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  • Beijing (AFP) - 04/06/2018 - 07:14

    China ready to pay "any cost" in trade war: Ministry of Commerce

  • Kuala Lumpur (AFP) - 04/06/2018 - 06:21

    Malaysian PM announces dissolution of parliament for election

  • Caracas (AFP) - 04/06/2018 - 03:10

    Venezuela suspends flights by Panama's Copa for three months

  • Tokyo (AFP) - 04/06/2018 - 03:02

    Japanese studio confirms death of anime master Isao Takahata

  • Panama City (AFP) - 04/06/2018 - 02:01

    Panama orders Venezuela ambassador out, recalls own envoy from Caracas

  • Seoul (AFP) - 04/06/2018 - 01:52

    Samsung Electronics flags record $14.7 billion Q1 operating profit

  • Bamako (AFP) - 04/06/2018 - 01:45

    Two peacekeepers dead, 10 wounded in Mali attack: UN

  • Washington (AFP) - 04/06/2018 - 01:21

    White House calls on Gaza demos to avoid border

  • Washington (AFP) - 04/06/2018 - 01:00

    Trump eyes $100 billion of additional tariffs on China: White House

  • Caracas (AFP) - 04/06/2018 - 00:25

    Venezuela risks deeper isolation by suspending ties with Panama airline

  • Washington (AFP) - 04/06/2018 - 00:23

    Trump to host Qatari Emir in bid to end Gulf crisis: WH

  • Rio de Janeiro (AFP) - 04/05/2018 - 23:23

    Brazil judge issues warrant to imprison ex-president Lula

  • Washington (AFP) - 04/05/2018 - 23:13

    Trump says he did not know about payment to porn star

  • Mexico City (AFP) - 04/05/2018 - 23:07

    'Threats, lack of respect' unjustified, Mexican president tells Trump

  • Washington (AFP) - 04/05/2018 - 22:57

    Trump vows to send 2,000 to 4,000 troops to Mexican border

  • Berlin (AFP) - 04/05/2018 - 19:24

    German court refuses to extradite Catalonia's Puigdemont: official

  • Geneva (AFP) - 04/05/2018 - 18:16

    China launches WTO challenge against US intellectual property tariffs

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    Italy president says no govt accord, new talks next week

  • Istanbul (AFP) - 04/05/2018 - 17:01

    Major fire at Istanbul hospital, patients evacuated: TV

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    Trudeau sees high chance of NAFTA deal with US, Mexico

  • Petrozavodsk (Russia) (AFP) - 04/05/2018 - 16:07

    Russian historian cleared of child porn charges

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    Poisoned Russian spy's daughter says growing stronger 'daily': statement

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    Spain judge frees HSBC leaker Falciani on bail: judicial source

  • Washington (AFP) - 04/05/2018 - 14:39

    US trade deficit rises despite record American exports

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    Four staff dead in Turkish university shooting: reports

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    Israel says open-fire rules for Gaza unchanged for new protests

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    French, Malian troops kill 30 jihadists: French military

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    Challenger Bio wins S. Leone presidential vote: election watchdog

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    Saudi crown prince on official visit to France next week: French presidency

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    Court jails Bollywood star Khan for five years

  • Gaza City (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - 04/05/2018 - 10:30

    Palestinian killed by Israeli air strike on Gaza border: ministry

  • Moscow (AFP) - 04/05/2018 - 09:24

    UK can't ignore 'legitimate questions' over spy poisoning: Moscow

  • Jodhpur (India) (AFP) - 04/05/2018 - 08:49

    Bollywood superstar Salman Khan convicted of killing rare antelopes

  • Moscow (AFP) - 04/05/2018 - 05:43

    Expelled diplomats leave US embassy in Moscow: AFP

  • Brasília (AFP) - 04/05/2018 - 05:31

    Brazil Supreme Court rejects Lula's bid to delay prison

  • San Francisco (AFP) - 04/04/2018 - 23:15

    Zuckerberg says he is right person to lead Facebook despite 'mistakes'

