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Russia, Ukraine swap 206 POWs in UAE-brokered deal
Moscow and Kyiv swapped 103 prisoners of war each on Saturday in a deal brokered by the United Arab Emirates, a rare moment of coordination between the two warring sides as Russia pushes ahead in east Ukraine.
'Shame must change sides': France's mass rape plaintiff becomes feminist icon
Walking into court each day with her head held high, the ex-wife of a Frenchman on trial for orchestrating her mass rape in her own bed for almost a decade has become a feminist icon.
Turkey buries activist shot in West Bank
Mourners gathered in southwest Turkey on Saturday for the funeral of a US-Turkish activist, who was shot dead while protesting Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
Cash-strapped Maldives says no need for IMF bailout
The Maldives says its financial troubles are "temporary" and the luxury tourist destination has no plans to seek an International Monetary Fund bailout after warnings of a possible sovereign default.
France to bid final farewell to Olympics with Champs-Elysees parade
France is to bid a final and reluctant farewell to the Paris Olympics on Saturday with a parade on the Champs-Elysees followed by a concert featuring artists from the opening and closing ceremonies.
N. Korea pledges deeper ties with Russia as security chief visits
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pledged to deepen ties with Russia as he held talks with visiting security chief Sergei Shoigu, state media reported Saturday.
Turkey to bury activist shot in West Bank
Mourners will gather in southwest Turkey Saturday for the funeral of a US-Turkish activist shot dead while protesting Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
'Slave to fear': Ghosts of the Gulag haunt modern Russia
When Russians started being arrested for opposing the Ukraine offensive, Maria felt the same kind of fear she guessed her ancestors, victims of repression under Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, must have lived through.
Forced out of business in China, a bookseller turns the page
From talks on social issues to topics like constitutionalism and religion, bookseller Yu Miao wanted Jifeng Bookstore in Shanghai to be a place for public discussions.
Biden, Starmer put off Ukraine missiles decision
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US President Joe Biden on Friday delayed a decision to let Ukraine fire long-range Western-supplied missiles into Russia, a plan that sparked dire threats from Moscow of a war with NATO.
Global stocks mostly rise as markets eye likely Fed rate cut
Wall Street stocks concluded a positive week with another upbeat session Friday, while European equities also advanced following a European Central Bank interest rate cut.
Biden, Starmer discuss Ukraine missiles as Russia tensions mount
US President Joe Biden played down threats of war from Moscow Friday as he met British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to discuss whether to let Ukraine fire Western-supplied long-range missiles into Russia.
Pope says anti-immigrant Trump and abortion-rights advocate Harris 'against life'
Pope Francis said Friday that he considered both candidates for the US presidency "against life", citing Donald Trump's anti-immigrant policies and Kamala Harris's support for abortion rights.
UN official says Sudan IDP women in desperate need of protection
A United Nations official returning from Sudan described on Friday how women and girls fleeing the civil war there had been "stripped bare of their basic necessities," struggling for food, water and safety.
Ohio town's schools evacuated amid Trump anti-immigrant drive
Several schools in the small town of Springfield, Ohio were evacuated Friday, the second day of worrying disruptions amid anti-Haitian-immigrant tensions stoked by Donald Trump and his Republican Party.
Harris, Trump campaign in battlegrounds as migrant row intensifies
US presidential candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris again took their campaigns to battleground states Friday as a racially charged row over Haitian immigrants intensified with the Republican leader promising "large deportations."
Rare death of UN worker as Israel pursues West Bank operation
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees said Friday one of its employees was killed during an Israeli operation in the occupied West Bank, where raids have escalated since last month.
Venezuela warns Spain against 'interference' in its affairs
Venezuela warned on Friday that it would brook "no interference" from Madrid in its affairs amid a deepening standoff with Spain over its fierce criticism of strongman President Nicolas Maduro.
Toronto festival drops Russian war film screenings over threats
The controversial documentary "Russians at War" about Moscow's invasion of Ukraine was to be unveiled to North American audiences on Friday but the Toronto International Film Festival paused the screenings after receiving "significant threats."
