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Salah admired from afar in his Egypt home village as club tensions swirl
In the Nile Delta village of Nagrig, residents love local son Mohamed Salah from a distance, with ructions between the Egyptian super striker and long-time English club Liverpool doing little to dim his lustre at home.
Economy
World stocks retrench, consolidating Fed-fuelled gains
Stock markets on both sides of the Atlantic pulled back Friday as pre-weekend profit-taking pared some, but not all, of the gains seen after the Federal Reserve bank delivered a much-anticipated rate easing this week.
Politics
Brazil left calls protests over bid to cut Bolsonaro jail time
Brazilian leftists, including iconic singer Caetano Veloso, called for nationwide protests this Sunday against efforts by Congress to reduce the jail term of former president Jair Bolsonaro, who was convicted over a botched coup plot.
Politics
Trump attack on Europe migration 'disaster' masks toughening policies
For US President Donald Trump, speaking after the release of an American security strategy that warned Europe was on the verge of "civilisational erasure", the continent's immigration policy is a "disaster" that will result in many European countries no longer being "viable".
Politics
US plan sees Ukraine joining EU in 2027, official tells AFP
Ukraine could join the European Union as early as January 2027 under the latest US plan to end the war with Russia, a senior source familiar with the matter told AFP on Friday.
Politics
'Chilling effect': Israel reforms raise press freedom fears
A raft of proposed measures from Israel's ruling coalition targeting the media has sparked outrage, with critics warning the planned reforms would deliver a blow to press freedom.
Economy
Iran frees child bride sentenced to death over husband's killing: activists
Iranian authorities have freed a woman who was condemned to hanging over the killing of her husband who she married while a child, in a case that sparked international concern over the plight of women sentenced to death in the Islamic republic, rights activists said on Friday.
Sports
No doubting Man City boss Guardiola's passion says Toure
Pep Guardiola is as passionate and enthused as he's ever been as he looks to regain the Premier League title, according to his Manchester City deputy Kolo Toure.
Sports
Youthful La Rochelle name teen captain for Champions Cup match in South Africa
Two-time winners La Rochelle will go into their Champions Cup match against South African franchise Stormers on Saturday with a host of youngsters including 19-year-old Lucas Andjisseramatchi who will captain them at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
Economy
World stocks consolidate Fed-fuelled gains
Global stocks on Friday held on to gains seen after the Federal Reserve bank delivered a much-anticipated rate easing this week, but investors shied away from big bets on the future direction of US interest rates.
Culture
British 'Aga saga' author Joanna Trollope dies aged 82
Bestselling author Joanna Trollope -- renowned for her so-called "Aga sagas" set in rural England -- has died at the age of 82, her family said on Friday.
Sports
Man Utd sweat on Africa Cup of Nations trio
Ruben Amorim says Manchester United are still unsure about whether Bryan Mbeumo, Noussair Mazraoui and Amad Diallo can face Bournemouth on Monday before they depart for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Politics
EU agrees three-euro small parcel tax to tackle China flood
EU finance ministers agreed Friday to impose a three-euro duty on low-value imports into the bloc from July 2026 to help tackle a flood of small parcels ordered via the likes of Shein and Temu.
Culture
Taylor Swift breaks down in Eras documentary over Southport attack
US pop star Taylor Swift breaks down in tears in her documentary released Friday as she recalls the murder of three girls in a stabbing spree in northern England at a dance class themed around her music.
Sports
Maresca 'relaxed' about Chelsea's rough patch
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said he was "completely relaxed" about his side's dip in form as he seeks greater consistency ahead of Saturday's home match against Everton.
Economy
France updates net-zero plan, with fossil fuel phaseout
France released on Friday a revamped roadmap to become carbon neutral by 2050, with an ambitious plan to phase out oil and gas.
Nature
Nowhere to pray as logs choke flood-hit Indonesian mosque
Almost two weeks on from devastating floods, Muslim worshippers in Indonesia's Sumatra who gathered at their local mosque on Friday for prayers were blocked from entering by a huge pile of thousands of uprooted trees.
Culture
In Pakistan, 'Eternal Love' has no place on YouTube
YouTube has hit pause on a dating show that whisked eight men and women from deeply conservative Pakistan to a sun-soaked Istanbul villa, where the strangers mingled, flirted and searched for chemistry.
Sports
England bowling great Anderson named as Lancashire captain
England Test great James Anderson has been named as Lancashire's captain for next season's County Championship at the age of 43.
Health
UK's King Charles to give personal TV message about cancer 'journey'
Britain's King Charles III, who has broken royal taboos to talk openly about battling cancer, will Friday appear in a "personal message" filmed for a TV campaign raising funds for research into the devastating disease.
Sports
Fit-again Jesus can be Arsenal's number one striker, says Arteta
Mikel Arteta said Friday that Gabriel Jesus has the qualities to be Arsenal's first-choice striker following the return of the Brazil international after 11 months on the sidelines.
Boulevard
Spain's ruling Socialists face sex scandal fallout among women voters
Spain's ruling Socialist party is facing sexual misconduct and prostitution allegations that threaten its reputation as a champion of gender equality, putting its crucial base of women voters at risk.
Nature
EU 2035 combustion-engine ban review: what's at stake
The European Commission is expected to announce on Tuesday measures relaxing a 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel car sales.
Economy
Stocks rally in wake of Fed rate cut
European and Asian stock markets rose Friday as investors tracked a record session on Wall Street in the wake of the Federal Reserve's latest interest rate cut.
Sports
Mohammed Ben Sulayem re-elected unopposed in contentious FIA election
Mohammed Ben Sulayem was re-elected as president of motorsport's governing body the International Automobile Federation (FIA) on Friday in an election in which he faced no challengers.
Sports
Vonn claims sensational first ski World Cup win since 2018
Lindsey Vonn cemented her remarkable comeback with her first World Cup since 2018 in the women's downhill at St Moritz on Friday.
Nature
French forces use tear gas to clear protesters protecting condemned cows
Veterinarians arrived at a French farm Friday under police escort to slaughter a herd of cows suffering from a potentially deadly disease, an AFP reporter said, after police used tear gas to clear away angry protesters trying to protect the animals.
Economy
EU agrees recycled plastic targets for cars
Car manufacturers in Europe will have to include more recycled plastics in new vehicles under new EU rules agreed on by the bloc's countries and lawmakers on Friday.
Health
UK health service hit by 'super flu' outbreak
The UK is facing an "unprecedented wave of super flu", a health chief warned Friday as the health minister urged doctors to call off a threatened five-day strike ahead of Christmas.
Politics
Oscar-nominated #MeToo film finally screened in Japan
A Japanese #MeToo campaigner's documentary premiered in her homeland on Friday after months of delays, with one audience member telling AFP she hoped it triggered a change in society.
Sports
Off-field drama overshadowing Toulouse's Champions Cup tilt
Antoine Dupont's record six-time Champions Cup winners Toulouse head to Glasgow on Saturday with off-field issues dominating their preparation for the trip to Scotland.
Politics
Russian central bank says suing Euroclear over frozen assets
Russia's central bank on Friday said it was suing the Belgium-based Euroclear financial group, which holds Moscow's frozen international reserves, as the EU moves closer to using the funds to support Ukraine.