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  • Washington (AFP) - 04/09/2018 - 04:46

    US 'not conducting air strikes in Syria': Pentagon

  • Damascus (AFP) - 04/09/2018 - 04:15

    Several dead, wounded in strike on Syria air base: state media

  • Washington (AFP) - 04/09/2018 - 03:52

    Trump, Macron vow 'strong, joint response' to Syria

  • Damascus (AFP) - 04/09/2018 - 03:47

    Syria state media says strikes hit army airport

  • Paris (AFP) - 04/09/2018 - 01:56

    Macron condemns Syria 'chemical attacks': Elysee

  • Budapest (AFP) - 04/09/2018 - 00:16

    Hungary PM Orban hails 'historic victory' in election

  • Berlin (AFP) - 04/08/2018 - 23:50

    Deutsche Bank replaces CEO John Cryan with German Christian Sewing

  • Budapest (AFP) - 04/08/2018 - 23:01

    Orban's party leading in Hungary's vote: partial results

  • Damascus (AFP) - 04/08/2018 - 23:01

    Syria rebels begin leaving last Ghouta town under deal: state media

  • United Nations (United States) (AFP) - 04/08/2018 - 19:29

    Paris seeks urgent UN Security Council meet on Syria

  • Paris (AFP) - 04/08/2018 - 18:23

    France will 'do its duty' over alleged Syria chemical attack: minister

  • Damascus (AFP) - 04/08/2018 - 18:02

    Syria says toxic gas accusations 'unconvincing broken record'

  • Tehran (AFP) - 04/08/2018 - 17:20

    Iran condemns Syria chemical charges as 'conspiracy'

  • Washington (AFP) - 04/08/2018 - 15:20

    'Big price to pay,' after 'mindless' Syria attack: Trump

  • Ankara (AFP) - 04/08/2018 - 14:59

    Turkey says 'strong suspicion' Syrian regime behind Douma chemical attack

  • Damascus (AFP) - 04/08/2018 - 14:38

    Syria regime reaches deal for rebels to quit Douma: SANA

  • Washington (AFP) - 04/08/2018 - 14:27

    Trump sees China trade deal

  • Vatican City (AFP) - 04/08/2018 - 13:02

    Pope Francis condemns the use of chemical weapons in Syria

  • Moscow (AFP) - 04/08/2018 - 10:16

    Moscow denies claims Syrian regime used chemical weapons in Douma: agencies

  • Beirut (AFP) - 04/08/2018 - 09:28

    New air strikes hit rebel-held areas of Syria's Ghouta: monitor

  • Budapest (AFP) - 04/08/2018 - 06:18

    Polling stations open for key Hungary vote

  • Curitiba (Brazil) (AFP) - 04/08/2018 - 03:38

    Brazil's Lula arrives at Curitiba prison

  • São Bernardo do Campo (Brazil) (AFP) - 04/07/2018 - 23:54

    Brazil's Lula surrenders to police: Globo TV

  • São Bernardo do Campo (Brazil) (AFP) - 04/07/2018 - 22:16

    Supporters prevent Brazil's Lula from surrendering

  • Beirut (AFP) - 04/07/2018 - 22:16

    Air strikes kill 30 civilians in Syria's rebel Douma: monitor

  • Aden (AFP) - 04/07/2018 - 21:27

    Rebels kill dozens of Sudanese troops in Yemen: military sources

  • Berlin (AFP) - 04/07/2018 - 20:43

    'No indication' of Islamist attack in deadly German vehicle incident: state minister

  • Berlin (AFP) - 04/07/2018 - 19:24

    Driver who smashed van into German crowd 'psychologically disturbed': reports

  • Berlin (AFP) - 04/07/2018 - 18:04

    Four dead including driver after vehicle hits crowd in Germany: ministry

  • São Bernardo do Campo (Brazil) (AFP) - 04/07/2018 - 17:49

    Brazil's Lula says to "comply" with arrest

  • São Bernardo do Campo (Brazil) (AFP) - 04/07/2018 - 17:36

    Lula says he is innocent in first speech since arrest order

  • Berlin (AFP) - 04/07/2018 - 17:22

    Driver of vehicle that drove into German crowd has killed himself: police

  • Berlin (AFP) - 04/07/2018 - 16:56

    Several dead as car drives into crowd in Germany's Munster: media 

  • Jodhpur (India) (AFP) - 04/07/2018 - 11:46

    Indian court grants bail to Bollywood star Salman Khan

  • Beirut (AFP) - 04/07/2018 - 11:22

    New strikes on Syria's rebel Douma kill 8 civilians: monitor

  • Gaza City (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - 04/07/2018 - 07:32

