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Tweets or 'terrorism'?: Saudi's jailed online activists
A Saudi court's decision to sentence fitness influencer Manahel al-Otaibi to 11 years in prison highlights what activists describe as a fierce crackdown on even vaguely critical online speech.
Jazz is about 'sharing', says music icon Herbie Hancock
Jazz icon Herbie Hancock performed this week in Tangiers at the end of a four-day jazz festival he launched more than a decade ago, telling AFP the genre is all about unity and diversity.
More war debris in Gaza than Ukraine: UN
The Gaza Strip is filled with more war debris and rubble than Ukraine, the head of UN demining operations for the narrow Palestinian territory said Wednesday.
Istanbul police clash with May Day protesters
Turkish police on Wednesday fired tear gas and rubber bullets and detained dozens of protesters after authorities banned May 1 rallies at Istanbul's historic Taksim Square.
Georgia condemned after police crackdown on protesters
The European Union led condemnation against Georgia on Wednesday after police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at thousands of demonstrators protesting against a controversial "foreign influence" bill.
Clashes at UCLA pro-Palestinian protests in US campus unrest
Clashes broke out on Wednesday at pro-Palestinian demonstrations on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles, as dozens of universities around the United States struggle to contain similar protests.
Clashes at UCLA campus around pro-Palestinian protests
Clashes broke out on Wednesday at pro-Palestinian demonstrations on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles, as dozens of universities around the United States struggle to contain similar protests.
Dozens of Georgia pro-EU protesters arrested in violent police crackdown
Georgia arrested 63 demonstrators at a late-night rally, officials said Wednesday, after police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at thousands of pro-EU protesters who oppose a controversial "foreign influence" bill.
Blinken urges Hamas to agree Gaza truce as he meets Israel leaders
Top US diplomat Antony Blinken urged Hamas to accept a truce in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to send troops into its far southern city of Rafah.
US novelist Paul Auster dies aged 77
Paul Auster, the prolific American novelist whose works included "The New York Trilogy," has died of complications from lung cancer, a friend of the novelist told AFP. He was 77.
US Fed likely to keep rates steady as hopes of early cuts fade
The US Federal Reserve is expected to hold interest rates steady for a sixth straight meeting Wednesday, with a summer start to cuts looking less likely owing to stubborn inflation.
Senegal tapestry production finds new lease of life
After cutting away the loose woollen threads from his loom, 28-year-old Senegalese weaver Seydina Oumar Cisse turns the roll to watch the tapestry gradually take shape before his eyes.
Minouche Shafik: From renowned economist to embattled Columbia president
An esteemed economist, Minouche Shafik was thrilled to become president of one of America's most prestigious colleges.
Police arrest Columbia students, clear occupied building in campus unrest
Dozens of helmeted police flooded Columbia University's campus in the heart of New York City on Tuesday to evict a building occupied by pro-Palestinian student protesters and detain demonstrators.
The Moroccans who fought for France and settled in Vietnam
Le Tuan Binh keeps his Moroccan soldier father's tombstone at his village home north of Hanoi, a treasured reminder of a man whose community in Vietnam has been largely forgotten.
Police enter Columbia building barricaded by students as protests rock US campuses
Dozens of helmeted police marched on to Columbia University's campus in the heart of New York City on Tuesday and began evicting a building that had been barricaded by pro-Palestinian student protesters.
Florida abortion ban starts in heat of US election battle
Florida braced for one of the strictest abortion bans in the United States to take effect Wednesday, with Vice President Kamala Harris visiting to hammer Donald Trump on a key issue in the 2024 election.
Georgia pro-EU protesters erect barricades outside parliament after crackdown
Pro-EU demonstrators in Georgia built barricades outside parliament on Wednesday after police used tear gas and rubber bullets against thousands of protesters rallying for a third week against a controversial "foreign influence" bill, an AFP reporter saw.
Heavy police presence at Columbia as more unrest rocks US campuses
A heavy police presence was seen at Columbia University on Tuesday, raising fears of a clash with student protesters as administrators struggle to contain pro-Palestinian demonstrations on dozens of campuses around the United States.
