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  • Moscow (AFP) - 04/09/2018 - 09:29

    Russian army blames Syria airbase strikes on Israel: agencies

  • Damascus (AFP) - 04/09/2018 - 09:29

    Syria accuses Israel of striking military airport: state media

  • Paris (AFP) - 04/09/2018 - 09:24

    French rail strike has cost around '100 million euros': CEO

  • Tehran (AFP) - 04/09/2018 - 09:13

    Iran's Rouhani says US 'will regret it' if it violates nuke deal

  • Moscow (AFP) - 04/09/2018 - 09:12

    Aluminium giant Rusal share price halved under US sanctions

  • Paris (AFP) - 04/09/2018 - 08:15

    France did not bomb Syrian air base: French army

  • Beirut (AFP) - 04/09/2018 - 07:32

    Strike on Syria air base kills 14, including Iranian forces: monitor

  • 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

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

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

    Palestinian shot dead by Israeli forces on Gaza border: ministry

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Saudi crown prince kicks off official visit to Paris

Saudi Royal Palace/AFP / BANDAR AL-JALOUD Prince Mohammed bin Salman, widely known as MBS, is on his first trip to France as the heir to the Saudi throne

Saudi Arabia's crown prince kicks off his official visit to France Monday, part of an image-building global tour as he seeks to revitalise cultural and investment ties with Paris despite lurking tensions.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, widely known as MBS, dined with President Emmanuel Macron at Paris's historic Louvre museum after flying in Sunday on his first trip to France as the heir to the Saudi throne.

Macron faces a diplomatic tightrope in talks with the reformist prince as he seeks to bolster ties with the world's top crude exporter, while also managing relations with the kingdom's arch-rival Iran.

A scheduled visit to the Paris-based start-up campus Station F along with French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe was abruptly cancelled, but the two leaders are set to meet for lunch on Monday.

The 32-year-old prince, who spearheads the kingdom's armed forces, is also set to meet French Defence Minister Florence Parly.

Campaigners are expected to mobilise to denounce French weapon exports to Saudi Arabia despite the kingdom's role in the long-running war in Yemen, dubbed the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

Three out of four French people believe it is "unacceptable" to sell weapons to Saudi Arabia, according to a poll last month by independent research group YouGov.

The visit comes after a tumultuous period at home that saw a major military shake-up and a royal purge as the crown prince consolidates power to a degree well beyond that wielded by previous rulers.

- Underlying tensions -

The prince's trip to France following a weeks-long tour of the United States, Britain and Egypt where he courted a host of business titans and several multimillion dollar deals.

Around 18 memorandums of understanding in energy, agriculture, tourism and culture are set to be signed at an official Saudi-France CEO Forum on Tuesday, a source close to the crown prince's delegation told AFP.

A Franco-Saudi cooperation deal to develop Al Ula, a Saudi city richly endowed with archeological remnants, is also expected to be a central highlight of the visit.

The prince has used his global tour to project his reforms -- including the historic lifting of a ban on women driving, cinemas and mixed-gender concerts -- as part of his pledge to return the kingdom to moderate Islam.

Backed by high-power lobbying and public relations firms, the prince is seeking to rebrand Saudi Arabia as a modernist oasis instead of an austere kingdom known for exporting jihadist ideology and subjugating women.

Saudi officials project strong relations between Prince Mohammed and Macron, both young leaders undertaking challenging reforms to transform their countries.

But the trip follows a period of underlying tensions.

Macron waded into a regional crisis last November when Lebanon's Prime Minister Saad Hariri tendered his resignation on live television from Riyadh, apparently under pressure from the crown prince.

Macron invited Hariri to Paris for talks and he has since rescinded his resignation, a development that analysts say exposed the limits of the prince's authority.

As US President Donald Trump threatens to tear up the 2015 nuclear cooperation deal with Iran, Macron also faces the challenge of convincing the prince that some agreement to curb Tehran's atomic ambitions is better than no deal at all, experts say.

The crown prince, however, has emphasised closer ties with Washington just as Macron has sought to improve relations with Iran.

burs-ac/klm

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