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.
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.
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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Sports
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.
April 24, 2026
RECENT NEWS
Russia, Ukraine swap 193 POWs
Politics
April 24, 2026
Chelsea interim boss Calum McFarlane said Friday there was still "a lot of belief" the Blues could turn their season around after a slump that resulted in the dramatic dismissal of Liam Rosenior.
April 24, 2026
RECENT NEWS
Britain's Prince Harry on Friday visited deminers from the HALO Trust charity -- made famous by his mother, Princess Diana -- near the Ukrainian town of Bucha, where he tested how drones and AI-powered robots are transforming mine-clearance work.
April 24, 2026
Brazilian winger Estevao is out for the rest of the English season, with his participation in the World Cup in doubt, Chelsea interim boss Calum McFarlane said on Friday.
April 24, 2026
Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique has no intention of easing up on his players ahead of the World Cup as his Ligue 1 leaders look to defend their Champions League crown.
April 24, 2026
Economy
Budget airline Ryanair said Friday that it would reduce flights to and from Berlin starting in October and relocate aircraft based in the German capital, citing comparatively high costs and taxes.
April 24, 2026
RECENT NEWS
Heating with geothermal energy, lighting with solar panels, cooking with biodegradable waste: how can we live with less oil and gas?
Despite heightened security measures, Jewish residents in northwest London remain on "high alert" after a spate of arson attacks on synagogues and community sites in recent weeks.
Claudio Ranieri has left his role as senior advisor to Roma's billionaire American owners, the Serie A club said on Friday, after a public row with coach Gian Piero Gasperini meant only one of the pair could stay.
The El Nino weather phenomenon, which pushed global temperatures to record highs the last time around, is expected to return in mid-2026, the UN said Friday.
April 24, 2026
Economy
German carmaker Porsche announced on Friday the sale of its stakes in sports car manufacturer Bugatti Rimac to a consortium led by a US fund founded by the Egyptian billionaire Sawiris family.
April 24, 2026
RECENT NEWS
Oil prices extended gains Friday and stock markets largely declined as investors worried about a lack of progress in ending the Middle East crisis, with Tehran keeping the Strait of Hormuz closed and the US maintaining a blockade of Iranian ports.
A contentious bill to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales was set to fail Friday after running out of parliamentary time, having been stuck in the UK's unelected upper house.
Thousands squeezed into the world's biggest car show Friday, snapping selfies beside Chinese electric vehicles as automakers showcased AI, humanoid robots and flying-car ambitions in a cut-throat market.
French President Emmanuel Macron denied Friday that a troubled fighter jet programme with Germany was dead, telling reporters Paris and Berlin were still working on that and other defence projects.
April 24, 2026
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