'No camps in France,' vows Hollande, under rightwing pressure
President Francois Hollande, under pressure from the right wing, on Saturday stepped up his pledge to combat illegal migration, vowing to dismantle a squalid settlement near Calais and prevent similar camps from becoming established in France. "There will be no camps in France," said Hollande
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Gabon opposition chief slams election court ruling
Opposition leader Jean Ping on Saturday lashed a decision by Gabon's top court to validate President Ali Bongo's re-election, as police and troops patrolled the deserted streets of Libreville to prevent a new flareup of violence. Ping accused the Constitutional Court of "bias (and) miscarriage
AFP News
Five dead in US mall shooting, gunman on the run
Police searched Saturday for a shooter who killed five people at a shopping mall in the US state of Washington in the latest chapter of America's epidemic of gun violence. The gunman opened fire with a rifle in the makeup section of a Macy's department store, killing four women and a man, police
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China's Li seeks new tack in ties with Cuba
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Saturday said it was time for a new direction in relations with Cuba, during a landmark visit to the Americas' lone communist-ruled state. It marks the first visit by a Chinese premier since the two countries established diplomatic relations 56 years ago. After a welcome
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Syria at UN says confident of military victory
Syria told the United Nations on Saturday that its belief in a military victory was "even greater" because the army was making "great strides" on the ground, with help from Russia, Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem took the podium at the General
AFP News
Elephants divide meeting aimed at saving species
The world's biggest conference on the international wildlife trade got underway Saturday in Johannesburg, but African countries lashed out at Western charities for "dictating" how they should protect their elephants. Over the next 12 days thousands of conservationists and top government
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Obama opens new African American Museum amid national racial strife
President Barack Obama hailed Saturday the opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, a long-awaited institution dedicated to the many threads of black suffering and triumph in the United States. The first black president of the United States cut the ribbon to inaugurate
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Poland anti-government protest draws thousands
Tens of thousands of protesters hit the streets of the Polish capital Warsaw Saturday to rally against moves by the rightwing Law and Justice government that they say undermine the rule of law. Warsaw City Hall officials said up to 30,000 people took part in the demonstration organised by the Committee
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Syria's Aleppo reels from air strikes, UN chief 'appalled'
Residents in Syria's battleground city of Aleppo cowered indoors Saturday as fierce air strikes toppled buildings and killed at least 45 civilians, after diplomatic efforts to revive a ceasefire failed. Nearly two million civilians were left without water in the devastated northern city after regime
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Estonian presidential vote delayed again, until October
Estonia's electoral college failed on Saturday to choose a successor to two-term liberal President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, returning the vote to the stalemated parliament where it flopped in August and could fail again. The head of state plays a largely ceremonial role in the tech-savvy Baltic NATO
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Corbyn re-elected as UK Labour leader after bitter fight
Left-winger Jeremy Corbyn was re-elected British Labour leader on Saturday, seeing off a challenge from MPs but leaving the main opposition party split as critics said it was even further from power than before. In his acceptance speech, Corbyn urged unity, pledging to "wipe the slate clean"
AFP NewsMotorcycling: Aragon Grand Prix grids
Grids for Sunday's Aragon motorcycling Grand Prix after qualifying on Saturday:
AFP News
Iconic natural arch collapses on Moroccan beach
They were among Morocco's best-known natural wonders: two immense rock archways towering over Legzira beach on the Atlantic coast. But on Friday afternoon one of them collapsed.
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Generations of glamour unite to toast Bottega Veneta
Hollywood icon Lauren Hutton joined Gigi Hadid on the catwalk as the world of glamour united across the generations to celebrate 50 years of venerated Italian fashion house Bottega Veneta in Milan on Saturday. In what was the eagerly anticipated highpoint of the latest round of fashion shows, the Venetian
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Egypt court sentences seven to hang for shooting officer in 2013
An Egyptian court on Saturday sentenced seven men to hang for killing a police general in the unrest following the 2013 military overthrow of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi. It was the defendants' second trial, after having won an appeal against an initial sentencing. General Nabil Farag was
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Two killed in clashes with PKK in southeast Turkey: report
The soldier died when fighting erupted in the Lice district of Diyarbakir province between security forces and militants from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), security sources told the official Anadolu news agency. Another soldier was injured while one PKK militant was killed, Dogan
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Britain's Prince William and Kate due in Canada for eight-day trip
Britain's Prince William and his wife Kate were due to arrive in British Columbia Saturday for an eight-day trip during which they will view spectacular nature sites and meet with refugees and indigenous Americans. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie were to receive the royals around
AFP NewsApocalyptic scenes in streets of Syria's ravaged Aleppo
With pools of blood and shredded bodies on the streets, the rebel-held east of Syrian city Aleppo has been reduced to an apocalyptic battlefront under relentless regime and Russian bombardment. In Al-Kalasseh, Mohammed dug desperately with his bare hands to try to locate his uncle under the rubble.
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Pope urges 'sincere dialogue' as he meets Nice attack victims
Pope Francis on Saturday called for a "sincere dialogue" between Christians and Muslims as he met grieving relatives and survivors of France's Bastille Day attack, in which a jihadist ploughed his truck into a crowd. "The Muslim presence here today was indispensable," he said
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Polish doctors hit streets demanding higher wages
Thousands of doctors, nurses and hospital workers marched through central Warsaw Saturday demanding Poland's rightwing government spend more on public health, especially to hike notoriously low salaries. "After six years of studies and a thirteen-month internship, I earn 2,200 zloty (510 euros
AFP News
Colombia set to sign historic peace deal
Colombia will turn the page on a half-century conflict that has stained its modern history with blood when the FARC rebels and the government sign a peace deal on Monday. President Juan Manuel Santos and the leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), Rodrigo Londono -- better known
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Sharp rise in attacks on refugee shelters in Austria
Attacks on centres for asylum seekers in Austria are on course to double this year, according to government figures released on Saturday. Twenty-four were recorded in the first half of 2016, compared with 25 for the whole of 2015, Interior Minister Wolfgang Sobotka said in reply to a parliamentary enquiry
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Pope urges 'dialogue' as he meets Nice attack victims
Pope Francis on Saturday called for a "sincere dialogue" between Christians and Muslims as he met grieving relatives and survivors of France's Bastille Day attack, in which a jihadist ploughed his truck into a crowd.
AFPTV
15,000 march in Helsinki anti-racism protest
Around 15,000 people marched in central Helsinki Saturday to protest against rising racism and violent right-wing extremism, police said, following the recent death of a man allegedly attacked by a neo-Nazi leader. Helsinki police tweeted that around 15,000 people were taking part in the protest, while
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"The bed is the main room": life in Paris's micro flats
In a city where it is notoriously difficult to find a flat -- especially on a low budget and without the right paperwork -- many rooms that once served as domestic helpers' sleeping quarters have been turned into apartments for rent. It is borderline illegal to rent out these micro-apartments, typically
AFPTV
