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Cost-of-living demonstrations to grip pre-election France

After weeks of student protests, France is set to be swept by broader, nationwide demonstrations Saturday over the cost of living, setting up a potentially fraught period ahead of presidential elections next year.

In Malaysia, frustration grows over Indonesia haze

Closed schools, shuttered sports centres and mass mask handouts. Indonesian wildfire haze has caused a regional pollution crisis and prompted growing frustration in neighbours, including Malaysia.

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Cut off by cyclone, Malawian villagers face hunger, perilous journeys

A husband holds his heavily pregnant wife's hand as the two wade across roaring floodwaters in southern Malawi.

Protests as Italy limits rights of same-sex parents

Hundreds of people took to the streets in Milan on Saturday in protest against moves by Italy's new right-wing government to restrict the rights of same-sex parents.

Greece sacks police chief after train tragedy protests

Greece said Saturday it had sacked its national police chief, days after clashes between security forces and demonstrators broke out in the wake of the country's deadliest train tragedy.

In US, 'tip fatigue' raises questions about sacrosanct habit

To tip, or not to tip? That is the question many Americans are grappling with in a country where the tip is king -- but even at a grocery store? Or for a bunch of flowers?

Cyclone Freddy affects 500,000 people in Malawi: UN

Cyclone Freddy, which dissipated this week after a record-breaking rampage, has caused more than 460 deaths in southern Africa and affected more than half a million people in Malawi, the UN said Friday.

Trump family ran afoul of foreign gift law: Democrats

Donald Trump and his family failed to disclose gifts worth a total of more than $250,000 given by foreign governments while he was in the White House, Democrats said Friday -- including golden golf clubs from Japan and swords from Saudi royalty.

Man City's Walker to face no criminal charges over indecent exposure probe

Manchester City defender Kyle Walker will face no further police action over allegations that he indecently exposed himself in a bar earlier this month.

'Dallas' star Patrick Duffy joins St Patrick's Day celebrations in Ireland

Thousands of people including "Dallas" star Patrick Duffy turned Dublin into a sea of green Friday for the annual St Patrick's Day parade, as Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar visited Washington.

Spain police arrest 16 in olive heist

Thieves operating in Las Vegas, a rural area near Spain's capital Madrid, managed to steal 17.5 tonnes of olives from local farms before being busted, police said Friday as they confirmed 16 arrests.

Cambodia celebrates return of 'priceless' stolen Angkor jewellery

Cambodian leader Hun Sen unveiled a collection of stolen Angkor crown jewellery on Friday which was recently returned to the kingdom after decades in Britain, pleading for other long-lost treasures to be handed back.

'No longer safe' from quakes: fear of 'Big One' grips Istanbul

The helmet-topped engineer drove his pointy instrument into the concrete to test whether Durmus Uygun's building will crumble when the feared big quake finally strikes Istanbul.

The mafias of Italy: the old guard and the upstarts

Hollywood made the Cosa Nostra famous, but Italy has other organised crime groups, the youngest of which -- the "Fourth Mafia", based in Foggia in the southeast -- is making a violent name for itself.

Sorrow in Peru as mudslides destroy homes

One mudslide after another finally destroyed the house of Elvis Palomino in Chaclacayo, east of Peru's capital Lima, where others are stacking sandbags they hope will save them from a similar fate.

Netanyahu defiant on legal reform as Scholz urges compromise

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday fiercely defended disputed legal reforms on a visit to Berlin, where German Chancellor Olaf Scholz urged him to reconsider a compromise.

Clashes in Senegal as opposition leader goes to trial

Protesters and security forces clashed in multiple neighbourhoods of the Senegalese capital Dakar on Thursday as an opposition leader appeared in court in a politically charged trial.

Netanyahu defiant over legal reforms as Scholz urges compromise

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday fiercely defended disputed legal reforms on a visit to Berlin, where German Chancellor Olaf Scholz urged him to reconsider a compromise.

Rome's Pantheon to charge for tourist entry

One of Rome's oldest and best loved monuments, the Pantheon, will soon start charging for entrance, officials said Thursday -- drawing a mixed reaction from tourists.

Netanyahu defiant over legal reforms despite Berlin's 'great concern'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday fiercely defended disputed legal reforms on a visit to Berlin, where German Chancellor Olaf Scholz voiced "great concern" over the legislative overhauls.

Colombian mine explosion death toll rises to 21

An explosion at a coal mine in central Colombia has left 21 miners dead after 10 more bodies were found in the pit, President Gustavo Petro said on Thursday.

UK trophy hunting bill irks African conservationists

A bid to ban the import of hunting trophies to Britain has upset conservationists in southern Africa, with some saying the bill is counterproductive and smacks of colonialism.

French govt to force Paris binmen back to work as trash stacks up

France's government will force Paris rubbish collectors to return to work after a days-long strike against pension reforms has left many streets in the capital piled with stinking waste.

Indonesia policeman jailed over football stadium crush

An Indonesian court jailed a policeman for 18 months on Thursday over negligence contributing to one of the worst stadium disasters in the history of football but victims' families criticised the trial as two other officers walked free.

Fabled Antakya fears losing 'soul' in Turkish quake ruins

As they left Antakya, Turkey's earthquake-shattered home of ancient civilisations, its anguished residents scribbled farewell messages on the ruins: "We'll come back" and "Don't lose hope."

Urgent search for 10 trapped Colombian miners after blast kills 11

Rescuers and miners raced against the clock Wednesday to save 10 workers trapped in a central Colombian coal mine after an explosion killed at least 11 people.

Banned from school, Afghan girls turn to madrassas

In a madrassa in the Afghan capital, rows of teenage girls rock back and forth reciting verses of the Koran under the watchful eye of a religious scholar.

Second group of prisoners transferred to El Salvador mega-jail

A second group of 2,000 inmates were moved on Wednesday amid tight security to a new prison built in El Salvador to accommodate more than 40,000 suspected gangsters targeted in President Nayib Bukele's "war" on crime.

Court gives Bolsonaro 5 days to hand over Saudi jewels

A Brazilian court ruled Wednesday ex-president Jair Bolsonaro has five days to hand over pricey jewelry he received as a present from Saudi Arabia, and ordered an audit of all official gifts during his presidency.

Riyadh Air plans new orders ahead of 2025 take-off: CEO

Saudi Arabia's new national airline plans more aircraft orders as it prepares to operate its first flights in early 2025, its CEO told AFP on Wednesday.

Flash floods kill at least 14 in Turkish quake zone

Flash floods killed at least 14 people living in tents and container housing across Turkey's quake-hit region on Wednesday, piling more pressure on President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ahead of crunch elections.

Flash floods kill at least 13 in Turkish quake zone: media

Flash floods killed at least 13 people living in tents and container housing set up across Turkey's quake-hit region on Wednesday, piling more pressure on President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ahead of crunch elections.

Pakistan police halt bid to arrest ex-PM Khan after clashes

Pakistan police appeared Wednesday to have given up an attempt to arrest former prime minister Imran Khan, ending a siege of his residence after violent clashes with hundreds of his supporters.

Russia far-right sect tries to get foothold in Europe

Ines and Norman Kosin left everything behind to follow the teachings of Anastasia, a far-right Russian sect that preaches a return to the land.

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