US support for Ukraine and a minerals deal that had inflamed tensions between the leaders over recent weeks.

Trump threatens to sue authors and media who use anonymous sources

US President Donald Trump, furious over a disparaging new tell-all book about him, threatened Wednesday to sue authors and media outlets that use anonymous sources.

Bosnia Serb leader Dodik found guilty of defying peace envoy

Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik was found guilty Wednesday in a landmark trial for defying rulings made by an international envoy charged with overseeing the country's peace accords.

Russian strikes kill 5 in east Ukraine, journalist killed near Kyiv

Ukraine said Wednesday that Russian strikes on a front-line town in the east of the country killed at least five people and wounded eight more just hours after a fatal drone attack near Kyiv.

Hamas to hand over four Israeli hostages' bodies

Hamas will hand over the bodies of four Israeli hostages on Thursday in what it said would be an exchange for more than 600 Palestinian prisoners, capping the first phase of a Gaza ceasefire deal.

Hamas says to swap four Israeli hostages' bodies for prisoners

Hamas said it would exchange the bodies of four Israeli hostages for more than 600 Palestinian prisoners on Thursday, capping the first phase of a Gaza ceasefire deal.

Hong Kong to slash public spending, civil service jobs

Hong Kong's finance chief unveiled a "belt-tightening" budget on Wednesday that aimed to end the city's string of record-high deficits by 2028 while seeking growth in areas such as artificial intelligence.

Taiwan sends forces in response to China 'live-fire' drills off island

Taiwan sent forces on Wednesday in response to China's "live-fire" drills off the self-ruled island, Taipei's defence ministry said, condemning the exercises as dangerous.

Erosion of multilateralism threatens global stability: S.Africa leader

The erosion of multilateralism threatens global growth and stability, President Cyril Ramaphosa warned Wednesday at a G20 finance meeting in South Africa marked by the absence of the US Treasury secretary.

Thousands mourn Bibas family, symbols of Israel's hostage ordeal

Thousands of mourners, carrying flags and orange balloons, joined the funeral procession Wednesday for Shiri Bibas and her two sons, who were killed in Gaza captivity and had become symbols of Israel's hostage ordeal.

Rights decline but bright spots in South Asia: Freedom House

Freedom declined around the world last year with authoritarians solidifying their grip, but South Asia led a series of bright spots, Freedom House said Wednesday in its annual report.

Cook Islands PM beats no-confidence vote, slams New Zealand

The Cook Islands' prime minister survived a no-confidence vote on Wednesday, blaming "misinformation" from former colonial ruler New Zealand for destabilising his Pacific country.

Taiwan dispatches forces in response to China 'live-fire' drills off island

Taiwan dispatched forces on Wednesday in response to China's "live-fire" drills off the self-ruled island, Taipei's defence ministry said, condemning the exercises as dangerous.

South Korea births rose last year on surge in marriage

The number of births in South Korea rose last year for the first time in more than a decade on the back of a rise in marriages, officials said on Wednesday, bucking a trend for a country battling a demographic crisis.

Trump to convene first cabinet meeting, including Musk

US President Donald Trump is set on Wednesday to convene his first Cabinet meeting since returning to office last month, in an effort to further his agenda with most of his nominees now having been confirmed by Congress.

Gaza ceasefire talks back on track after prisoner agreement

Israel has agreed to release Palestinian prisoners who were due to be freed last week in exchange for the bodies of four Israeli hostages, Egyptian state-linked media reported, as Washington's top Middle East envoy said talks for a second phase of a Gaza ceasefire deal remained on track.

South Korea birth rate rose last year, first time in a decade

South Korea's birth rate rose last year for the first time in a decade, official data showed on Wednesday, bucking a trend for a country battling a demographic crisis.

US House passes budget blueprint geared to deliver Trump's agenda

The US House of Representatives passed on Tuesday a budget blueprint designed to deliver President Donald Trump's hardline agenda on immigration, tax reform and deep government spending cuts.

Trump to sell 'gold card' US visas for $5 million

US President Donald Trump unveiled plans Tuesday to sell new "gold card" residency permits for a price of $5 million each -- and said Russian oligarchs may be eligible.

Former Brazil president Dilma Rousseff hospitalized in China

Former Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff has been hospitalized in Shanghai for ear inflammation, her team said Tuesday.

'Extreme brutality': UN, aid groups warn Haiti unrest soaring

Haiti has seen a "wave of extreme brutality" in recent weeks, with numerous killings and thousands forced to flee their homes, a consortium of UN agencies, NGOs and donors is warning.

White House takes control of picking media who cover Trump

The White House on Tuesday stripped journalists of the nearly century-old power to decide which of them cover US presidential events, with Donald Trump boasting that he was now "calling those shots" on media access.

Deal back on to exchange Palestinian prisoners for Israeli hostage bodies

Mediators have reached an agreement to release all Palestinian prisoners who were due to be freed last week in exchange for the bodies of four Israeli hostages, Egyptian state-linked media reported late Tuesday.

Eight sentenced to death for 2013 murder of Tunisia opposition leader

A Tunisian court sentenced eight defendants to death on Tuesday over the 2013 assassination of leftist opposition figure Mohamed Brahmi, according to local reports.

US to probe need for tariffs on copper imports

Donald Trump ordered an investigation Tuesday into possible levies on US copper imports, with officials citing a need to rebuild domestic production and safeguard national security -- the latest salvo of the president's tariff threats.

Ukraine agrees on US minerals deal, seeking Trump support

Ukraine has agreed on the terms of a minerals deal with the United States and could sign it Friday, the two countries said, a move Kyiv hopes will lead to future security guarantees from Washington.

Former Brazil president Dilma Roussef hospitalized in China