Battle lines drawn over EU's next big budget
EU leaders had their swords already drawn when they plunged into intense discussions Friday over the 27-country bloc's next seven-year budget, with the usual frugal nations pushing to contain spending.
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Renewed hopes of Iran peace talks keep oil under $100 per barrel
Oil prices fell on Friday after it appeared a second round of Middle East talks was back on, bolstering prospects for an end to a war that has crippled energy shipments from the Gulf.
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Lebanon truce extended as Pakistan bids to revive US-Iran talks
Israel and Lebanon extended their shaky ceasefire by three weeks on Friday, as Iran's foreign minister prepared for meetings with officials in Pakistan, which has been mediating efforts to end the wider Middle East war.
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Assisted dying bill scuppered as UK advocates vow to fight on
A bill to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales failed in parliament on Friday after getting bogged down in Britain's unelected upper house, as campaigners vowed to fight on.
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Alex Marquez quickest in Spanish MotoGP practice
Alex Marquez was fastest in Spanish MotoGP practice on Friday in Jerez on his Gresini with a sizeable 0.333s advantage over second-quickest Fabio Di Giannantonio.
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Former New Zealand cricketer Bracewell given two-year ban for cocaine use
Former New Zealand and Essex all-rounder Doug Bracewell has been given a two-year suspension after testing positive for cocaine during an English County Championship match last year.
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Justice Dept ends criminal probe into US Fed chair Powell
The US Justice Department dropped a criminal probe against Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Friday, clearing the way for his replacement's Senate confirmation, amid concerns over President Donald Trump's attacks on the independent central bank.
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Merz says no 'immediate' Ukraine EU membership, floats Kyiv joining meetings
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Friday there was no prospect of Ukraine's "immediate accession" to the EU, but suggested Kyiv could join meetings of the bloc's members without voting rights.
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G7 says nature talks a success as climate sidelined for US
Environment ministers from G7 nations said progress was made at a two-day meeting in Paris despite climate change left off the agenda to avoid friction with the United States.
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'Hands off': Teddy bear tale teaches French preschoolers consent
Preschoolers watch attentively as French actor Lucie Langlais Vignon, 41, holds up stuffed toys to tell the story of the bear cub who scolds the duckling for reaching up her skirt.
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