  • New York (AFP) - 04/04/2018 - 22:06

    US stocks jump as investors reassess trade war risk, Dow +1.0%

  • Washington (AFP) - 04/04/2018 - 21:28

    Trump orders National Guard to Mexican border: official

  • Washington (AFP) - 04/04/2018 - 20:56

    Data on 'up to 87 million' Facebook users shared with UK firm

  • The Hague (AFP) - 04/04/2018 - 19:48

    Russia says OPCW voted down joint poisoning probe bid

  • Madrid (AFP) - 04/04/2018 - 19:27

    HSBC leaker Herve Falciani detained in Spain: police

  • Brasília (AFP) - 04/04/2018 - 19:12

    Brazil Supreme Court opens session on Lula bid to delay prison

  • United Nations (United States) (AFP) - 04/04/2018 - 18:46

    Russia requests Security Council meeting on spy poisoning

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    Syria mission coming to 'rapid end' but not over yet: WHouse 

  • Matías Romero (Mexico) (AFP) - 04/04/2018 - 17:22

    Migrant caravan abandons plan to travel to US border

  • Washington (AFP) - 04/04/2018 - 15:53

    One year on, West vows Assad will pay for sarin attack

  • Washington (AFP) - 04/04/2018 - 15:39

    Decision made on Syria pullout, announcement soon: US intel chief

  • New York (AFP) - 04/04/2018 - 15:36

    US stocks open sharply lower on trade war fears

  • Ankara (AFP) - 04/04/2018 - 15:32

    Putin urges 'common sense' to prevail in row over poisoned spy

  • Ankara (AFP) - 04/04/2018 - 15:13

    Turkey, Russia and Iran urge 'lasting ceasefire' in Syria

  • Washington (AFP) - 04/04/2018 - 14:47

    Facebook CEO Zuckerberg to testify before Congress April 11: panel

  • Brussels (AFP) - 04/04/2018 - 13:26

    France to extend internal EU border checks: EU Commission

  • Manama (AFP) - 04/04/2018 - 13:21

    Bahrain announces discovery of 80 bn barrels of oil

  • Ankara (AFP) - 04/04/2018 - 12:34

    Iran, Russia, Turkey leaders begin summit on Syria

  • The Hague (AFP) - 04/04/2018 - 11:49

    Britain slams 'perverse' Russian plan for joint poisoning probe

  • Douala (AFP) - 04/04/2018 - 11:20

    12 European hostages freed in troubled anglophone Cameroon

  • Brussels (AFP) - 04/04/2018 - 11:07

    Eurozone unemployment falls to 8.5% in February

  • Beijing (AFP) - 04/04/2018 - 10:10

    China to hit US soybeans, cars, planes with retaliatory tariffs

  • Moscow (AFP) - 04/04/2018 - 09:52

    Russia says spy poisoning 'grotesque provocation' by UK, US

  • Moscow (AFP) - 04/04/2018 - 09:52

    Russia intel chief warns against 'new' Cuban Missile Crisis

  • Beijing (AFP) - 04/04/2018 - 01:23

    China says ready to retaliate to US tariff plan: Xinhua

  • Washington (AFP) - 04/03/2018 - 23:20

    US identifies $50 bn in Chinese imports facing tariffs

  • San Francisco (AFP) - 04/03/2018 - 22:44

    Police confirm 'active shooter' at YouTube offices

  • San Francisco (AFP) - 04/03/2018 - 22:32

    Police probe possible shooting at YouTube's California offices

  • Washington (AFP) - 04/03/2018 - 20:20

    Trump says he wants US troops 'out' of Syria

  • Ankara (AFP) - 04/03/2018 - 20:13

    Russia, Turkey agree to speed up delivery of S-400s: Putin

  • Ankara (AFP) - 04/03/2018 - 20:06

    Putin hopes arms watchdog meeting to put 'full stop' on spy case

  • Washington (AFP) - 04/03/2018 - 19:07

    Trump claims 'nobody's been tougher' on Russia than him

  • Washington (AFP) - 04/03/2018 - 19:01

    Trump vows to deploy military to Mexican border

  • New York (AFP) - 04/03/2018 - 18:56

    Spotify valued at $29.5 billion in stock debut

  • United Nations (United States) (AFP) - 04/03/2018 - 18:27

    One peacekeeper killed, 11 wounded in C. Africa attack: UN

  • London (AFP) - 04/03/2018 - 18:15

    UK accuses Russia of using arms watchdog meeting as 'diversionary tactic'