At Columbia University, students weigh in on surrounding protests
Columbia University normally teems with students, but a "Free Palestine" banner now hangs from a building where young protesters have barricaded themselves and the few wandering through campus generally appear tense.
Court fines Brazil's Lula over anti-Bolsonaro campaign video
Brazil's highest electoral court has fined President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his coalition nearly $48,000 over a campaign video slamming his 2022 election rival, Jair Bolsonaro.
Eurozone stocks sag on strong euro while Wall Street tumbles
Eurozone equities sagged Tuesday, weighed down by the strong euro as investors digested bright economic news, while Wall Street stocks slumped on disappointing data.
Student protesters hunker down as more unrest rocks US campuses
Students who occupied a Columbia University building vowed Tuesday to fight back against efforts to evict them, as administrators struggled to contain pro-Palestinian protests that have launched dozens of campus demonstrations around the United States.
Vienna conference urges regulation of AI weapons
The world should establish a set of rules to regulate AI weapons while they're still in their infancy, a global conference said on Tuesday, calling the issue an "Oppenheimer moment" of the time.
Judge threatens Trump with jail over gag order violations
The New York judge presiding over Donald Trump's hush money trial fined the former president on Tuesday for defying a gag order and warned that further violations could see him thrown in jail.
Blinken tells Hamas to accept truce deal as Israel PM warns of Rafah offensive
Top US diplomat Antony Blinken on Tuesday urged Hamas to accept a truce in Gaza, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to launch a military offensive on Rafah "with or without" a deal.
Trump sets out stark vision for second term in Time interview
Donald Trump set out a stark vision for an authoritarian second term in an interview with Time magazine published Tuesday, ranging from possible mass deportations of migrants by the US military and detention camps to pregnancy monitoring to enforce abortion bans.
Haiti ex-senate president named transition council head
Haiti's transitional ruling council, which is leading the Caribbean nation following the resignation of its prime minister amid a wave of gang violence, chose politician Edgard Leblanc Fils as its head on Tuesday.
Protesters chase EU diplomats from Palestinian Museum
Protesters from a Palestinian university chased a group of European diplomats out of a museum in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday over what activists said was their position on the Gaza war.
Spanish PM gets back to work after weighing resignation
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez got back to work on Tuesday, a day after he announced he would stay on following days of weighing his future in response to a graft probe targeting his wife.
Ukraine dismantles Soviet monument to friendship with Russia
Kyiv authorities on Tuesday began taking down a Soviet-era monument celebrating friendship with Russia -- more than two years into an invasion by Moscow which has cost tens of thousands of lives.
Israel PM warns of Rafah offensive 'with or without' Gaza truce deal
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Tuesday that the military would launch a ground offensive on Gaza's far-southern Rafah city "with or without" a truce deal being negotiated with Hamas.
Activists occupy Columbia building as US campus protests flare
Demonstrators at Columbia University barricaded themselves inside a campus building early Tuesday, escalating a standoff with school officials as pro-Palestinian protests upend campuses across the United States.
UNRWA chief says $267 mn in aid still suspended
The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees said on Tuesday that $267 million in its funding was still suspended over allegations some UNRWA staff participated in the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.
Top French university loses funding over pro-Palestinian protests
The Paris region authority sparked controversy Tuesday by temporarily suspending funding for Sciences Po, one of the country's most prestigious universities, after it was rocked by tense pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
Hamas says readying response to Gaza truce offer
Cautious hopes were building Tuesday for a Gaza truce and hostage release deal as Hamas said it was studying the latest proposal and US top diplomat Antony Blinken was due to head back to Israel.
Ecuador embassy raid crossed line, top UN court told
Ecuador's early April raid on Mexico's embassy to seize a former top Ecuadoran official crossed a line and set a dangerous precedent for global diplomatic relations, the UN's top court heard on Tuesday.
Most markets build on Wall St rally, yen holds rebound
Markets mostly rose Tuesday following advances on Wall Street, while the yen held gains after the previous day's sharp swings and focus turned to the Federal Reserve's upcoming policy decision.
Blinken heads to Jordan to push Gaza aid
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken headed Tuesday to Jordan where he will discuss ways to boost aid deliveries into Gaza and quietly thank the kingdom for its help during recent Iran-Israel clashes.