Last news
Politics
UK PM vows legislation to ban Iran Guards: report
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged to propose legislation within weeks to proscribe Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, a report said Friday.
Sports
Leipzig tighten top-four grip as Union's Eta suffers second loss
RB Leipzig moved closer to a Champions League return after thumping Union Berlin 3-1 at home on Friday and handing coach Marie-Louise Eta her second straight Bundesliga defeat.
Sports
Furyk named USA captain for 2027 Ryder Cup
Jim Furyk was named United States captain for the 2027 Ryder Cup on Friday by the PGA of America, tasking him with obtaining the first US triumph in Europe since 1993.
Politics
S&P 500, Nasdaq end at records as Intel shares surge
Major Wall Street indices closed at fresh records as markets cheered the latest batch of earnings reports and US and Iranian officials headed to Pakistan for expected peace talks.
Politics
EU, US sign critical minerals plan to counter China reliance
The European Union and United States signed an agreement Friday to coordinate on the supply of critical minerals needed for key industries including defense, as China's dominance becomes a growing concern.
Politics
The 'housewives' did well -- Ukraine takes drone know-how abroad
Like something straight out of a spy movie, lots of cloak and dagger was required before AFP could meet three Ukrainian drone manufacturers on the fringes of a hush-hush defence forum in Paris earlier this month.
Boulevard
Court removes US businessman from managing his Brazilian football team
An arbitration court in Brazil has removed US businessman John Textor from managing Botafogo football team, which he owns, the Brazilian club announced Friday.
Economy
'Natural' birth control risks unwanted pregnancy, experts warn
After taking the pill for a decade, Elodie Monnier Legrand decided to try "natural" birth control, an increasingly popular trend that requires tracking fertility to avoid becoming pregnant.
Sports
No.2 Korda boosts LPGA Chevron lead to seven
Nelly Korda made the best 36-hole major start of her career on Friday, firing a second consecutive seven-under par 65 to seize a seven-stroke-lead at the LPGA Chevron Championship.
Economy
EU trade chief seeks 'positive traction' on US steel tariffs
The EU is seeking more progress in easing the effects of US steel tariffs, its trade chief Maros Sefcovic said Friday, adding that talks are "going in a positive direction."
Technology
Anthropic says Google to pump $40 bn into AI startup
Google is planning to invest up to $40 billion in Anthropic, the artificial intelligence firm confirmed Friday, expanding a long-standing alliance between the two companies.
Sports
Kohli makes Gujarat pay as Bengaluru cruise to IPL win
Virat Kohli punished Gujarat Titans for dropping him on nought with a blistering half-century as Royal Challengers Bengaluru breezed to a five-wicket victory In the Indian Premier League on Friday.
Politics
One injured in bomb attack on Colombia military base
A bomb attack against a military base in the Colombian city of Cali wounded one person on Friday, health authorities said, amid fears of violence ahead of May 31 presidential elections.
Politics
Envoys from Iran, US expected in Pakistan for new talks
Iran's foreign minister and envoys of US President Donald Trump were heading to Pakistan, their respective governments said Friday, in the first concrete sign of movement on renewed peace negotiations in nearly two weeks.
Politics
ILO names US official as number two amid grumbling over unpaid dues
After months of delay, the UN labour agency has appointed Trump administration official Sheng Li as its deputy director general, despite Washington's failure to pay its dues for two years.
Boulevard
Son of director Rob Reiner pays tribute to slain parents
Slain Hollywood director Rob Reiner's son Jake paid an emotional tribute Friday to his parents, allegedly slain by his brother Nick, calling it "almost too impossible to process."
Technology
AI united Altman and Musk, then drove them apart
Elon Musk and Sam Altman bonded over artificial intelligence in a project that became OpenAI, but a clash of visions will see the polarizing figures face off in court in a trial that opens next week.
Sports
Sinner overcomes Bonzi in record hunt at Madrid Open
Jannik Sinner took a first step towards a potential record fifth consecutive Masters 1000 title with a 6-7 (6/8), 6-1, 6-4 victory over Benjamin Bonzi in the Madrid Open second round on Friday.
Politics
Havana property market stirs as investors bet on political change
Havana's real estate market is showing glimmers of revival as investors bet that a political and economic revolution is coming to the Communist-governed island.
Politics
Children's lives at risk from US funding cuts to vaccine alliance: CEO
The head of a global vaccine organisation told AFP on Friday that aid cuts by the United States and other donors have forced it to slash its malaria programme in Africa, threatening tens of thousands of children's lives.
Health
Brazil's Lula has surgery to remove skin lesion from scalp
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva underwent surgery Friday that removed a lesion on his scalp, less than six months before the presidential elections.
Sports
Defending champion Alcaraz to miss French Open with wrist injury
Two-time reigning French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz said on Friday he will not play at this year's tournament as he recovers from a wrist injury.
Economy
Battle lines drawn over EU's next big budget
EU leaders had their swords already drawn when they plunged into intense discussions Friday over the 27-country bloc's next seven-year budget, with the usual frugal nations pushing to contain spending.
Renewed hopes of Iran peace talks keep oil under $100 per barrel
Oil prices fell on Friday after it appeared a second round of Middle East talks was back on, bolstering prospects for an end to a war that has crippled energy shipments from the Gulf.
Politics
Lebanon truce extended as Pakistan bids to revive US-Iran talks
Israel and Lebanon extended their shaky ceasefire by three weeks on Friday, as Iran's foreign minister prepared for meetings with officials in Pakistan, which has been mediating efforts to end the wider Middle East war.
Boulevard
Assisted dying bill scuppered as UK advocates vow to fight on
A bill to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales failed in parliament on Friday after getting bogged down in Britain's unelected upper house, as campaigners vowed to fight on.
Sports
Alex Marquez quickest in Spanish MotoGP practice
Alex Marquez was fastest in Spanish MotoGP practice on Friday in Jerez on his Gresini with a sizeable 0.333s advantage over second-quickest Fabio Di Giannantonio.
Sports
Former New Zealand cricketer Bracewell given two-year ban for cocaine use
Former New Zealand and Essex all-rounder Doug Bracewell has been given a two-year suspension after testing positive for cocaine during an English County Championship match last year.
Boulevard
Justice Dept ends criminal probe into US Fed chair Powell
The US Justice Department dropped a criminal probe against Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Friday, clearing the way for his replacement's Senate confirmation, amid concerns over President Donald Trump's attacks on the independent central bank.
Politics
Merz says no 'immediate' Ukraine EU membership, floats Kyiv joining meetings
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Friday there was no prospect of Ukraine's "immediate accession" to the EU, but suggested Kyiv could join meetings of the bloc's members without voting rights.
Nature
G7 says nature talks a success as climate sidelined for US
Environment ministers from G7 nations said progress was made at a two-day meeting in Paris despite climate change left off the agenda to avoid friction with the United States.
Boulevard
'Hands off': Teddy bear tale teaches French preschoolers consent
Preschoolers watch attentively as French actor Lucie Langlais Vignon, 41, holds up stuffed toys to tell the story of the bear cub who scolds the duckling for reaching up her skirt.