  • London (AFP) - 04/03/2018 - 17:27

    UK scientists unable to prove nerve agent was Russian-made: reports

  • Paris (AFP) - 04/03/2018 - 17:22

    France's SNCF warns of major rail strike disruption on Wednesday 

  • London (AFP) - 04/03/2018 - 17:16

    Britain's Prince Philip, 96, admitted to hospital for hip surgery: official

  • Brussels (AFP) - 04/03/2018 - 16:31

    Half of European flights face delays after computer failure: Eurocontrol

  • Gaza City (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - 04/03/2018 - 16:15

    Palestinian shot dead by Israeli forces on Gaza border: ministry

  • Ankara (AFP) - 04/03/2018 - 16:05

    Putin, Erdogan launch construction of Turkey's first nuclear power plant

  • The Hague (AFP) - 04/03/2018 - 15:59

    Malian jihadist in court for war crimes on Wednesday

  • The Hague (AFP) - 04/03/2018 - 14:14

    OPCW to meet over Britain-Russia spy poisoning case

  • Geneva (AFP) - 04/03/2018 - 12:44

    UN urges Israel to 'reconsider' cancellation of African migrant deal

  • Jerusalem (AFP) - 04/03/2018 - 11:58

    Israel cancelling deal with UN on African migrants: Netanyahu

  • Berlin (AFP) - 04/03/2018 - 10:36

    German prosecutor requests Puigdemont extradition to Spain

  • Kunduz (Afghanistan) (AFP) - 04/03/2018 - 10:18

    UN probes reports of 'serious harm to civilians' in Afghan airstrike

  • Beijing (AFP) - 04/03/2018 - 10:08

    N.Korea foreign minister visits Beijing to meet counterpart

  • Washington (AFP) - 04/03/2018 - 05:51

    Powerful 6.8 quake strikes Bolivia: USGS

  • Jerusalem (AFP) - 04/02/2018 - 22:22

    Netanyahu suspends deal for African migrants

  • New York (AFP) - 04/02/2018 - 22:04

    US stocks end sharply lower on tech, trade worries; Nasdaq: -2.7%

  • New York (AFP) - 04/02/2018 - 20:10

    US stock selloff deepens, Dow -3.0%; Nasdaq -3.4%

  • Berlin (AFP) - 04/02/2018 - 19:15

    Four Russian envoys expelled from Germany back in Moscow: Russian embassy

  • Johannesburg (AFP) - 04/02/2018 - 19:14

    Ramaphosa remembers Winnie Mandela as 'voice of defiance'

