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Tantric yoga sect guru to appear before France judge
The leader of a controversial tantric yoga sect was to go before a French judge on Friday, a judicial source said, after he was arrested in a probe along with over a dozen others on suspicion of kidnapping, rape and people trafficking.
Hamas open to truce extension as expiry nears
A truce between Israel and Hamas entered its final hours on Friday as more hostages were freed from Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
Russian pleads guilty in US to role in Trickbot malware scheme
A Russian man pleaded guilty on Thursday to involvement in developing the Trickbot malware used to extort businesses, including hospitals during the Covid pandemic, the US Justice Department said.
UK to probe of UAE-backed takeover of Telegraph
The UK government said on Thursday it had triggered a formal probe on public interest grounds into the proposed sale of the Telegraph Media Group to an Abu Dhabi-backed investment fund.
Venezuela zoo welcomes three white lion cubs
A Venezuelan zoo this week welcomed the country's first three white lion cubs born in captivity, a boost for the genetically rare animal whose wild population numbers only about a dozen living in their native South Africa.
More Israeli hostages released in extended Gaza truce
Militant group Hamas released two more Israeli women hostages on Thursday with more Palestinian prisoners to be freed under an extended truce that has paused weeks of deadly conflict.
Russia bans 'international LGBT movement' for 'extremism'
Russia on Thursday banned the "international LGBT movement," claiming it was an extremist group in a move that cements a long crackdown on the community as the Kremlin pushes ultra-conservative social values.
Hamas shooting threatens extended Gaza truce
The Palestinian group Hamas said its militants carried out a shooting in Jerusalem on Thursday, killing three people despite agreeing to extend for a day a truce in Gaza and to release at least 10 more Israeli hostages.
'More than a chatbot': Google touts firm's AI tech
Google's position as king of the search engines is under threat like never before, but the firm's global policy chief told AFP this week it still had the edge over its AI competitors.
Fire at dawn in Kazakhstan hostel kills 13
Kazakhstan said Thursday that at least 13 people were killed in a fire that broke out at dawn in a hostel in the Central Asian country's largest city Almaty.
German court sentences Gambian death squad member to life in prison
A German court on Thursday sentenced a Gambian man to life in prison over his participation in a death squad that assassinated opponents of former dictator Yahya Jammeh, including an AFP journalist.
Long wait for freedom: Afghan refugees in limbo in Pakistan
Abdullah was a well-known public figure in Afghanistan, a journalist and university lecturer respected by his readers and students.
'I feel safe': the school for environmental defenders
On a sun-dappled spot of sandy land along Thailand's east coast, class is in session, as a group of environmental defenders listens to local activists describe battling an industrial park.
Argentine Milei's spirituality: Catholicism, Torah and a 'libertarian' God
Argentina's President-elect Javier Milei has offered glimpses into how his seemingly contradictory spiritual practices -- including a recent embrace of Orthodox Judaism, the Catholicism embedded in Latin America and his own far-right philosophies -- influence his idiosyncratic worldview.
Seven missing after US Osprey crashes off Japan
Rescuers scoured waters off Japan on Thursday for seven missing US Air Force personnel whose Osprey crashed during a training exercise, in the latest incident involving the tilt-rotor military aircraft.
US charges Indian man with foiled hit on American Sikh activist
The US Justice Department unveiled charges on Wednesday against a man they say planned to assassinate a Sikh separatist leader on American soil earlier this year under the direction of an Indian official.
US charges Indian man with plotting hit on Sikh separatist
US prosecutors unveiled charges on Wednesday against an Indian national they say planned to assassinate a Sikh separatist leader on US soil under the direction of an Indian official.
England captain Farrell to miss Six Nations to prioritise 'mental well-being'
England captain Owen Farrell will not be available for the 2024 Six Nations Championship after deciding to take a break from international rugby "to prioritise his and his family's mental well-being".
French court refuses extradition of Romanian royal descendant
The Paris appeals court on Wednesday rejected a bid by Romania for the extradition of a descendant of the country's last kings, which had described an influence-peddling conviction against him as "political" persecution.
