Anniversary Archives

Relatives wait for prisoners to be released during an annual amnesty to mark Myanmar's independence day outside Insein prison in Yangon

World

Myanmar junta says to release over 6,000 prisoners in annual amnesty

Myanmar’s junta said on Sunday it would release more than 6,000 prisoners as part of an annual amnesty to mark the country’s independence day....

AFPJanuary 3, 2026

Iran was a staunch backer of Bashar al-Assad but quickly withdrew its forces once as rebel forces took over Syria

World

‘It’s all over’: how Iran abandoned Assad to his fate days before fall

As city after city fell to a lightning rebel offensive in Syria last December, Iranian forces and diplomats supporting Bashar al-Assad saw the writing...

AFPDecember 7, 2025

President Ahmed al-Sharaa was the first ever Syrian leader to welcome a delegation from the UN Security Council to Damascus

World

After wins abroad, Syria leader must gain trust at home

One year after ousting Bashar al-Assad, Ahmed al-Sharaa has restored Syria’s international standing and won sanctions relief. But analysts warn the former jihadist still...

AFPDecember 5, 2025

Thousands of protesters, as well as soldiers and tanks, filled Seoul's streets shortly after leader Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law

Sports

How South Korea’s brief martial law upended lives

When South Korea's leader declared martial law a year ago, one young woman blocked a tank.

AFPDecember 1, 2025

Eagles of Death Metal singer Jesse Hughes, left, and guitarist Dave Catching pay tribute to the Bataclan victims in 2015

World

France marks decade since harrowing Paris attacks

France on Thursday marks a decade since suffering its worst attack, with the only surviving assailant jailed for life and plans for a long-term...

AFPNovember 12, 2025

China's President Xi Jinping (C), North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un (R) and Russia's President Vladimir Putin (L) in Beijing for a military parade

World

China’s Xi at centre of world stage after days of high-level hobnobbing

Two blockbuster events in China this week were a successful exposition of President Xi Jinping’s vision of a new world order — one that...

AFPSeptember 4, 2025

'This is a direct challenge to the international system built on rules,' said Kallas

World

Xi, Putin, Kim meeting ‘direct challenge’ to international system: EU top diplomat

The presence of the leaders of Russia and North Korea alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping at a massive parade in Beijing Wednesday was part...

AFPSeptember 3, 2025

World

Beijing shows off drones, missiles and lasers in military parade

Underwater drones, massive missiles and laser weapons dazzled crowds on Wednesday at a major military parade in Beijing, a show of strength for China...

AFPSeptember 3, 2025