Month: January 2025

Tripoli (Lebanon) (AFP) – Hundreds protested in Lebanon’s second city Tripoli on Sunday, demanding that authorities release Islamists detained during the civil war in neighbouring Syria, an AFP journalist said.

West Palm Beach (United States) (AFP) – Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni paid an unofficial visit to Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago residence on Saturday, the latest foreign leader hosted by the US president-elect as he prepares to take office.

Washington (AFP) – US President Joe Biden has decided to block the proposed $14.9 billion purchase of US Steel by Japan’s Nippon Steel and will announce the move as soon as Friday, according to US media.

Bangkok (AFP) – Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra declared more than $400 million in assets on Friday, her party said, including more than 200 designer handbags worth over $2 million and at least 75 luxury watches, valued at almost $5 million.

Seoul (AFP) – South Korea’s spy agency said Friday it was analysing rare state media footage showing the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un with two children — saying they could be hers.

Beijing (AFP) – China is “determined” to continue opening up its economy to the world in 2025, a top economic planning official said Friday, as Beijing steels itself for potential trade turmoil when US President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

Paris (AFP) – Narges Mohammadi, the Iranian 2023 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, says her body may be weakened from her long imprisonment but she still has a mind of “steel”, according to an interview published Thursday.

Hong Kong (AFP) – Asian stocks began 2025 mostly in the red on Thursday after worries about US interest rates, tariffs, and China’s economy gave Wall Street the holiday blues for a fourth straight session.

Brisbane (Australia) (AFP) – Rising stars Mirra Andreeva of Russia and Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard underlined their Australian Open potential with impressive wins at the Brisbane International on Thursday.

New Orleans (AFP) – The United States saw 2025 begin with a violent attack, after a man drove deliberately at high speed into a crowd of New Year’s revelers in New Orleans, killing at least 15 people and wounding dozens more.