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Amsterdam unveils planned site to replace red light district
Amsterdam city executives Monday named a location in the Dutch capital's south as its preferred site for an out-of-town "erotic centre", in a controversial plan to move away from its famed red light district.
Paris 1924 'Chariots of Fire' stadium ready for Games century on
The stadium that was the main site for the 1924 Paris Olympics is ready, a century later, to welcome hundreds of participants and tens of thousands of spectators for next year's Summer Olympic Games in the French capital.
Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin pushes back return to space
Blue Origin on Monday postponed its long-awaited return to space, citing technical reasons and promising to try again later this week.
Farmers clog Berlin with tractors in protest at cuts
Thousands of farmers descended on central Berlin with their tractors on Monday to protest against planned cuts to agricultural subsidies.
Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin heads back to space in critical launch
Blue Origin is set Monday to launch its New Shepard rocket for the first time since an uncrewed crash more than a year ago, a mission that is critical in reviving the fortunes of Jeff Bezos' space company.
Asian markets mostly down as Fed rate-cut rally fades
Asian markets fell Monday as traders took a step back following last week's rally, with Federal Reserve officials looking to temper expectations the US central bank will cut interest rates several times next year.
Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin headed back into space after accident
The American company Blue Origin plans to launch its rocket Big Shepard Monday for the first time since an accident more than a year ago, as the firm founded by billionaire Jeff Bezos heads back into space.
Hot chocolate for the holidays: 'Wonka' tops N.America box office
Warner Bros.' fantasy musical "Wonka," boosted by the star power of Timothee Chalamet, enjoyed a sweet opening in North American theaters this weekend after an equally strong debut overseas, industry watchers reported Sunday.
Miss France winner says her short hair a victory for 'diversity'
The woman elected Miss France 2024 has framed her victory as a win for "diversity", drawing praise for her short hair as well as predictable criticism from viewers of the beauty pageant which has faced accusations of sexism.
British teen Alex Batty found in France returns to UK
British teen Alex Batty, who was found this week in France after he went missing six years ago while on holiday, has arrived back in the UK, police said Saturday.
Italy, UK leaders unite on migration, agree Tunisia deal
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hailed Italian premier Giorgia Meloni's approach to tackling illegal migration Saturday, in a visit to Rome where they agreed to co-fund a project to help migrants return home from Tunisia.
UK teen found in France heading to London
Alex Batty, a British teen who went missing six years ago and was found this week in France, boarded a plane for London on Saturday, the Toulouse public prosecutor told AFP.
Activists block Belgian Alibaba hub, private jets
Hundreds of climate protesters on Saturday blocked a distribution hub for Chinese online giant Alibaba and an airport for private jets in Belgium, activists said.
Kuwait emir Sheikh Nawaf dies aged 86: royal court
The emir of oil-rich Kuwait, Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, died on Saturday, the royal court said, after three years in power. He was 86.
Inflation forces Turkey's central bank chief to move in with parents
The new head of Turkey's central bank said she has been priced out of Istanbul's property market by rampant inflation, leaving no choice for the former finance executive but to move back in with her parents.
Galtier denies discrimination as prosecutors demand suspended sentence
Former Nice coach Christophe Galtier said Friday via his lawyers that the investigation into claims of harassment and discrimination made against him lacked "impartiality", as prosecutors asked he be handed a one-year suspended prison sentence.
Mexico's Maya Train underway, despite environmental concerns
Mexico's Maya tourist train glided into action on Friday, promising prosperity for one of the country's poorest regions, but tainted by allegations of environmental devastation.
Lafarge faces civil suit in US led by Yazidi Nobel laureate
Some 430 Americans of Yazidi background and Nobel laureate Nadia Murad accused French conglomerate Lafarge of supporting brutal attacks on the population through a conspiracy with the Islamic State, according to a complaint reviewed Friday by AFP.
Stocks struggle to extend Fed-fuelled rally
World stock markets struggled Friday to build on the previous day's rally as investors recalibrated their outlook for 2024 after the Federal Reserve held rates but indicated it would cut next year.
Melania Trump welcomes new US citizens in rare public speech
Former first lady Melania Trump made a rare public appearance Friday, telling new US citizens at a naturalization ceremony to "be proud of yourself, stand your ground and embrace the opportunities that lie ahead."
Russian central bank raises key interest rate to 16% to counter inflation
Russia's central bank on Friday raised its key interest rate to 16 percent, announcing a fifth hike since summer in a bid to fight accelerating inflation.
What is Storm-1152, alleged top creator of fake Microsoft accounts?
Microsoft has seized the websites of a Vietnam-based group it alleges sold millions of fake accounts to cybercriminals who used them for ransomware attacks, identity theft and other scams around the world.
Black truffle production booms in Spain
When Jose Soriano was a child, the hills near the village of Sarrion in Spain's remote and sparsely populated eastern province of Teruel were mostly uncultivated, covered in brush and rocks.
High time: Dutch savour legal pot trial
Cannabis smokers in two Dutch cities will be able to light up legally for the first time Friday, as authorities roll out a trial decriminalising the production and supply of weed.
Asian markets track Wall St to extend Fed-fuelled rally
Asian markets built on the previous day's rally Friday as investors recalibrated their outlook for the new year after the Federal Reserve indicated it will cut interest rates.
Autonomous auto venture Cruise cuts 24% of staff
US autonomous driving venture Cruise announced Thursday it will eliminate roughly a quarter of its workforce as it slows commercialization to address safety issues.
Global stocks rise coyly as ECB, BoE press pause after Fed pivot
Global equities made cautious gains Thursday with Frankfurt and Paris briefly touching all-time peaks as the ECB and Britain pressed pause on rates after the Fed had sent Wall Street soaring on a pivot toward rate cuts next year.
ECB pauses again, pushes back on rate cut hopes
The European Central Bank froze borrowing costs again on Thursday and warned that the fight against inflation was not over, dousing investor hopes of early rate cuts next year.
ECB pauses again but warns on inflation
The European Central Bank froze borrowing costs again on Thursday but warned that inflation could pick up again in the near term, in an apparent pushback against market hopes of early rate cuts in 2024.
Moderna CEO says melanoma vaccine could be available by 2025
Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel told AFP his company's experimental vaccine against melanoma could be available in as little as two years, in what would amount to a landmark step against the most serious form of skin cancer.
BoE pauses, ECB tipped to follow as rate cut pressure mounts
The Bank of England held rates steady again Thursday with the European Central Bank expected to follow suit as inflation retreats, shifting investor attention to how fast policymakers will slash borrowing costs in 2024.
Meta rolls out Twitter rival Threads in the EU
Facebook owner Meta's text-based app Threads arrived in the European Union on Thursday, months after its global launch in July, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said.