Morning Chronicle

Pakistan blocks roads around capital ahead of planned pro-Khan protest

Authorities in Pakistan's capital blocked main access routes to the city with double-stacked shipping containers Thursday ahead of a weekend demonstration by supporters of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan.

'I was drowning': Iran Nobel winner exposes pain of separation from children

Iranian Nobel peace prize winner Narges Mohammadi has said her biggest fear is dying without seeing her two children again after being separated from the twins for over a decade, in her memoir published on Thursday.

Israel's US envoy says son fighting for life

Israel's ambassador to the United States said Thursday that his soldier son was fighting for his life after a Palestinian attacker rammed his car into him at a checkpoint in the occupied West Bank.

EU battle over how to define 'Made in Europe'

The European Union's push to boost strategic domestic industries has sparked a fierce fight over what "Made in Europe" should mean, with France leading the battle for a stricter definition.

Eight killed in wave of Russian strikes on Ukraine

A barrage of Russian drone and missile strikes pummelled Ukraine on Thursday, killing six agricultural workers in the east alongside two in the capital, Kyiv, in the latest in an intensifying exchange of attacks.

Taliban govt says Pakistan strikes kill 4 civilians in Afghanistan

Afghanistan's Taliban government said on Thursday that Pakistani airstrikes on several provinces killed four civilians, days after another deadly bombardment and a militant attack in Pakistan.

Tigray rebels in 'full-blown' war with govt

Tigray rebels in Ethiopia told AFP on Thursday they were in a state of "full-blown war" with the federal government, as heavy artillery attacks were reported in neighbouring states.

Beijingers eye Xi-Trump summit for trade relief, stable ties

Residents in China's capital hope President Xi Jinping's high-stakes meeting with US counterpart Donald Trump in Washington will stabilise ties between the two countries, telling AFP on Thursday a trade war "hurts everyone".

Trump to fete Xi with lavish White House welcome

US President Donald Trump will host Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the White House on Thursday for a day full of pageantry with one goal -- keeping the fragile peace between the rival superpowers.

Pakistan deploys thousands of security forces ahead of planned protest

Authorities in Pakistan's capital blocked main access routes to the city with double-stacked shipping containers Thursday ahead of a weekend demonstration by supporters of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan.

Thailand slams chaotic Asian Games organisation as 'musical chairs'

Thailand are the latest country to slam the organisation at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan, likening it to a "chaotic" game of "musical chairs".

North Korea to keep nuclear weapons 'forever': foreign minister

North Korea will keep its nuclear weapons "forever", its foreign minister vowed Thursday, dismissing the South Korean president's renewed calls for a denuclearised Korean Peninsula.

Malaysia's migrant return plan chills Myanmar Rohingya

As a Rohingya exile who abandoned his life in Malaysia to return to Myanmar, Ismail's bleak prospects may portend what awaits others caught in Kuala Lumpur's migrant crackdown.

Pakistan confirms Afghan strikes after resident says Kandahar hit

An overnight airstrike hit the southern Afghan city of Kandahar, home to the Taliban government's supreme leader, a resident told AFP early Thursday.

Swiss voters expected to shun stricter neutrality

The Swiss will vote Sunday on a heavily debated proposal to tighten their country's traditional neutrality, amid fears that an expected "no" could be interpreted abroad as abandoning the cherished principle altogether.

Trump admin says there were 8 suicide attempts on US aircraft carrier

The Trump administration has acknowledged eight suicide attempts by US service members during the extended deployment of an aircraft carrier to the Middle East, a US lawmaker revealed on Wednesday.

Colombians in Santa Marta stay inside after violence wracks the city

Stores and schools closed and drivers mostly stayed off the roads Wednesday as the Colombian city of Santa Marta limped back to normal after a wave of drug-gang violence prompted a deployment of army troops.

Iran airlines cancel flights as US sanctions hit

Iranian airlines were forced to cancel some international flights on Wednesday after the United States tightened sanctions on Iran's aviation industry in a new effort to cripple its economy.

Morocco elects new parliament with lowest turnout in nearly two decades

Morocco's parliamentary election drew a turnout of 38 percent, authorities said on Wednesday, marking the lowest level in almost two decades as the kingdom struggled with voter apathy amid social crises.

Xi arrives in US to personal Trump welcome

US President Donald Trump treated Chinese President Xi Jinping to a rare personal airport welcome Wednesday, kicking off a pomp-filled state visit aimed at smoothing superpower tensions on everything from AI and trade to Iran.

Morocco elects new parliament amid social frustration, youth discontent

Moroccans worried about unemployment and inequality cast their ballots for a new parliament on Wednesday, in the country's first poll since a mass migration crisis and a youth-led protest movement highlighted widespread discontentment among young people.

Venezuelan shot by ICE needs urgent surgery, mother tells AFP

The family of a Venezuelan man shot by US immigration agents while delivering a DoorDash order told AFP on Wednesday that he required surgery urgently for a bullet lodged near his spine.

Judge urged to lift Trump's White House ban on media outlets

A lawyer for CNN, MS NOW and Politico urged a US federal judge on Wednesday to immediately restore White House access for the news organizations after President Donald Trump abruptly revoked their credentials.

At UN, tech chiefs urge caution in AI development

Leaders of AI giants told the UN Security Council on Wednesday that the technology calls for heightened vigilance, with Anthropic's CEO pledging to slow down where needed to ensure the safety of new releases.

Russian strikes kill seven in Ukraine, Zelensky vows winter campaign

Russian strikes across Ukraine killed at least seven people on Wednesday, including two in a new barrage on Kyiv, as it vowed there would be no "pause" in Europe's worst conflict since World War II.

At UN, OpenAI's Altman calls 'for extreme care' in AI

The current moment in AI development "calls for extreme care," OpenAI CEO Sam Altman told the UN Security Council on Wednesday, noting that the technology's advancement could accelerate rapidly.

Venezuelan shot by ICE needs urgent medical care, mother tells AFP

The family of a Venezuelan man shot by US immigration agents while delivering a DoorDash order told AFP on Wednesday that he required urgent medical attention for a bullet lodged near his spine.

Hamilton gives thumbs up to Gulf GPs despite Iran conflict

Lewis Hamilton on Wednesday said he hopes that this year’s Formula One world championship will conclude with its two races as scheduled in the Middle East despite the continuing conflict.

Zelensky says Putin using fighters from 47 countries in Ukraine war

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin of using third-country fighters from 47 countries to prosecute Moscow's war against Ukraine.

Russian strikes kill seven in Ukraine as Russia vows no 'pause' to war