AFP news

Pope Francis left Indonesia for Papua New Guinea Friday on the second leg of an arduous 12-day tour of the Asia-Pacific, after delivering a message of religious unity in the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation.

Beijing for years dished out billions in loans for trains, roads and bridges in Africa that saddled participating governments with debts they often struggled to pay back.

The National Tortilla Council and technology firm Finsus have developed a mobile application that allows vendors of the staple food to charge customers using cards, QR codes or a cellphone number.

This year's northern summer saw the highest global temperatures ever recorded, and in the faux-Alpine square where the resort's opening ceremony took place, the mercury had already hit 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) by 9:00 am local time.

The 73-year-old, a former foreign minister who recently acted as the European Union's Brexit negotiator, is the oldest premier in the history of modern France.

The 20-country single currency zone's recorded economic growth of 0.2 percent between April and June from the previous quarter, down from the 0.3 percent estimate in July.

Putin was speaking a day after Russia attacked Ukraine's western Lviv region with deadly strikes, and after recent advances by Moscow's forces in the Donbas.

Putin often comments on political and social issues in the United States, often in a mocking way. He said last year that the US political system was "rotten" and that Washington could not lecture other countries about democracy.

The suspected shooter -- also a student at the school -- had been brought to the FBI's attention more than a year ago for threats to commit a school shooting, the agency said.

The US space agency is enlisting SpaceX to rescue the astronauts because of safety concerns with Boeing's Starliner capsule, which encountered thruster malfunctions and helium leaks on its way to the orbital outpost.

Messi claimed the eighth Ballon d'Or of his glittering career last year. Now aged 37, he is not among the 30 contenders this time despite winning another title with Argentina at the Copa America in July.

The pope and Grand Imam Nasaruddin Umar signed a declaration at Istiqlal Mosque in one of the final major set pieces of Francis's three-day visit to the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation, which kicked off a grueling tour around the Asia-Pacific.

Yagi triggered floods and landslides on the main Philippine island of Luzon this week, leaving at least 13 dead, according to official figures.

The European Pressurised Reactor (EPR) in Flamanville, Normandy is going through a "long and complex startup process requiring many trials and tests, and that can induce shutdowns like this," a spokeswoman for state-owned energy giant EDF told AFP.

It was the latest horrific incident of gender-based violence in the East African country, where activists have warned of a femicide epidemic.

District Judge Tanya Chutkan is to preside over a status conference in a downtown Washington courthouse between prosecutors and Trump's lawyers to lay out a schedule for pretrial proceedings in the historic case.

The researchers are accused of colluding with the government to censor conservative speech online under the guise of fighting disinformation. They deny the claims and denounce the sweeping offensive as an intimidation campaign.

Harris's entry into the race six weeks ago turbocharged enthusiasm among Democrats who were despondent about President Joe Biden's chances against Trump -- but both parties are bracing for a close election on November 5.

Hamas on Thursday accused Benjamin Netanyahu of trying to "thwart" a Gaza truce deal, after the Israeli premier said the Palestinian militant group has "rejected everything" in negotiations.

Equities on Wednesday endured the most tumultuous day since early August after a weak read on US factory activity combined with a collapse in tech firms to cause a rout across the board.

More than 50 African leaders and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres are attending this week's China-Africa forum, according to state media.

Jannik Sinner closed in on his second Grand Slam title of 2024 on Wednesday when he reached his maiden US Open semi-final as Jessica Pegula stunned Iga Swiatek to complete a rollercoaster Grand Slam year for the world number one.

The Athens resident only has about 150 euros ($170) to spare at the end of the month, and that is despite getting a good deal on rent and making a little more than minimum wage.

Access to X has been suspended in South America's largest country since Saturday after a long-running legal battle over disinformation ended with a judge ordering a shutdown.

A statement on Wine's official account on X said the incident took place in Bulindo in central Uganda.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has declared that Christmas will come early this year, on October 1, as he seeks to impart some holiday cheer after a disputed presidential election the opposition claims he stole.

UN nuclear chief Rafael Grossi said he discussed the safety of Russia's Kursk nuclear plant with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday, four weeks after Ukraine launched its unprecedented cross-border incursion.

The justices of Mexico's highest court also decided to suspend their sessions this week in support of the stoppage

While chip buyers do have options, Nvidia is considered the technology leader when it comes to AI chips even though rivals are working hard to compete.