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Kremlin says Ukraine peace talks frozen as Trump warns Putin
Moscow said Friday that peace talks with Ukraine were on "pause" as US President Donald Trump again warned he was fast running out of patience with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

France risks credit downgrade as new PM tackles budget
France on Friday risks a downgrade on its ability to pay back debts, economists said, a move that would further complicate new Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu's task of drawing up a budget for next year.

Trump says Charlie Kirk shooting suspect in custody
US President Donald Trump on Friday announced that the suspect had been taken into custody over the killing of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk after a massive manhunt.

India hardliners give Nepal protests baseless religious twist
Protesters in Nepal ousted the prime minister and set parliament ablaze over the government's ban on social media and corruption allegations -- but in neighbouring India, the violence is being misrepresented online as something else entirely: a religious uprising.

Ukrainian athletes show true grit to be at world championships, says federation chief
War-torn Ukraine's athletes will be happy with a medal of any colour at the world athletics championships as "every step toward the podium is harder" than for their rivals, federation president Olha Saladukha told AFP.

Pacific leaders agree new summit rules after China, Taiwan bans
Pacific Island leaders agreed on Friday to a new framework that would allow nations to join a key regional forum as strategic partners, after accusations that China was influencing regional decision-making.

Hunt for shooter of Charlie Kirk enters third day in US
The vast manhunt for the shooter who killed right-wing activist Charlie Kirk stretched into a third day on Friday, after police released fresh images in an effort to crack a case that has raised tensions in the United States.

'Volatile': Londoners and asylum seekers on edge due to protests
Near London's historic heart, steel barricades and plywood boards block the entrance to a hotel housing some 600 asylum seekers that has recently been targeted by protests.

Nepal seeks new leader as army reclaims streets after protest violence
Nepal's president and army sought on Friday to find a consensus interim leader to fill a political vacuum after deadly anti-corruption protests toppled the government and left parliament in flames.

S. Korean workers arrive home after US detention
A specially chartered flight carrying hundreds of South Korean workers detained in a US immigration raid last week landed at Incheon International Airport on Friday, AFP reporters saw.

Russia, Belarus start military drills as West watches warily
Russia and its key ally Belarus began major joint military drills early Friday, putting NATO on edge days after Poland accused Moscow of escalating tensions by firing attack drones through its airspace.

UN General Assembly to vote on a Hamas-free Palestinian state
The UN General Assembly will vote on Friday whether to back the "New York Declaration," a resolution which seeks to breathe new life into the two-state solution between Israel and Palestine -- without the involvement of Hamas.

From Discord to Bitchat, tech at the heart of Nepal protests
From sparking protests that toppled the prime minister to giving young people a platform to discuss their country's political future, social media was key to Nepal's extraordinary uprising this week.

Trump's push for peace prize won't sway us, says Nobel committee
Donald Trump's obsession with winning the Nobel Peace Prize next month may have hit a hitch -- the stubborn independence of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, which insisted to AFP that it cannot be swayed.

Russia, Belarus to stage military drills as West watches warily
Russia and its key ally Belarus are to start major joint military drills on Friday, putting NATO on edge days after Poland accused Moscow of escalating tensions by firing attack drones through its airspace.

In divided Brasilia, some celebrate Bolsonaro conviction, others fume
Patrons of a bar in Brasilia cheered and applauded Thursday as ex-president Jair Bolsonaro's guilty verdict appeared on a giant screen in scenes reminiscent of a football match.

Epstein birthday book renews pressure on Trump, other former pals
A decades-old book of cheerful, often lewd birthday messages has set off a political bomb in Washington -- helping bring down the British ambassador and inflaming the most perilous scandal of Donald Trump's presidency.

Brazil's Bolsonaro: US-backed firebrand at risk of future behind bars
As a military man Brazil's ex-president Jair Bolsonaro had a reputation for disobeying orders. As head of state from 2019 to 2022, he thumbed his nose at institutions.

FBI says 'rapid developments' in Charlie Kirk murder probe
US authorities investigating the killing of right-wing youth leader Charlie Kirk said there had been "rapid developments" Thursday as they released pictures of a man they were hunting.

Allies bolster Poland air defence after drone raid blamed on Russia
France and Germany moved to bolster defence of Polish airspace Thursday as the UN Security Council called an emergency meeting to discuss Warsaw's accusation that Moscow launched a drone raid on its territory.

S.Africa's top court rules men can take wives' surnames
South Africa's top court ruled Thursday that men should be able to take their wives' surnames and a law that prevented this amounted to unfair gender discrimination.

Charlie Kirk killing: FBI releases photos of wanted man
US authorities investigating the killing of right-wing youth leader Charlie Kirk released pictures Thursday of a man they were hunting, as Donald Trump paid tribute to a "giant of his generation."

Belarus frees 52 prisoners, including veteran dissident, journalists
Belarus on Thursday freed 52 political prisoners, including an EU staff member, journalists, and dissidents -- a release mediated by the United States as Minsk seeks closer ties with President Donald Trump.
South Korean workers head home after US raid stunned ally
Hundreds of South Koreans detained in a US immigration raid flew out on Thursday, after a stunned Soul warned that the "bewildering" episode could have a chilling effect on future investment.

S.Sudan vice president charged with murder, crimes against humanity
South Sudan's Vice-President Riek Machar has been charged with murder, treason and crimes against humanity over an attack on a military base that killed more than 250 soldiers, the justice minister said Thursday.

UN Security Council to meet over drone raid in Poland blamed on Russia
The UN Security Council announced it would hold an emergency meeting Friday to discuss discuss violations of Poland's airspace, a day after Warsaw accused Moscow of carrying out a drone raid on its territory.
Charlie Kirk killer still at large as police find gun
The gunman who shot dead US right-wing youth leader Charlie Kirk in a targeted killing remained at large Thursday but authorities said they have video images of the suspect and have recovered a "high-powered" rifle.

President seeks end to crisis engulfing Nepal
Nepal's president said Thursday he was seeking an end to the crisis that has engulfed the Himalayan nation since deadly protests this week ousted the prime minister and left parliament in flames.

Poland calls emergency UN meeting over drone raid blamed on Russia
Poland said Thursday it had called an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss violations of its airspace, a day after it accused Russia of carrying out a drone raid on its territory.

'Double standards' over Israel sports participation: Spanish minister
Spanish sports minister Pilar Alegria said on Thursday that Israeli teams should be banned from sports in the same way that Russian sides broadly were in 2022 after the country's invasion of Ukraine, highlighting a "double standard".

Starmer sacks Mandelson as UK ambassador to US over Epstein links
UK leader Keir Starmer sacked his ambassador in Washington Peter Mandelson on Thursday following fresh revelations about the diplomat's friendship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Process 'underway' to release S. Koreans detained in US raid
Hundreds of South Koreans detained in a massive US immigration raid were being released Thursday to begin the journey home, Seoul said after warning the "bewildering" episode could have a chilling effect on future investment.