  • Washington (AFP) - 04/02/2018 - 18:40

    US keen to work with Egypt's re-elected Sisi: official

  • Johannesburg (AFP) - 04/02/2018 - 17:16

    Tutu says Winnie Mandela was 'a defining symbol' of anti-apartheid struggle

  • Johannesburg (AFP) - 04/02/2018 - 16:19

    Nelson Mandela's ex-wife Winnie Mandela dies at 81

  • Jerusalem (AFP) - 04/02/2018 - 16:15

    Migrants in Israel to resettle in Canada, Germany, Italy: Netanyahu

  • Cairo (AFP) - 04/02/2018 - 15:46

    Sisi wins Egypt election with 97 percent of valid votes: official

  • Kunduz (Afghanistan) (AFP) - 04/02/2018 - 15:19

    Civilian casualties in Afghan airstrike on madrassa: witnesses

  • Moscow (AFP) - 04/02/2018 - 15:12

    Trump proposed White House summit last month to Putin: Kremlin

  • Baghdad (AFP) - 04/02/2018 - 14:40

    Iraq condemns 6 Turkish women to death for IS membership: judiciary

  • Washington (AFP) - 04/02/2018 - 14:28

    Trump, Japan's Abe to meet in US April on North Korea: White House

  • Jerusalem (AFP) - 04/02/2018 - 14:00

    Israel cancels controversial plan to deport African migrants

  • Aden (AFP) - 04/02/2018 - 13:28

    Air raid kills 16 near Yemen port of Hodeida: security sources

  • Moscow (AFP) - 04/02/2018 - 13:00

    Lavrov says spy poisoning could be 'in interests' of UK govt

  • Damascus (AFP) - 04/02/2018 - 11:46

    Rebels begin evacuating from last opposition pocket of Syria's Ghouta: state media

  • Kano (Nigeria) (AFP) - 04/02/2018 - 10:00

    18 killed in Boko Haram attack in Nigeria: emergency services

  • Gaza City (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - 04/02/2018 - 09:48

    Gaza toll rises to 17 after Palestinian dies of wounds: ministry

  • San José (AFP) - 04/02/2018 - 04:27

    Ruling party candidate Carlos Alvarado elected Costa Rica's next president

  • Beijing (AFP) - 04/02/2018 - 03:13

    China says space lab breaks up over South Pacific

  • Beijing (AFP) - 04/02/2018 - 02:58

    China says space lab's re-entry imminent, off Sao Paulo

  • San José (AFP) - 04/02/2018 - 02:09

    Polls close in polarizing Costa Rica presidential election

  • Tokyo (AFP) - 04/02/2018 - 02:00

    Japan business confidence slips in March survey: BoJ

  • Beijing (AFP) - 04/02/2018 - 01:22

    China slaps retaliatory tariffs on 128 US imports

  • Guatemala City (AFP) - 04/01/2018 - 19:35

    Former Guatemala dictator Rios Montt, accused of genocide, has died: family

  • Madrid (AFP) - 04/01/2018 - 19:35

    Four migrants found dead off Spain, others missing: rescuers

  • Coatzacoalcos (Mexico) (AFP) - 04/01/2018 - 17:39

    Seven police killed in Mexico prison riot: officials

  • Seoul (AFP) - 04/01/2018 - 15:28

    N. Korean leader Kim attends S. Korean concert in Pyongyang: Yonhap

  • Ankara (AFP) - 04/01/2018 - 14:53

    Erdogan calls Netanyahu 'terrorist' over Gaza deaths

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    Voting starts in divisive Costa Rica presidential election

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    Pope encourages 'fruits of dialogue' on Korean Peninsula

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    Pope urges Middle East 'reconcilation' in Easter message

  • Vatican City (AFP) - 04/01/2018 - 12:19

    Pope calls for end to 'carnage' in Syria in Easter message

  • Beirut (AFP) - 04/01/2018 - 11:18

    'Final' evacuation deal reached for Ghouta's Douma: monitor

  • Moscow (AFP) - 04/01/2018 - 10:01

    Plane carrying Russian diplomats expelled from US lands in Moscow

  • Beirut (AFP) - 04/01/2018 - 09:10

    Deal to evacuate hundreds of civilians from Syria's Douma: monitor

  • Moscow (AFP) - 04/01/2018 - 07:55

    Russian governor resigns over huge mall fire: statement

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    Malian jihadist handed over to ICC on war crimes charges

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    Netanyahu praises Israeli troops after Gaza border clashes

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    Syria's army vows to finish off last Ghouta rebels

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    Penultimate pocket of Syria's Ghouta 'empty' of rebels: state media

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    Russia says Britain must recall more than 50 diplomats

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Woods one-over in return as Spieth surges to Masters lead

GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP / Andrew Redington Tiger Woods plays his third shot from a bunker on the second hole during the first round of the 2018 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club

Tiger Woods felt the love, but it was Jordan Spieth who heard the roars as he surged to a two-stroke lead in the Masters Thursday with a scintillating six-under par 66.

