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US-Iran deal could be finalised soon, mediator Pakistan says
The United States and Iran could finalise an agreement to end the Middle East war within as little as 24 hours, mediator Pakistan said Saturday, after both sides expressed optimism about the chances of concluding a deal.
US says downed multiple Iran drones as both insist deal closer
The United States said it downed multiple Iranian drones targeting commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz early Saturday, hours after both sides said a deal to end the Middle East war was closer than ever.
US clears Paramount's $111 bn Warner Bros. takeover
The US Justice Department on Friday cleared Paramount Skydance's $111 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, handing a major win to a media empire financed by one of President Donald Trump's closest billionaire allies.
Iran and US say deal closer than ever
Iranian and US officials said Friday a deal to end the Middle East war was closer than ever, with mediator Pakistan also expressing optimism that an elusive agreement was within reach.
Cuba opens more sectors to private business
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Friday announced greater freedoms for small businesses across the country, as the communist government takes steps to liberalize the island's economy in the face of a crippling US blockade.
US appellate court upholds Sam Bankman-Fried criminal sentence
A US appeals court on Friday upheld the conviction of disgraced cryptocurrency tycoon Sam Bankman-Fried as part of a sweeping fraud case.
France bids farewell to girl, 11, whose killing sparked outrage
Several hundred people gathered in southwestern France on Friday to bid farewell to an 11-year-old girl whose suspected murder sparked protests across the country and exposed failures in the country's judicial system.
US deportation flight carrying Iranians en route to C.African Republic
A US deportation flight headed to the Central African Republic on Friday, lawyers told AFP, carrying nationals from Iran, Afghanistan, Turkey and Georgia.
At a Libyan university once ravaged by war, students dream again
A decade after fierce battles reduced much of the University of Benghazi to rubble, students at Libya's oldest and largest university are once again looking to the future with optimism.
Stocks rally, oil slides on Mideast deal hopes
Stock markets rallied and oil tumbled Friday on hopes that a deal to end the Middle East war could be imminent.
'All of us of are migrants,' pope says in Canary Islands
Pope Leo XIV told migrants at a reception centre on the Spanish island of Tenerife on Friday that "all of us are migrants", on the final day of a weeklong visit to Spain focused on the plight of irregular immigrants.
Stocks up, oil down on Mideast deal hopes
Asian and European stocks gained and oil dipped Friday after US President Donald Trump withdrew his threat of further strikes on Iran and said a deal could be signed in the coming days.
Switzerland split on immigration vote: four perspectives
Switzerland's vote on proposed measures to restrict immigration to ensure the population does not exceed 10 million is dividing the country.
Science fiction? Musk's lofty SpaceX goals unrealistic, skeptics say
Elon Musk's SpaceX has made awe-inspiring achievements since its founding over two decades ago and has big ideas -- colonies on Mars, orbital AI data centers, rapidly reusable rockets -- for the future.
Asia stocks up, oil down on Mideast deal hopes
Asian stocks gained and oil dipped Friday after US President Donald Trump withdrew his threat of further strikes on Iran and said a deal could be signed in the coming days.
SpaceX IPO set for liftoff in record market debut
Elon Musk's SpaceX was set to begin trading on the Nasdaq exchange Friday with the biggest initial public offering in history expected to make the polarizing entrepreneur the world's first trillionaire.
From cage fights to the White House, UFC marches into mainstream
As workers put final touches to a massive arena for Sunday's "cage fight" on the White House South Lawn, a few miles away, a professional pianist is learning how to choke someone unconscious.
Pope ends Spain visit with migrant meetings
Pope Leo XIV will meet migrants and hold an open-air mass on the island of Tenerife on Friday to end a visit to Spain that has highlighted the plight of irregular arrivals.
Ex-Tottenham owner sells art collection in blockbuster auction
Works by artists including Picasso, Magritte and Klimt, amassed by the ex-owner of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, head to auction this month with a total sales estimate of £200 million ($267 million).
US stocks rally, oil prices fall as Trump calls off fresh Iran strikes
Wall Street stocks rallied and oil prices tumbled Thursday after President Donald Trump pulled back from renewed US strikes on Iran while European equities edged higher after the ECB raised interest rates.
Stocks rebound, oil wobbles as traders weigh Iran, rates outlook
European and US stocks rose Thursday while oil prices wavered following the latest flare-up in the Middle East war, with investors also assessing the outlook for US and European interest rates as inflation rises.
First leather bag from T-Rex cells to be auctioned in Paris
A leather bag made from Tyrannosaurus rex cells will be auctioned off on Thursday by Paris auction house Giquello, estimating the "one-of-a-kind" piece could sell for more than $500,000.
Nigerians fleeing xenophobic attacks in South Africa return home
A first group of more than 260 Nigerians repatriated from South Africa following escalating anti-immigrant attacks landed in Lagos on Thursday.
Stocks rebound, oil wavers as traders weigh Iran, rates outlook
European and US stocks rose Thursday while oil prices wavered following the latest flare-up in the Middle East war, with investors also assessing the outlook for US and European interest rates as inflation rises.
Niger criminalises same-sex relations with jail terms
Military-run Niger has enacted a new penal code criminalising same-sex relations with heavy jail sentences, following several other west African countries which have recently adopted tough anti-LGBTQ legislation.
Over 260 Nigerians fleeing xenophobic attacks in S. Africa return home
The first group of Nigerians repatriated from South Africa following escalating anti-immigrant attacks landed in Lagos on Thursday, AFP journalists saw.
ECB makes first rate hike since 2023 to tame Iran war inflation
The European Central Bank on Thursday raised its benchmark interest rate for the first time since 2023 as the Middle East war stokes inflation, despite concerns the move could hit the struggling eurozone economy.
Pope condemns 'indifference' towards migrants on Canaries trip
Pope Leo XIV on Thursday condemned "indifference" towards migrants during a visit to Spain's Canary Islands that symbolised the perils of deadly irregular routes to Europe.
Stocks diverge, oil falls as traders weigh Iran, rates outlook
European stocks rose Thursday after losses in Asia as oil prices wavered following the latest flare-up in the Middle East war, with investors also assessing the outlook for US and European interest rates as inflation rises.
Sweden withdraws controversial proposal to jail 13-year-olds
Sweden's right-wing government withdrew Thursday a heavily contested proposal to lower the age at which children can be sentenced to prison from 15 to 13, citing a lack of support in parliament.
Economic pressures 'manageable': Indonesian deputy finance minister
External and domestic pressures on Indonesia's economy were "manageable", the country's deputy finance minister said Thursday, despite a rout of the rupiah that has forced the central bank to hike interest rates.
Sweden withdraws disputed proposal to jail 13-year-olds
Sweden's right-wing government withdrew Thursday a heavily-contested proposal to lower the age at which children can be sentenced to prison from 15 to 13, citing a lack of support in parliament.