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UN nuclear chief heads to Iran after near weapons-grade uranium find
UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi is expected in Tehran later Friday for discussions with officials after his agency's inspectors in Iran found uranium particles enriched to just under weapons-grade level.
Over 6,000 US troops in Thailand for war games
Thousands of US soldiers joined Thai and South Korean troops on a beach in Thailand on Friday for one of the largest annual military exercises in Asia.
Quad powers concerned over militarisation in Asian seas
The United States, Japan, India and Australia expressed concern Friday over the militarisation of Asia's waters, in a veiled reference to China's growing presence in contested seas.
Ukraine's stand-up comics lift spirits with wartime laughs
A joke about his mother's reaction to air raids gets a laugh of recognition for Anton Boldyrev as the young Ukrainian comedian performs stand-up at a Kyiv club.
EU's Borrell sees 'small improvement' in US talking with Russia
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Friday he saw a "small improvement" in diplomacy with Moscow after a Group of 20 meeting that saw rare US-Russia talks.
Quad powers concerned over militarisation of waters around China
The United States, Japan, India and Australia expressed concern Friday over the militarisation of waters around China on the heels of a flare-up in tensions between Washington and Beijing.
At US confab, Republicans embrace 45 commandments for victory
"Never get mad," and don't deploy technical jargon: girding for battle after recent election setbacks, Republicans this week unveiled to diehard activists what they consider foolproof strategies for winning back the White House and other political posts next year.
Cambodia opposition leader jailed 27 years for treason
A Cambodian court on Friday sentenced top opposition leader Kem Sokha to 27 years in jail for treason, in a case rights groups say is politically motivated.
Afghan women's activist fights Taliban and self-doubt
Mahbouba Seraj is a rare dissenting voice in Afghanistan, but the veteran activist has begun to doubt whether the world is listening when she speaks out against the Taliban government's abuses.
China to unveil lowest growth goal in years: analysts
China will likely set one of the country's lowest growth goals in decades at the annual National People's Congress next week, experts told AFP, hit by long-running property woes, a sluggish global economy and geopolitical tensions.
Asian markets rise with Wall St on lower rate hopes
Asian markets on Friday tracked a Wall Street rally after a top Federal Reserve official said he would back a small interest-rate hike at its next meeting but hinted at a possible summer pause to see how tighter policy has impacted inflation.
US conservatives target liberal 'threat' at annual forum
US conservatives reprised some of their greatest hits on the opening day of their annual conference Thursday, as they offered multiple "culture war" grievances that framed government as the biggest threat to the American way of life.
Russian ex-Haas driver Mazepin cleared to race in Europe
Russian ex-Formula 1 driver Nikita Mazepin was Thursday cleared to return to motor racing in Europe, a year after his career was brought to a halt by Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
US stocks rally despite disappointing inflation data
Beaten-down Wall Street stocks rallied Thursday, shrugging off worries about additional interest rate hikes following the latest batch of worrisome inflation data.
Relatives of Greek train crash passenger in fury and despair
Two days after Greece's worst rail accident, relatives awaiting news of their missing loved ones are furious and in despair.
Cambodia court due to give verdict in opposition leader treason trial
A Cambodian court is expected to give a verdict on Friday in the treason trial of top opposition leader Kem Sokha, in a case critics say is designed to bar him from politics as the country prepares for a July election.
Outrage as Greece admits 'failures' after fatal train crash
Anger mounted in Greece on Thursday over a fatal train collision that killed at least 57 people, with protests and a national strike as authorities admitted failures overseeing the rail network.
UK disappointed as Argentina withdraws from Falklands pact
The UK government on Thursday insisted the Falkland Islands remained British as Argentina walked away from a cooperation pact and demanded new talks over their sovereignty.
Norway apologises for 'illegal' wind farms on indigenous land
Norway's government on Thursday apologised to indigenous Sami reindeer herders affected by wind farms that were declared illegal after they were built, following a week of protests by activists.
Stocks resist despite rates worries
Stocks mostly resisted worries about inflation and interest rate hikes on Thursday despite officials warning on the need to keep fighting stubbornly high inflation.
