AFP in focus: briefing on global crises and disasters across headlines. The French international news agency, founded 1835 as Havas, oldest in the field.
The UK, France and Germany are coordinating on security guarantees for Ukraine as Zelenskyy meets with partners after Russia’s war setbacks. A drone strike near the Chernobyl site underscores ongoing tension, while Kyiv pledges to respond and strengthen European air defence.
Multiple French naval personnel used fitness apps like Strava during deployment, revealing sensitive location data of the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier and its fleet in the Mediterranean. French authorities are investigating potential security breaches amid ongoing tensions with Iran and regional conflicts.
The acting US ambassador to Ukraine has announced her retirement as talks toward a ceasefire remain stalled. The State Department denies that disagreements with President Trump motivated the departure, saying she has long supported administration efforts to achieve durable peace between Russia and Ukraine. Washington’s focus has shifted amid broader international concerns.
New Zealand's Court of Appeal has rejected Brenton Tarrant's bid to overturn his March 2020 guilty pleas for the 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks, finding his claim that harsh prison conditions forced those pleas to be "utterly devoid of merit." The decision preserves his life sentence without parole and avoids a retrial, relieving victims' families.
Since mid-April's US-brokered ceasefire, Israel has continued air and drone strikes across southern and eastern Lebanon and near Beirut while Hezbollah has been firing explosive drones and rockets at Israeli forces. Lebanese authorities have reported rising civilian casualties and infrastructure damage as US-facilitated Israel–Lebanon talks proceed in Washington (25 May 2026).
The acting US ambassador to Ukraine has announced she will depart in June 2026 after less than a year in Kyiv, amid broader questions over U.S. support for Ukraine and ongoing ceasefire efforts.
The UAE has emerged as a more direct participant in the Iran conflict, with reports that it carried out strikes against Iran, including an attack on the Lavan Island refinery. The ceasefire holds but regional tensions are rising as Gulf states respond to Iran's actions and to allied pressures from the US and Israel.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is traveling to Beijing with Donald Trump amid Chinese sanctions that have been navigated by a name transliteration change. Beijing has reportedly shifted the first syllable of Rubio’s surname to a different Chinese character, enabling his entry while sanctions remain in place. The move follows Rubio’s history of criticizing China and backing human-rights measures.
Tens of thousands of Israeli nationalist marchers have marched through Jerusalem's Old City for Jerusalem Day, chanting anti‑Palestinian slogans, vandalising property and prompting many Palestinian shopkeepers to shut. Far‑right ministers have entered the Al‑Aqsa/Temple Mount compound and unfurled an Israeli flag. Activists have deployed to protect locals and regional governments have condemned the incursions.
Drone strikes in El-Obeid have killed dozens and wounded many across several districts, targeting markets, cemeteries and civilian transport. Rights groups say the attacks reflect a pattern of civilian targeting in Sudan’s North Kordofan state, with the death toll rising as the city remains under drone assault in the ongoing conflict between the army and RSF.
Thailand is reducing visa-free stays for tourists from more than 90 countries from up to 60 days to mostly 30 days, with some nations receiving 15 days. The move aims to curb crime and unlawful activities linked to foreign visitors, while allowing a single renewal. Authorities say the policy targets offenders, not nationalities, and follows broader border-security measures.
A gas explosion has struck the Liushenyu coal mine in Qinyuan county, Shanxi, leaving dozens dead and scores injured. Authorities have reported 247 workers underground, detained company executives and ordered nationwide inspections of coal‑mine safety. Rescue teams are continuing search efforts and two workers remain missing.
Gunfire near the White House has prompted a security lockdown as responders have engaged a suspect. A bystander has been wounded and the suspect has been killed by law enforcement. President Trump has not been reported harmed and remains at the White House. Journalists on scene have described a chaotic scene and accounts indicate multiple gunshots.
A bomb has hit a passenger shuttle carrying military personnel and families near Quetta, Balochistan on 24 May 2026, killing at least two dozen people and wounding dozens more. The Balochistan Liberation Army has claimed responsibility; carriages have overturned, nearby buildings have been damaged and hospitals have declared emergencies.
