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More Hollywood stars join protest letter over Gaza 'genocide'
Hollywood heavyweights Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Riz Ahmed and Guillermo del Toro have added their names to a letter condemning the film industry's silence on what it called "genocide" in Gaza, the organisers confirmed Friday.

India asks IMF to reconsider Pakistan programme over 'terror funding'
Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said Friday the International Monetary Fund (IMF) should reconsider a one billion dollar loan to Pakistan, alleging Islamabad was "funding terror".

Russia, Ukraine to meet for first talks since 2022
Russian and Ukrainian delegations will meet in Istanbul on Friday for their first talks in more than three years of war, with tens of thousands killed in Europe's worst conflict since World War II.

Trump says many in Gaza are 'starving'
US President Donald Trump said Friday "a lot of people are starving" in the besieged Gaza Strip, where rescuers reported more than 50 deaths in Israeli air strikes since midnight.

Umerov: 'Wonder' dealmaker from Crimea leading Ukraine peace talks
Rustem Umerov, who heads Ukraine's delegation at peace talks with Russia on Friday, is a skilled and pragmatic negotiator, hailed by his colleagues as a worker of diplomatic "wonders".

Russia and Ukraine to meet in Istanbul, but expectations low
Delegations from Moscow and Kyiv will be in Istanbul Friday for what could be their first direct meeting on the conflict in Ukraine since 2022, but the absence of Russian President Vladimir Putin leaves little hope for progress in ending the war.

'He's killing us': Cannes dealmakers hate Trump's big Hollywood idea
There are not many fans of Donald Trump's dream to save Hollywood with tariffs among the dealmakers at the Cannes film festival -- even among those who voted for him.

Independence hero assassin's calligraphy breaking auction records in Seoul
Calligraphy by a South Korean independence hero, created while awaiting execution for assassinating a Japanese statesman, is breaking new auction records in Seoul, as the country's ultra-rich seek to bring historic artwork home.

Trump caps Gulf tour in Abu Dhabi with dizzying investment pledges
US President Donald Trump on Friday capped off a Gulf tour in Abu Dhabi that has seen the securing of multi-billion-dollar deals, a $1.4 trillion investment pledge from the UAE, as well as historic overtures to Syria and renewed optimism over an Iran nuclear deal.

Iran, European powers to hold nuclear talks in Turkey
Iran is set to hold talks with Britain, France and Germany in Turkey on Friday, after US President Donald Trump said a nuclear deal with Tehran was "getting close".

Opposition leader vows 'empty' polling stations for Venezuelan legislative vote
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who has called for a boycott of May 25 gubernatorial and legislative elections, on Thursday vowed polling stations would be "empty" 10 months after President Nicolas Maduro's disputed reelection.

Rubio has no high expectations for Ukraine-Russia talks
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday he had little hope that Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul would produce a peace breakthrough after the two sides traded insults during a tense buildup to negotiations.

Gaza strikes kill 120 as Hamas says aid entry 'minimum requirement' for talks
Palestinian rescuers reported 120 people killed on Thursday in Israeli strikes on blockaded Gaza, where a US-backed organisation said it intends to begin distributing aid by the end of the month.

Rubio says no high expectations for Ukraine-Russia talks in Turkey
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio Thursday downplayed expectations for the Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul, after Moscow sent a low-profile delegation and both sides traded insults ahead of the negotiations.

Gaza strikes kill over 100 as Hamas says aid entry 'minimum requirement' for talks
Palestinian rescuers reported more than 100 people killed on Thursday in Israeli strikes on blockaded Gaza, where a US-backed organisation said it intends to begin distributing aid by the end of the month.

Ukraine sends team for Russia talks, downplays expectations
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had sent a team to Istanbul for the first direct peace talks with Russia in three years, but played down expectations of a breakthrough, saying Moscow was "not serious" about ending the war.

Guyana says soldiers attacked in disputed border region with Venezuela
Guyana said Thursday its soldiers had come under attack three times in 24 hours in a disputed oil-rich border region where neighbor Venezuela plans to hold elections this month.

US Supreme Court weighs judicial checks on Trump with birthright case
The US Supreme Court was hearing a case Thursday that could sharply curb the judiciary's ability to rein in Donald Trump and future American presidents.

NATO on track to strike spending deal to please Trump
NATO appears headed for a compromise deal at a summit next month to satisfy US President Donald Trump's demand to spend five percent of GDP on defence, as heavyweights Germany and France got on board Thursday.

Gaza air strikes kill over 100 as manhunt unfolds in West Bank
Palestinian rescuers reported more than 100 people killed Thursday in Israeli strikes on blockaded Gaza, where a US-backed organisation said it intends to begin distributing aid by the end of the month.

Walmart warns of higher prices due to tariffs
Walmart on Thursday reported another solid quarter behind sales gains in the United States, but warned of higher prices and continued uncertainty over President Donald Trump's tariffs.

'Miracle': family reunites in Kashmir after fleeing conflict
Shruti Sharma tearfully hugged her family goodbye and fled her home near the contested border in Kashmir with her three children on the first night of India and Pakistan's worst conflict in decades.

To achieve peace, Syria must punish all crimes: rights lawyer
Lasting peace in Syria depends on the country building a strong judicial system giving justice to the victims of all crimes committed during the Assad era, a prominent Syrian human rights lawyer told AFP.

Gaza air strikes kill 94 as manhunt unfolds in West Bank
Palestinian rescuers reported 94 people killed Thursday in Israeli strikes on blockaded Gaza, where a US-backed organisation said it intends to begin distributing aid by the end of the month.

Russia, Ukraine trade insults ahead of Turkey peace talks
Russia and Ukraine traded insults on Thursday as negotiators were due to meet in Turkey for the first direct peace talks in more than three years.

India and Pakistan trade accusations of nuclear arsenal mismanagement
India and Pakistan accused each other Thursday of failing to control their nuclear weapons, calling on the world to monitor their neighbour's arsenal just days after their most serious military confrontation in two decades.

EU accuses TikTok of violating digital rules over ads
The EU accused TikTok on Thursday of breaking digital rules after concluding that the Chinese-owned social media platform is not transparent enough about advertisements.

Trump says 'getting close' to deal to avoid Iran military action
US President Donald Trump said Thursday a deal was close on Iran's nuclear programme that would avoid military action, sending oil prices tumbling as he boasted of raising "trillions of dollars" on a Gulf tour.

Oil prices tumble on hopes for Iran nuclear deal
Oil prices sank Thursday on hopes for an Iran nuclear breakthrough after Donald Trump said a deal was "getting close" and US media reported Tehran had indicated it could be open to curbs on its atomic programme.

Russian delegation, without Putin, arrives in Istanbul for Ukraine talks
A Russian delegation landed in Istanbul on Thursday for the first direct peace talks with Ukraine in more than three years, Russian state media reported, but without President Vladimir Putin as many world leaders had urged.

Eurovision voting: when politics and kitsch converge
Groans and giggles typically greet votes at the annual Eurovision Song Contest, loved and mocked for its kitsch music and seemingly partisan outcomes.

End of nuclear in Taiwan fans energy security fears
Taiwan will turn off its last nuclear reactor on Saturday, fuelling concerns over the self-ruled island's reliance on imported energy and vulnerability to a Chinese blockade.