UK spies missed chance to stop Manchester terror attack
The Manchester bomber who killed 22 people at an Ariana Grande concert in 2017 might have been stopped if Britain's MI5 security service had acted on vital intelligence, an official inquiry found Thursday.
Blinken presses Lavrov at G20 riven by Ukraine divisions
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged his Russian counterpart to end the Ukraine war on the sidelines of G20 talks on Thursday, in their first face-to-face contact since the invasion.
Nigeria presidential election drama heads to the courts
Third-party candidate Peter Obi announced Thursday he would challenge the outcome of Nigeria's fiercely fought presidential elections after official results awarded victory to the ruling party's champion, Bola Tinubu.
Stocks diverge as investors worry about rates
Major stock markets diverged Thursday as concerns over further hikes to US interest rates lingered, with officials warning on the need to keep fighting stubbornly-high inflation.
Russia accuses Ukraine of cross-border incursion
Moscow on Thursday claimed that Ukrainians crossed into Russia and opened fire on civilians, an allegation denied by Kyiv as a "deliberate provocation."
Rohingya refugees decry 'devastating' cuts to food aid
Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh said on Thursday they are struggling to survive after the United Nations slashed their food aid due to a massive funding gap.
UK's Johnson says 'difficult' to back new N.Irish Brexit deal
Former UK prime minister Boris Johnson said Thursday he would find it "very difficult" to vote for successor Rishi Sunak's new EU deal overhauling post-Brexit trade rules in Northern Ireland.
Russia says US aided alleged Ukraine drone attacks
Russia's deputy foreign minister said Thursday that drone attacks which Kyiv is alleged to have carried out on Russian military bases would only have been possible with US assistance.
Blinken meets Lavrov at G20 riven by Ukraine divisions
The United States and Russia met in their highest face-to-face contact since the invasion of Ukraine last year on the sidelines of a G20 meeting that ended in disarray due to divisions over the conflict.
More interest rate hikes may be needed, says ECB's Lagarde
More interest rate increases may be needed beyond the one coming later this month, European Central Bank president Christine Lagarde said Thursday, as inflation in the eurozone remains stubbornly high.
Estonia torn over Ukraine aid as elections loom
Divisions over assistance to Ukraine are looming large in Estonia as the country prepares for parliamentary elections in which far-right nationalists are set to make gains.
Stock markets drop tracking US rate saga, China reopening
Major stock markets diverged Thursday as concerns over further hikes to US interest rates lingered, with officials warning on the need to keep fighting stubbornly-high inflation.
Blinken presses Russia's Lavrov over Ukraine on G20 sidelines
The United States and Russia met to air their differences in their highest one-to-one contact since the invasion of Ukraine last year on the sidelines of a G20 meeting dominated by divisions over the conflict.
Russia says Ukrainian saboteurs make border incursion
Russia on Thursday reported that a group of Ukrainian combatants had crossed into the southern Bryansk region, with the Kremlin calling it a "terrorist attack".
US, NATO role in Ukraine risks 'catastrophic consequences': Russia
The involvement of the United States and NATO in the war in Ukraine risks bringing "catastrophic consequences", Russia warned Thursday in a speech boycotted by many Western diplomats.
Russia condemns Western 'blackmail, threats' at G20
A G20 meeting in New Delhi on Thursday was in disarray after Russia accused the West of "blackmail and threats" against other countries.
India should use G20 to help end Ukraine war: Italy's Meloni
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Thursday said she hoped India would use its G20 presidency to broker an end to the Ukraine war, and also unveiled a new strategic partnership with New Delhi.
Leaders gather in Panama to halt threats against oceans
Leaders were set to gather in Panama on Thursday to discuss the world's oceans and the multiple threats they face, from climate change and pollution to overfishing and mining.
Western allies discussing 'security guarantees' with Kyiv: Scholz
Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Thursday that Germany and its allies were in talks with Kyiv over future security guarantees in preparation of a sustainable peace for Ukraine.