The focus has shifted to recovering the remains of victims after a condominium collapse in Angeles, north of Manila, with at least four dead and several missing. Authorities have halted rescue efforts and are investigating the cause, including possible safety violations at the site.
A jury has convicted a man of torturing and raping a woman in France, while a separate case concerns a campaigner who was drugged and raped by her husband alongside dozens of accomplices. The stories highlight ongoing debates over justice, victim protection, and systemic delays in French legal proceedings.
A dormitory fire at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County, has killed at least 15–16 students and injured dozens. Police and rescue teams have been searching the burned dormitory, investigators have opened a probe and authorities have said eight students are persons of interest in a suspected arson plot.
A Nepali guide, Dawa Sherpa, has been found alive six days after he went missing descending Mount Everest on 29 May. He has been airlifted to a Kathmandu hospital with frostbite after a cleanup crew found him crawling near the Khumbu Icefall. His family had already begun funeral rites and have accused his employer of delayed search efforts.
A wave of tests and product launches shows the tech industry pressing to give AI a physical form. From gig-data data collection to consumer humanoids, firms are racing to turn digital intelligence into real-world Lab-to-life tools.
Russia has launched a large overnight assault on Ukraine, firing 73 missiles and 656 attack drones that struck multiple cities including Kyiv, Dnipro and Kharkiv. Ukraine's air force has said it has shot down most incoming weapons but at least several dozen missiles and drones have hit targets, killing and injuring civilians and forcing thousands into metro shelters on Tuesday morning.
Ukraine faces a large-scale Russian assault as missiles and drones hit Kyiv, Dnipro, Kharkiv and Kursk. Officials report casualties and ongoing air alerts; Ukraine urges Europe to bolster defenses while Russia says targets are hit.
Franco-Iranian graphic novelist Marjane Satrapi has died aged 56 after the death of her husband, Mattias Ripa. Relations and cultural figures have paid tribute, with Macron praising Satrapi as a universal voice who transformed an Iranian childhood into a global story. The reporting highlights Persepolis and Satrapi’s influence on countering stereotypes about Iran while noting her activism and anti-regime stance.
Bernadette Chirac, the wife of former French president Jacques Chirac, has died at age 93. She was a trailblazing first lady who held political office in her own right as a general councillor for Corrèze. Her life intersected with decades of French political history and philanthropy, including her work with hospital charities and her influence during her husband’s presidency.
A magnitude 7.8 offshore earthquake has struck near Mindanao on Monday morning, June 8, 2026. The tremor and powerful aftershocks have caused widespread building collapses, landslides and tsunami alerts, left dozens dead and hundreds injured, forced thousands into evacuation centres and closed General Santos airport while search teams continue recovery operations.
The Knicks trail 2-1 in the NBA Finals as San Antonio holds a 115-111 edge after Game 3, with Victor Wembanyama delivering a standout performance for the Spurs and Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby powering the Knicks in a tense, near-miss at Madison Square Garden.
Trump has attended Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden amid heightened security. Counter-drone measures are in place, and fans are urged to arrive early. The Spurs have defeated the Knicks 115-111, narrowing the series lead to 2-1.
Britain has expanded counter-state threat powers to target proxy groups and those funding them after a spate of antisemitic attacks linked to Iran and other foreign actors. The measures will criminalise support for designated organisations and enable authorities to act against state-backed proxies.
The United Nations has documented civilian deaths and injuries from overnight airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Khost, Kunar and Paktika provinces. Afghanistan’s Taliban government and Pakistan’s authorities dispute casualty figures as cross-border hostilities escalate. Officials warn of a fragile ceasefire and renewed military operations on both sides.
The latest from multiple outlets shows Iran and the United States are nearing a memorandum of understanding to end hostilities, with high-level Iran approvals still pending. Markets react as the Strait of Hormuz remains a flashpoint and global equities shift on the news.
David Hockney’s Normandy exhibition has drawn visitors and critics, highlighting his iPad drawing method during lockdown and a renewed focus on landscape as subject, with Monet’s influence lingering in the Musée de l’Orangerie in Paris.