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Economy
War in Middle East raises stagflation fears in Europe and beyond
Global energy prices have shot upwards after the US and Israel unleashed war in the Middle East, but just how far those shocks will ripple across the economy remains unclear.
Politics
UN demands swift probe into Israeli strikes on Lebanon
The United Nations on Friday demanded swift investigations into fatal Israeli strikes across Lebanon to decide if they complied with international law.
Sports
Chelsea happy to rotate goalkeepers, says Rosenior
Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior said Friday he has no fixed number one goalkeeper after dropping Robert Sanchez from his starting line-up in midweek.
Economy
Soaring gas prices spark renewed debate about European electricity
A surge in natural gas prices since the Middle East war erupted has sparked renewed debate about Europe's electricity market, where prices are still linked to gas.
Politics
Elite pilots and US support drive Israel's air power
Israel’s air force has struck deep inside Iran with devastating precision, killing even the country’s supreme leader within minutes of the war’s outbreak -- a feat experts say reflects years of elite pilot training and combat experience.
Economy
Germany's Axel Springer swoops for British newspaper The Telegraph
German media group Axel Springer said Friday it had agreed to buy right-wing British newspaper The Telegraph in a surprise move, as the UK government investigates a rival bid.
Economy
US sheds jobs in February in warning sign for Trump's economy
The United States unexpectedly lost jobs in February while unemployment edged up, government data showed Friday, piling pressure on President Donald Trump's economic agenda as key midterm elections approach.
Politics
Sole Iranian competitor out of Paralympics due to Middle East war
Iran's sole competitor at the Paralympics in Milan-Cortina has been forced to pull out of the Games due to the ongoing war in the Middle East, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) said on Friday.
Politics
Spanish PM says 'cooperation' with US should prevail over 'confrontation'
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Friday that "loyal cooperation" should prevail over "confrontation" in relations with the United States after tensions over Madrid's opposition to Washington's use of its bases against Iran.
Politics
Lebanese relive 'nightmare' of displacement from war
In the lobby of a vocational school packed with hundreds of people, Zeinab Moqdad, who fled Beirut's southern suburbs, rages at a new war between Hezbollah and Israel whose consequences she is once again forced to bear.
Politics
US must probe Iran school strike 'very quickly', UN says
The United Nations rights chief called Friday for answers after a deadly strike on an Iranian elementary school, as a media investigation concluded the United States was most likely responsible.
Sports
AC Milan hoping to revive dimming title hopes in derby against Inter
AC Milan face Serie A leaders Inter this weekend knowing the derby could offer a last chance to apply pressure.
Pirovano in 'seventh heaven' after first World Cup victory
Italian skier Laura Pirovano vowed to "savour this victory" after finally claiming her first World Cup win on Friday in the first of two downhills on home snow in Val di Fassa.
Politics
Iceland proposes August 29 referendum on resuming EU membership talks
Iceland's government on Friday proposed that a referendum be held on August 29 on resuming the country's EU membership talks after they were terminated in 2015.
Politics
Hungary to expel 7 Ukrainians as Zelensky, Orban quarrel over Russian oil
Hungary will expel seven detained Ukrainians, the government said Friday, as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky traded threats in a row over stalled Russian oil supplies.
Sports
Ohtani homers as Japan thrash Taiwan at World Baseball Classic
Shohei Ohtani blasted a home run to ignite Japan's World Baseball Classic campaign as the defending champions thrashed Taiwan 13-0 in their tournament opener in Tokyo on Friday.
Politics
Who rules the seas? Torpedoed Iran ship brings focus underwater
A US submarine this week torpedoing an Iranian warship during the Middle East conflict raised the crucial question of who controls the seas during wartime.
Politics
Mideast war escalates as fresh strikes batter Iran
Fresh strikes rocked Iran and Lebanon Friday as Israel and the United States stepped up their attacks in the spawling Middle East war, with powerful explosions shattering the skies of Tehran.
Sports
Pirovano takes downhill at Val di Fassa for first World Cup win
Italian skier Laura Pirovano finally claimed her first World Cup victory on Friday by winning the first of two downhills on home snow in Val di Fassa.
Economy
Iran drone strike on Azerbaijan raises fears of Mideast war spreading to Caucasus
Iranian drone strikes on Azerbaijan have raised fears that the Middle East war could spill into the Caucasus, as Baku, an ally of Israel, vows to respond.
Politics
Decades of planning and US backing helps fuel Israel's air power
Israel's air superiority over Iranian skies in the war with the Islamic republic reflects decades of strategic thinking and a singular partnership with Washington, experts told AFP.
Economy
Hungary to expel seven Ukrainians as Zelensky, Orban quarrel over Russian oil
Hungary will expel seven detained Ukrainians, the government said Friday, as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky traded threats in a row over stalled Russian oil supplies.
Nepal's rapper-turned-politician takes early lead in key polls
Nepal's centrist party of rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah took an early lead in the high-stakes parliamentary election on Friday, as slow counting continued after the first polls since last year's deadly uprising.
Stocks fluctuate, oil climbs as Mideast crisis rages
Global stock markets fluctuated and oil prices jumped Friday at the end of a volatile week's trading unleashed by the Middle East conflict.
Politics
Mideast war is heightening uncertainty, Lufthansa warns
German aviation giant Lufthansa warned Friday it faced a more uncertain outlook because of the unfolding Middle East conflict, and that the fallout showed how vulnerable air traffic remains to geopolitical shocks.
Politics
Fresh Israeli strikes on Lebanon as PM warns of 'looming humanitarian disaster'
Fresh Israeli strikes on Friday battered Lebanon, where Prime Minister Nawaf Salam warned "a humanitarian disaster is looming" due to mass displacement.
Hong Kong mogul Jimmy Lai won't appeal national security conviction: lawyer
Hong Kong pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai will not appeal against the national security conviction for which he was jailed for 20 years last month, his legal team said on Friday without providing a reason.
Politics
Italian general challenges Meloni from the right
A retired general who criticises the EU, wants to send home illegal migrants and says Ukraine should accept a peace deal with Russia is challenging Italy's hard-right government on its own turf.
Economy
China says 'clearly aware' of economic risks, vows to boost spending
China's leaders are "clearly aware" of challenges facing growth, the head of the country's top economic planning body said on Friday, vowing to boost sluggish domestic consumption.
Politics
Hungary detains seven Ukrainians as Kyiv, Budapest quarrel over Russian oil
Kyiv accused Budapest of kidnapping seven of its citizens on Friday, as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said he would use "every means" to pressure Ukraine in an escalating row over stalled Russian oil supplies.
Sports
North Korea, China power into Women's Asian Cup quarter-finals
North Korea and defending champions China both eased ominously into the Women's Asian Cup quarter-finals on Friday, joining South Korea and hosts Australia in the last eight.
Politics
Extensive destruction in Beirut's southern suburbs following Israeli strikes
Israeli air strikes left behind massive destruction in Beirut's southern suburbs on Friday morning, with the Israeli military saying it had destroyed Hezbollah targets.