'Let us live': Russian drag queens fear looming ban
In his small flat in Moscow, Igor was putting purple eyeliner and fake lashes on fellow drag queen Saffron, but their sessions trying out make-up tips could soon be illegal.
Journalist's personal battle as Burkina militants target women
Award-winning journalist Mariam Ouedraogo finds it impossible to forget the heartbreaking stories she has covered about sexual assault in Burkina Faso's jihadist war.
One confirmed killed as US Osprey crashes off Japan
A US Osprey military aircraft crashed on Wednesday off a Japanese island, killing one crew member and leaving five unaccounted for, the coastguard said, in the latest incident involving the tilt-rotor military aircraft.
Elephant at centre of animal rights campaign dies in Philippine zoo
An elderly elephant has died in a Philippine zoo, an official said Wednesday, after a failed global campaign to relocate her to an animal sanctuary.
After 17 days trapped in tunnel, India workers say hope kept them alive
After 17 days trapped inside a collapsed Himalayan road tunnel they were building, Indian workers described the horror of their ordeal, and the hopes and prayers that kept them strong.
Interpol fights crime and controversial image, 100 years on
As Interpol marks its centenary, it faces the tricky task of nabbing criminals while ensuring that its famous red notices are not abused to snare dissidents.
Top Panama court strikes down contested mining contract
Panama's Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that a contract allowing a Canadian company to keep operating Central America's biggest copper mine was unconstitutional.
12 more Gaza hostages freed as mediators seek lasting truce
Twelve more hostages were freed Tuesday from Gaza captivity in exchange for Palestinian prisoners under an extended truce, as mediators worked for a lasting halt to the seven-week Israel-Hamas war.
Suffering from flu, Pope Francis cancels COP28 trip
Pope Francis cancelled his upcoming trip to Dubai for the COP28 climate talks Tuesday, on the advice of doctors concerned over his recent flu-like symptoms, the Vatican said.
France arrests guru, 40 others in raids on yoga sect
French authorities on Tuesday arrested 41 people in raids against a controversial yoga sect, including its leader, the guru Gregorian Bivolaru, a source close to the case told AFP.
Top Panama court says contested mining contract 'unconstitutional'
Panama's Supreme Court on Tuesday declared that a contract allowing a Canadian company to continue operating Central America's biggest copper mine was "unconstitutional."
Russian court extends detention of US journalist Gershkovich
A Moscow court on Tuesday said it had extended until January the detention of US reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was arrested in Russia earlier this year on spying charges.
Indian rescuers on verge of bringing 41 trapped in tunnel out
Indian rescuers were on the verge Tuesday of bringing out 41 men trapped in a collapsed road tunnel after laying the final section of pipe in the culmination of a marathon 17-day operation.
Hopes rise Indian rescuers will reach 41 trapped in tunnel 'soon'
Indian rescue teams digging by hand are on the verge of breaking through to reach 41 men trapped in a collapsed road tunnel, officials said Tuesday, raising hopes the end of the marathon 17-day operation is in sight.
Lost in the metro? Paris translation app aims to help visitors
The Paris metro has launched an instant translation app ahead of next year's Olympic Games to help hapless foreign visitors navigate the French capital's urban transport system.
Suspect charged over shooting of Palestinian students in US
An American man on Monday was charged with attempted murder in Vermont over the shooting of three men of Palestinian descent, in a crime authorities described as an act of hatred.
US man charged in 'hateful' shooting of Palestinian students in Vermont
An American man on Monday was charged with attempted murder in Vermont over the shooting of three men of Palestinian descent, in a crime authorities described as an act of hatred.
Prosecutors allege rapper Young Thug led gang as trial begins
Prosecutors in Atlanta said Monday that rapper Young Thug was the "proclaimed leader" of a gang that "moved like a pack" to commit crimes, as opening statements in a long-delayed racketeering trial got underway.
US attorney general warns of 'extremists' after Vermont shooting
US Attorney General Merrick Garland warned Monday of increasing threats from "domestic violent extremists" amid growing attacks against minority groups, as he vowed a full investigation into the shooting of three men of Palestinian descent.
Sweden PM condemns far-right call to tear down mosques
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson denounced the leader of the far-right party propping up his government Monday after he called for some mosques to be torn down.