Woods was back at Augusta National for the first time in three years, finally ready to challenge for a fifth green jacket after spinal fusion surgery last year.

From the practice range to the 18th green, the Augusta fans made him more than welcome, although his one-over par 73 gave them few real opportunities to cheer.

"It has been awesome this entire comeback," Woods said. "I got a standing ovation on the range. Coming up to the first tee, the people come out of the clubhouse and the putting green, they're really into it."

The 14-time major winner grabbed his first birdie with a delicate downhill putt at the third.

He followed, however, with back-to-back bogeys.

There was more trouble lurking around Amen Corner, where Woods was right off the tee at 11 and his shot from the trees hit a fan and dropped into the rough.

"It was a great shot there," said Woods, who ended up with a bogey. "Unfortunately people ran out and it clipped them. Otherwise it's just short right of the green, an easy up and down from there, where I was trying to leave it."

GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP / Patrick Smith Jordan Spieth of the United States lines up a putt on the 13th hole during the first round of the 2018 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club

A dip in Rae's Creek at 12 cost him a shot, although he limited the damage with an impressive 18-foot bogey putt.

He pulled strokes back at 14 and 16 and produced two crisp tee shots at 17 and 18 as he capped his round with a pair of solid pars.

"Seventy-three is fine," Woods said. "I could have easily let it slip away. And I fought hard to get it back and I'm back in this championship."

That bullish assessment came before Spieth caught fire, stringing together five birdies on the back nine as he seized a two-stroke lead over fellow Americans Matt Kuchar and Tony Finau.

The 24-year-old Texan, who has struggled to find consistency on the greens this season, was even through seven after two birdies and two bogeys.

He rolled in a 14-foot eagle at the eighth, and two-putted from 40-feet for a birdie at 13.

He rolled in a nine-footer at 14, and his pitch at 15 left him a four-footer. He made birdie putts of five and seven feet at 16 and 16 before a terrific bogey save at 18 trimmed his lead.

In the trees off the 18th tee, he could only punch out to the fairway, but his fourth shot left him a tap-in.

"I was fortunate to only make five there," said Spieth, whose wire-to-wire victory in 2015 was sandwiched between runner-up finishes in 2014 and 2016.

"I'm not going to get ahead of myself," he added. "It's just about riding momentum."

- Excruciating ankle pain -

Finau didn't even know if he'd make it to the first tee after suffering a "pretty excruciating" ankle injury celebrating a hole-in-one in the par-three contest on Wednesday.

AFP / Gal ROMA The course for the 2018 Masters Golf tournament

He said there was "no way on Earth" he would have foreseen sharing second place.

But once doctors told him he could do no further damage, he was determined to play and was rewarded with a debut Masters round that included six birdies and two bogeys.

Kuchar, two-over through seven holes, had five birdies on the back nine to join him on 68.

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, who can complete a career Grand Slam with a first Masters victory, headed a group of seven players on three-under 69.

He was joined by Masters newcomer Li Haotong of China, former British Open champion Henrik Stenson of Sweden, Spain's Rafael Cabrera Bello, Canadian Adam Hadwin and Americans Patrick Reed and Charley Hoffman.

Getty/AFP / Andrew Redington Phil Mickelson of the United States plays a shot from a bunker on the second hole during the first round of the 2018 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 5, 2018 in Augusta, Georgia

Li, the first Chinese man to crack the top 50 in the world rankings, moved to four-under with an impressive run of three birdies over Augusta's Amen Corner trio of holes -- 11, 12 and 13 -- but dropped a shot at 18.

- Garcia nightmare -

Spain's Sergio Garcia endured a nightmare start in his bid to join Woods, Nick Faldo and Jack Nicklaus as the only players to successfully defend the Masters crown.

Garcia matched the most strokes needed on any hole in Masters history with his 13 at the par-five 15th -- where he hit five consecutive balls in the water.

Garcia signed for a nine-over par 81, tied for next to last place with amateur Matt Parziale.

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