Biden, Starmer meet as Russia warns over missiles for Ukraine
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US President Joe Biden are to meet Friday in Washington to discuss whether to let Ukraine fire Western-provided long-range missiles into Russia, an option that has sent tensions soaring with Moscow.
Strike at Argentina's flagship airline hits 30,000 passengers
A strike by pilots and crew demanding salary increases in inflation-hit Argentina affected more than 30,000 passengers on Friday, according to the Aerolineas Argentinas airline and unions.
Pope returns home after epic four-nation Asia-Pacific tour
Pope Francis returned to Rome Friday after a gruelling 12-day tour of the Asia-Pacific, defying health concerns to connect with believers from the jungle of Papua New Guinea to the skyscrapers of Singapore.
'Tell everyone I'm home': Ukrainian prisoners rejoice at rare swap
Tetyana Bugay burst into tears as she called her sister to announce she had finally returned to Ukraine after spending over two and a half years in Russian captivity.
Raided West Bank city holds funerals after Israeli army withdraws
The families of Palestinians killed in an air strike in the occupied West Bank city of Tubas held funerals on Friday after Israeli forces withdrew following their latest raid in the territory.
Germany insists it won't give Ukraine long-range missiles
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz doubled down Friday on Berlin's refusal to send long-range missiles to Ukraine, even as other Western powers discussed allowing Kyiv more freedom to use such weapons.
The Hague to ban fossil fuel ads
The Dutch city of The Hague has become the first in the world to pass local laws banning advertisements for fossil fuels, petrol cars and long-distance air travel, officials said Friday.
Spain hosts meeting on Israel-Palestinian two-state solution
Ministers from Muslim and European countries along with the European Union's foreign affairs chief gathered Friday in Madrid to discuss how to advance a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Stock markets rise awaiting US rate cut next week
US and European stock markets rose, gold hit a record high and the dollar fell on Friday ahead of an expected US interest-rate cut next week.
Russian central bank hikes rate as inflation jumps
Russia's central bank on Friday raised interest rates to 19 percent amid the country's ongoing Ukraine offensive, warning inflation was running too high and it needed to cool the economy.
US finalizes sharp tariff hikes on Chinese EVs, other goods
The United States locked in tariff hikes on billions of dollars worth of Chinese goods Friday, with a 100 percent duty on electric vehicles and 25 percent on EV batteries taking effect in two weeks.
Biden, Starmer meet as Russia warns over long-range missiles for Ukraine
The leaders of Britain and the United States meet Friday in Washington on whether to let Kyiv fire Western-provided long-range missiles into Russia -- an option that has sent tensions soaring with Moscow.
Top opponent of India PM Modi bailed after months in custody
A top political opponent of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi walked out of jail Friday, ending months behind bars after being bailed in an ongoing corruption case against him.
Biden, Starmer to discuss long-range weapons for Ukraine
The leaders of Britain and the United States meet Friday in Washington on whether to let Kyiv fire Western-provided long-range missiles into Russia, an option that has sent tensions soaring with Moscow.
Spain tries to calm spiralling row with Venezuela
Spain tried to calm the war of words with Venezuela Friday with relations between the two countries almost at breaking point after Caracas recalled its ambassador.
Climate ambitions face headwinds as EU changes guard
What does the future hold for EU climate policies? Next week's unveiling of the new European Commission will be watched closely for clues -- at a time when defending the environment has skidded down the list of priorities in Brussels.
Exiled Russian dissidents in Germany get rare boost from freed activists
Not long after Russian dissident Ilya Yashin was freed in a major prisoner swap with the West, he received a hero's welcome in Berlin, a growing centre for exiled Russian activists.
India's top court frees jailed PM Modi opponent on bail
A top political opponent of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was granted bail on Friday after months behind bars on accusations his party took kickbacks in exchange for liquor licences.
Sudan museums' precious antiquities looted in war
Sudan's priceless archaeological heritage is being stripped from museums, with looters loading statuettes and fragments of ancient palaces onto lorries, smuggling them out of the war-torn country, and selling them online.
Biden, Starmer to discuss long-range arms for Ukraine
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President Joe Biden will discuss Friday whether to let Kyiv use long-range missiles against Russia, in what is likely their last meeting before an election that could upend US policy on Ukraine.