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Stocks, oil extend rout as China retaliates over Trump tariffs

Equities and oil prices extended a global rout for markets Friday after China hit back over President Donald Trump's tariff blitz with its own mammoth levy on US goods, inflaming global trade war fears.

Rat earns world record for sniffing landmines in Cambodia

A landmine-hunting rat in Cambodia has set a new world record by sniffing out more than 100 mines and pieces of unexploded ordnance, a charity said Friday.

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Stock markets fall over US inflation, tariff fears

Stock markets fell on Friday as a closely-watched US inflation reading heated up, adding to concerns over the fallout from an incoming wave of tariffs by President Donald Trump.

Cuba resurrects dollar-only stores, a symbol of inequality

In communist Cuba, some customers are more equal than others, as a 40-year-old math teacher who was out shopping recently in Havana with his son discovered.

Chinese regulator to vet Panama ports deal: Hong Kong media

China's market regulator said it will review Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison's sale of Panama Canal ports to a US-led consortium, a Beijing-backed newspaper in Hong Kong reported on Friday.

Israel hits Beirut after rockets fired from south Lebanon

Israel made good on its threat Friday to strike Beirut after rockets were fired towards its territory, rattling an already fragile truce in Lebanon that had largely ended more than a year of hostilities with Hezbollah.

Nepal police clash with pro-monarchy demonstrators

Nepal police fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse thousands of people gathered in Kathmandu demanding the restoration of the monarchy, prompting authorities to impose a curfew in the area.

Israel hits south Lebanon after threatening Beirut over rocket fire

Israel carried out air strikes in southern Lebanon Friday after its defence minister threatened Beirut over new rocket fire, rattling an already fragile truce that largely ended more than a year of hostilities with Hezbollah.

Putin calls to remove Zelensky, 'finish off' Ukrainian troops

Russian President Vladimir Putin called Friday for a "transitional administration" to be put in place in Ukraine and vowed his army would "finish off" Ukrainian troops, in hardline remarks as US President Donald Trump pushes for a ceasefire.

More arrests as Turkey escalates crackdown over protests

Turkey intensified its crackdown over ongoing anti-government protests Friday, arresting the lawyer of the jailed Istanbul mayor and two more journalists in connection with the country's biggest wave of unrest since 2013.

China's top diplomat Wang Yi to visit Russia for Ukraine talks

Top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi will visit Russia next week for talks on issues including the resolution of the war in Ukraine, both countries said on Friday.

Music scene offers release for stifled Belarus youth

Gleb Gurami believes the parties he organises in a Minsk nightclub are an outlet for young Belarusians, reeling from the exodus that followed mass protests and a political crackdown in 2020.

China's Xi warns foreign executives of 'severe' trade headwinds

Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Friday warned of "severe challenges" to global trade, vowing to open the country's door "wider and wider" to foreign firms as Beijing faces down a mounting trade war with the United States.

China's Xi vows deeper cooperation in meeting with Bangladesh leader

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday pledged deeper cooperation with Bangladeshi counterpart Muhammad Yunus in a meeting that came as Dhaka seeks new friends to offset frosty ties with India.

Duterte clan rallies as ex-Philippine leader marks 80th in jail

Family and supporters of former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte will rally Friday to mark his 80th birthday and protest his detention in The Hague on a charge of crimes against humanity.

Asian markets mixed as autos suffer more tariff-fuelled losses

Asian markets were mixed Friday as traders brace for next week's expected wave of US tariffs, while auto firms extended their painful losses following President Donald Trump's announcement of steep levies on vehicle imports.

US defence chief visits Philippines dogged by scandal at home

US defence chief Pete Hegseth met Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos on Friday, saying the two countries must stand "shoulder to shoulder" in the face of the threat represented by China.

France's Le Pen faces verdict that could end presidential hopes

A French court on Monday will rule in the trial of far-right leader Marine Le Pen over an alleged fake jobs scam at the EU parliament, a verdict which could ruin her chances of standing for president in 2027.

Vance due in Greenland as anger mounts over Trump takeover bid

US Vice President JD Vance is on Friday due to tour a US military base in Greenland, a visit viewed by Copenhagen and Nuuk as a provocation amid President Donald Trump's bid to annex the Danish territory.

Time to stop changing clocks? Not so fast, say EU states

The saying goes that time is money but in the European Union, time is political too.

Bolsonaro trial: A political reset for Brazil?

With far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro headed for trial on coup charges, Brazilians are starting to contemplate a future without the polarizing populist in the picture.

Australian PM calls general election for May 3

Australia will hold a general election on May 3, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Friday, locking in a showdown over climate action, nuclear power and a runaway housing market.

Journalism under threat in Turkey, says AFP photographer

Yasin Akgul, a photojournalist for Agence France-Presse who was arrested this week after covering the huge protests rocking his native Turkey, said after his release on Thursday that the profession is under threat in the country.

Thousands protest against new Israel law expanding control over judicial appointments

Thousands protested Thursday after Israel's parliament passed a law expanding the power of politicians over the appointment of judges pushed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government.

Iran says it has responded to Trump's nuclear talks letter

Iran has sent a response to a letter from US President Donald Trump that called for nuclear talks and warned of possible military action if it refuses, its foreign minister said Thursday.

Sudan paramilitaries vow 'no surrender' after Khartoum setback

Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces vowed on Thursday there would be "no retreat and no surrender" after rival troops of the regular army retook nearly all of central Khartoum.

Trump withdraws UN envoy pick amid Congress majority fears

President Donald Trump withdrew right-wing firebrand Elise Stefanik as his nominee for US ambassador to the United Nations Thursday, as Republican concerns mount about holding their narrow majority in Congress.

At Jerusalem meet, Netanyahu warns of rising anti-Semitism

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday warned "the fate of free societies" was linked to their fight against anti-Semitism, at a conference in Jerusalem, where the attendance of far-right European politicians has divided the international Jewish community.

Trump's auto tariffs spark global outcry as price hikes loom

World powers on Thursday blasted US President Donald Trump's steep tariffs on imported vehicles and parts, vowing retaliation as trade tensions intensify and price hikes appear on the horizon.

Sudan paramilitaries vow 'no surrender' after Khartoum reverses

Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces vowed on Thursday there would be "no retreat and no surrender" and said they had "repositioned" forces, after rival army troops recaptured nearly all of central Khartoum.

Paris summit rejects Russia sanctions relief, mulls Ukraine force

European countries agreed at a summit in Paris Thursday to ramp up rather than lift sanctions on Russia over its war against Ukraine, as Britain and France began sketching out plans to send a "reassurance" force after any peace.

Mexico seeks 'preferential treatment' on US tariffs

Mexico said Thursday that it wanted preferential treatment if US President Donald Trump goes ahead with steep car tariffs, vowing a "comprehensive response" to Washington's duties.

Top US senators demand probe into chat scandal

Senior Republican and Democratic US senators issued a bipartisan call Thursday for a probe into a scandal over an accidentally leaked chat between top officials on Yemen air strikes that has engulfed Donald Trump's White House.

AFP journalist Yasin Akgul leaves jail, but lawyer says charges remain

AFP photographer Yasin Akgul, who was arrested this week covering Turkey's worst unrest in more than a decade, was freed Thursday from an Istanbul jail, AFP correspondents said, though his lawyer said the charges against him remain.

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