    Palestinian journalist shot by Israeli troops dies from wounds: ministry

  • Moscow (AFP) - 04/06/2018 - 22:26

    Russia promises 'tough response' to US sanctions

  • São Bernardo do Campo (Brazil) (AFP) - 04/06/2018 - 22:05

    Deadline for Brazil's Lula to surrender for prison expires

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

    Dow ends bruising session 2.4% lower on trade war fears

  • Bamako (AFP) - 04/06/2018 - 21:54

    14 'terrorism' suspects killed in Mali escape attempt: army

  • Brasília (AFP) - 04/06/2018 - 21:29

    Brazilian court turns down Lula's new appeal against arrest

  • New York (AFP) - 04/06/2018 - 21:07

    US stocks fall further on trade worries; Dow -3.0%

  • Washington (AFP) - 04/06/2018 - 20:50

    Facebook to require verified identities for political ads

  • Washington (AFP) - 04/06/2018 - 20:28

    White House warns China tariffs not a negotiating ploy

  • Moscow (AFP) - 04/06/2018 - 20:27

    New US sanctions 'aimed at the Russian people': Russian embassy

  • New York (AFP) - 04/06/2018 - 19:58

    US stocks' losses deepen on trade war fears; Dow -2.0%

  • London (AFP) - 04/06/2018 - 18:13

    Britain refuses visa for Russian ex-spy's niece: official

  • Beirut (AFP) - 04/06/2018 - 17:50

    27 civilians dead in air strikes on Syria's Douma: monitor

  • Gaza City (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - 04/06/2018 - 17:07

    16-year-old Palestinian killed by Israeli forces in Gaza clashes: ministry

  • Paris (AFP) - 04/06/2018 - 16:50

    $11 bn pledged at Lebanon donor conference: Macron

  • Washington (AFP) - 04/06/2018 - 16:49

    Trump says WTO is unfair to US

  • Beirut (AFP) - 04/06/2018 - 15:46

    Two civilians dead in air raids on Syria's rebel Douma: monitor

  • New York (AFP) - 04/06/2018 - 15:39

    US stocks open lower on US-China trade spat, Dow -0.9%

  • Beirut (AFP) - 04/06/2018 - 15:31

    Air strikes hit Syria's rebel-held Douma, first in 10 days: monitor

  • London (AFP) - 04/06/2018 - 14:58

    Ex-spy Skripal 'improving rapidly' after poisoning: hospital

  • Khan Yunis (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - 04/06/2018 - 14:43

    Palestinian killed by Israeli forces in Gaza clashes: ministry

  • Kano (Nigeria) (AFP) - 04/06/2018 - 14:42

    15 killed in Nigeria bank robbery, attack on police station

  • Washington (AFP) - 04/06/2018 - 14:37

    US imposes sanctions on Putin's oligarch allies

  • Washington (AFP) - 04/06/2018 - 14:36

    US job creation tumbles in March; unemployment steady at 4.1%

  • Washington (AFP) - 04/06/2018 - 14:35

    Trump won't attend White House correspondents' dinner

  • Neumünster (Germany) (AFP) - 04/06/2018 - 14:12

    Puigdemont urges Madrid to 'start dialogue' in Catalonia row

  • Neumünster (Germany) (AFP) - 04/06/2018 - 14:00

    Catalonia's Puigdemont leaves German jail on bail

  • Paris (AFP) - 04/06/2018 - 13:31

    S.Arabia renews $1bn line of credit for Beirut: Lebanese govt

  • Brussels (AFP) - 04/06/2018 - 13:18

    China, EU 'must act together' against US protectionism: Chinese envoy

  • Brussels (AFP) - 04/06/2018 - 12:52

    Up to 2.7 million Europeans affected by Facebook data scandal: EU

  • Durban (South Africa) (AFP) - 04/06/2018 - 11:20

    S.Africa's Zuma says charges against him 'politically motivated'

  • Gaza City (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - 04/06/2018 - 11:19

    Clashes erupt along Gaza-Israel border as protests begin

  • Moscow (AFP) - 04/06/2018 - 10:08

    Russian regulator requests Telegram messaging app be blocked: statement

  • Durban (South Africa) (AFP) - 04/06/2018 - 09:55

    Graft case against S.Africa's Zuma adjourned to June 8

  • Paris (AFP) - 04/06/2018 - 09:29

    France announces loans, aid worth 550 mln euros for Lebanon

  • Durban (South Africa) (AFP) - 04/06/2018 - 09:01

    S.Africa's Zuma arrives at court for graft hearing: AFP

  • Seoul (AFP) - 04/06/2018 - 09:00

    S. Korea ex-president Park jailed for 24 years over corruption scandal bur/amz/sm

  • Seoul (AFP) - 04/06/2018 - 08:30

    S. Korea ex-president Park guilty of abuse of power, bribery: court

  • 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

  • Rome (AFP) - 04/05/2018 - 17:54

    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

  • Ottawa (AFP) - 04/05/2018 - 16:09

    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

  • London (AFP) - 04/05/2018 - 15:13

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

  • Madrid (AFP) - 04/05/2018 - 14:40

    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

  • Istanbul (AFP) - 04/05/2018 - 14:35

    Four staff dead in Turkish university shooting: reports

  • Jerusalem (AFP) - 04/05/2018 - 12:07

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

  • Paris (AFP) - 04/05/2018 - 12:07

    French, Malian troops kill 30 jihadists: French military

  • Freetown (AFP) - 04/05/2018 - 11:46

    Challenger Bio wins S. Leone presidential vote: election watchdog

  • Paris (AFP) - 04/05/2018 - 10:54

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

  • Jodhpur (India) (AFP) - 04/05/2018 - 10:53

    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

  • Washington (AFP) - 04/04/2018 - 17:32

    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

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

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  • 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

