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US hopes for Iran meetings 'this week': envoy Witkoff
US special envoy Steve Witkoff said Friday he believes Iran will hold talks with Washington "this week," as President Donald Trump reiterated his claims that Tehran wants to make a deal.
Fishy trades before major news spark insider trading allegations
Unusual bursts of trading on the oil and stock markets this week, just minutes before social media posts on the Iran war by President Donald Trump, have added to suspicions of insider trading linked to his administration.
WTO reform talks coming to the crunch
The ambassador facilitating talks on reforming the World Trade Organization voiced cautious optimism Friday on prospects for progress at a high-level meeting in the Cameroonian capital.
Rubio sees G7 building 'coalition' against Iran strait control
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday he saw European readiness to help form a coalition against Iranian control of the strategic Strait of Hormuz after US-Israeli attacks unleashed a regional war.
Israel hits Iran nuclear sites as Washington trails end to war
US-Israeli strikes hit two Iranian nuclear facilities on Friday, as America's top diplomat left a meeting with his G7 counterparts to declare that Washington expects its military operation to prove victorious within a couple of weeks.
G7 urges end to attacks on civilians in Middle East war
G7 allies on Friday urged a stop to attacks against civilians in the Middle East war, after a foreign ministers' meeting in France attended by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio almost one month into the US-Israeli assault against Iran.
US and Israel hit nuclear sites as Rubio trails end to Iran war
US-Israeli strikes hit two Iranian nuclear facilities on Friday, as America's top diplomat left a meeting with his G7 counterparts to declare that Washington expects its military operation to prove victorious within a couple of weeks.
China used fake LinkedIn profiles to spy on NATO, EU: security source
China used fake LinkedIn profiles in an attempt to harvest sensitive data from NATO and European Union institutions by soliciting information from staff, a European security source said Friday.
G7 ministers urge end to attacks against civilians in Mideast war
G7 foreign ministers Friday urged a stop to attacks against civilians in the Middle East war and urged Iran to immediately restore freedom of navigation in the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Bahrain cracks down on Shia dissent as Iran war tests kingdom
While Bahrain comes under Iranian fire, some in the country have expressed sympathy with Tehran and even rejoiced over hits on US bases, prompting a crackdown mainly targeting the Shia Muslim community, activists told AFP.
Brazil's Bolsonaro leaves hospital, starts house arrest for coup attempt
Former far-right Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro was discharged from hospital on Friday after a two-week stay and transferred to his home in Brasilia to begin house arrest, his doctor said.
Lebanon at risk of 'humanitarian catastrophe': UN
Nearly a month into the Middle East war, Lebanon is facing a deepening humanitarian crisis that now risks teetering over into a catastrophe, the United Nations refugee agency warned Friday.
Russia labels 'Mr Nobody Against Putin' teacher a 'foreign agent'
Russia declared the teacher and central protagonist of the Oscar-winning documentary "Mr Nobody Against Putin" a foreign agent on Friday, a label akin to being an enemy of the state.
Belgian diplomat appeals to avoid trial over Congo leader's murder
A 93-year-old former Belgian diplomat ordered to stand trial over the 1961 killing of Congolese independence icon Patrice Lumumba has appealed the decision, his lawmaker said Friday.
E-commerce in the crosshairs at WTO in digital taxes battle
The future of digital taxes is dividing countries at the World Trade Organization, with the moratorium that has prohibited customs duties on electronic transmissions since 1998 front and centre in the debate.
Oil climbs, stocks fall as markets see no end to war
Oil prices rose and stocks fell Friday as initial optimism over US President Donald Trump's decision to again delay his deadline for strikes on Iran's energy assets faded.
Lebanon at real risk of 'humanitarian catastrophe': UN
Nearly a month into the Middle East war, Lebanon is facing a deepening humanitarian crisis that now risks teetering over into a catastrophe, the United Nations refugee agency warned Friday.
Iran warns civilians as Trump says talks 'going well'
Iran's Revolutionary Guards warned civilians across the Middle East Friday to stay away from areas near US forces, in a mark of defiance after President Donald Trump claimed talks to end the month-long war were "going well".
Putin hopes Iran war will shift focus from 'crimes' in Ukraine: German FM
Russian President Vladimir Putin is hoping the war in the Middle East will shift the focus from his "crimes" in Ukraine, the German foreign minister said on Friday.
Police probe firebomb attack on Russian centre in Prague
Czech police said Friday they were investigating a firebomb attack on a Russian cultural and scientific centre in Prague.
'I'll never be the same': Iranians recount one month of war
After a month of war with Israel and the United States with no clear end in sight, Iranians tell AFP about how life has changed, about watching missiles fall, and how security forces have tightened their grip.
Japan to boost coal-fired power as Mideast war causes energy turmoil
Japan's government plans to temporarily lift restrictions on coal-fired power plants as it seeks to ease an energy crunch caused by the Middle East war, officials said on Friday.
G7 allies press Rubio on US Iran plans
G7 allies were on Friday pressing US Secretary of State Marco Rubio for clarity on American plans for Iran almost one month into the war in the Middle East, as concern intensifies over the damage to the global economy from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Oil rises, stocks mixed as joy over Trump Iran strike pause fades
Oil prices rose Friday and stocks were mixed as initial optimism over Donald Trump's decision to again push back a deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz petered.
Nepali rapper Shah sworn in as prime minister
Nepal's rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah was sworn in as prime minister on Friday after sweeping the first election since deadly anti-corruption protests toppled the government last year.
Hungarians' growing anger at living in EU's 'most corrupt state'
Hungarian leader Viktor Orban's officially declared wealth is fairly modest: some savings and a jointly owned villa in Budapest.
Mexico's navy says two boats ferrying aid to Cuba are missing
The Mexican navy said Thursday that it was searching for two boats transporting humanitarian aid for Cuba with nine crew of different nationalities on board.
Germany eyes Australian 'Ghost Bat' for drone combat era
Germany is considering Australia's "Ghost Bat" robot fighter as it looks to select a combat drone to modernise its air force, defence minister Boris Pistorius said Friday.
Oil drops as Trump pauses Iran strikes, but stock traders nervous
Oil prices fell Friday after Donald Trump again pushed back a deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, though most equities also dropped as traders shrugged at the news following a series of conflicting messaging from the White House.
Newcomers could threaten Christiania's hippie soul, locals fear
The colourful residents of Copenhagen's libertarian Christiania enclave, long a refuge for anarchists, hippies and artists, fear new housing within its borders could spell the end of the freetown's identity.
German 'green village' rides out Mideast energy storm
While the world frets about surging energy prices pushed up by the Middle East war, one small German village has been reaping the benefits of its turn to climate-friendly renewables.
US in the spotlight at WTO meet
The United States is set to come under scrutiny Friday on day two of the World Trade Organization's ministerial conference, with Washington wanting to shake up the multilateral trade system.