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

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    German prosecutor requests Puigdemont extradition to Spain

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Brazil's Lula spends first day in prison, hoping to get out

AFP/File / NELSON ALMEIDA Brazil's ex-president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's new home measures roughly 15 square meters (160 square feet) and has its own private toilet and hot shower -- and even a television -- a luxury in Brazil's often violent, overcrowded prisons

Brazil's leftist icon Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva served the first day of a 12-year prison sentence for corruption Sunday, but was already hoping for a way out through the courts this week, threatening to extend the drama ahead of presidential elections.

The 72-year-old, who served two terms as head of state between 2003 and 2010, entered prison in the southern city of Curitiba late on Saturday, becoming Brazil's first ex-president to be jailed on a criminal conviction.

His cell is located in the same federal police building that serves as the base of operations for "Car Wash," the expansive anti-graft investigation that brought him down.

Since World War II, Brazil's presidents have often ended up in trouble -- impeached, felled by a coup and even suicide -- but Lula is the first to have been convicted and put behind bars.

He was found guilty last year of accepting a luxury apartment as a bribe from a construction company and is the biggest scalp so far in the "Car Wash" probe.

He insists on his innocence and says he was framed to stop him running in October presidential elections in which polls show him as frontrunner.

But there could be surprises ahead, with a potentially explosive legal development coming as early as Wednesday, when local media say the Supreme Court could revisit the current law on incarceration during appeals.

As things stand, anyone convicted and losing a first appeal, as in Lula's case, must conduct further appeals from prison.

But there is pressure to change that provision so that higher court appeals could be pursued while free -- which could provide a reprieve for Lula.

- 'Everything is possible' -

AFP / Heuler Andrey Lula arrives late Saturday at police headquarters in the southern city of Curitiba, where he is due to serve out his 12-year sentence

Analysts are quick to point out that, given the country's history of rapid and unexpected changes, anything could happen.

"In Brazil, everything is possible, so he could spend a week in prison and then a judge from the Supreme Court could send him to house arrest, for example," Oliver Stuenkel of the Getulio Vargas Foundation told AFP.

"For a long time, we have been living with the unprecedented, so it is very difficult to predict what is going to happen."

With just six months until Brazil's presidential election, and Lula still the frontrunner, the stakes are high.

"From prison, he will continue exerting his influence and he could also exploit the symbolism of his victimization," said Andre Cesar, an analyst at the Hold political consultancy.

Being locked up almost certainly means Lula will be out of the presidential election, throwing the race wide open. In polls, he currently scores more than double his nearest rivals.

- 'A political prisoner' -

Lula's imprisonment triggered a barrage of protest from leftist Cuba and Venezuela, both of which denounced it as a political plot to sideline him from the presidential race, with Caracas saying he was the "victim of a judicial inquisition."

Havana took a similar line, saying Lula had suffered "unjust persecution" at the hands of the political system, the judiciary and the media.

And in Mexico City, a small group of mostly Brazilian supporters held a protest, waving banners reading: "Free Lula!" and "Moro, your justice is fraudulent!" in reference to the judge who ordered his arrest and who has been in the driving seat of the Car Wash graft probe.

Meanwhile in Curitiba, around 150 of Lula's diehard supporters were still gathered near the prison, where Workers' Party president Gleisi Hoffmann pledged that the city would become a center of political action to campaign for his release.

Lula, she said, was "a political prisoner, the first since the reemergence of democracy" in 1985.

"Curitiba will be the center of our political action. We will only leave when Lula leaves. This vigil will be permanent."

Officials from the Unified Workers' Central (CUT), Brazil's largest trade union federation, said they were expecting dozens of convoys to arrive, bringing in supporters from across the country.

- From palace to prison cell -

But others in the city expressed satisfaction over the ex-president's fate, coming to take pictures in front of the prison, which they dismissively called "Lula's house."

"Let Lula stay there for a long time and all his bunch with him. He deserves it," said businessman Mauro Celli, 49.

Glaucio Zeni, 53, said: "Justice was done in this country."

Lula's new home, a cell measuring roughly 160 square feet (15 square meters), is almost luxurious by the standards of Brazil's often violent, desperately overcrowded prisons.

It has its own private toilet and hot shower -- and even a television, officials said, so he should be able to watch his favorite football team, Corinthians, taking on Palmeiras in Sunday's final of the Sao Paulo championship.

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