AFP World News

Visa, Mastercard ask court to rule 'swipe' fees legal
US credit card giants Visa and Mastercard sued retailers that rejected a multibillion-dollar settlement over transaction fees and asked the court to rule the fee practices weren't illegal.

Three fresh arrests over London soldier murder
Three men were arrested Saturday on suspicion of conspiracy to murder the British soldier who was hacked to death in a London street by two Islamists.

Last-gasp Robben gives Bayern fifth Euro crown
Arjen Robben scored a heart-stopping 89th-minute winner to earn Bayern Munich a dramatic 2-1 win over German rivals Borussia Dortmund on Saturday after a thrilling Champions League final at London's Wembley Stadium.

Robben's winner gives Bayern Champions League
Bayern Munich won Saturday's Champions League final with a 2-1 victory at Wembley against Borussia Dortmund as Holland's Arjen Robben scored the 89th-minute winner.

0-0 at half-time in Champions League final
Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich were drawing 0-0 at half-time of the first ever all-German Champions League final at Wembley Stadium in London on Saturday.

Thousands rally in Portugal against pro-austerity government
Thousands of Portuguese rallied in Lisbon on Saturday, calling for the resignation of the government whose austerity policies they claimed have exacerbated the country's recession.

No surprises in Dortmund, Bayern teams
Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich both named their expected line-ups for Saturday's first ever all-German Champions League final at Wembley Stadium.

Brazil cancels $900 million in African debt: presidency
 Brazil said Saturday it plans to cancel $900 million (700 million euro) worth of debt in 12 African countries, as part of a broader strategy to boost ties with the continent.

Brazil cancels $900 million in African debt
Brazil said on Saturday it plans to cancel $900 million (700 million euro) worth of debt in 12 African countries, as part of a broader strategy to boost ties with the continent.

China premier criticises EU for telecom probe
China's Premier Li Keqiang has slammed the European Union for plans to probe the country's telecom products and impose taxes on its solar panels, Chinese state media reported on Saturday.

Veterans cap Cannes race amid buzz for lesbian tale
Cinema heavyweights Roman Polanski and Jim Jarmusch wrapped up the Cannes Film Festival race Saturday, as speculation raged whether a shockingly explicit lesbian love story could capture a prize.

London turns German for Champions League final
An estimated 180,000 German football fans swarmed into London on Saturday as anticipation grew ahead of the first ever all-Bundesliga Champions League final between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.

Rosberg on pole for Monaco GP
Nico Rosberg claimed pole position for Sunday's 71st Monaco Grand Prix with a brilliantly-judged drive in capricious conditions as he and Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton locked out the front row of the grid.

Rosberg on pole for Monaco Grand Prix
Germany's Nico Rosberg of Mercedes will start on pole position in Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix after posting the fastest time in Saturday's qualifying session.

Rosberg fastest in crash-hit F1 Monaco practice
Nico Rosberg topped the times for Mercedes in Saturday morning's third and final crash-hit free practice session ahead of Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix.

Twice widowed suicide bomber kills one in Russia's Dagestan
A suicide bomber identified as the widow of two Islamists blew herself up in Russia's Dagestan on Saturday, killing one person and wounding over a dozen in the second attack to hit the volatile northern Caucasus region this week, officials said.

Female suicide bomber wounds 18 in Russia's Dagestan
A female suicide bomber blew herself up in front of policemen in Russia's Dagestan on Saturday, injuring 18 people in the second bombing attack to hit the restive region this week, officials said.

Female suicide bomber wounds 12 in Russia's Dagestan
Twelve people were hospitalised and two of them were in a critical condition after a female suicide bomber blew herself up in Russia's restive Dagestan region Saturday, in the second bombing attack this week, a police spokeswoman said.

'Female' suicide bomber wounds 11 in Russia's Dagestan
Eleven people were wounded in an apparent suicide bombing in Russia's restive Dagestan region Saturday, a spokeswoman for the regional interior ministry said.

Thousands attend mass for Italy's first mafia martyr
Tens of thousands of Catholic faithful attended a mass on Saturday putting on the path to sainthood a priest shot dead by the mafia 20 years ago, the first victim of organised crime to be declared a martyr.

Syria rebels fight on as peace talks pressure mounts
Syrian rebels kept up resistance Saturday to a Hezbollah-backed government assault on a strategic central town as pressure grew on a political opposition in disarray to attend a peace conference.

Qusayr battle rages as Syria regime presses assault
Intense clashes rocked the central Syrian town of Qusayr on Saturday, a watchdog reported, as regime forces backed by fighters from Lebanon's Hezbollah pressed an assault they launched almost nearly a week ago.

16 children die in Pakistan school bus fire
Sixteen children and a teacher were killed when their school bus caught fire in central Pakistan on Saturday, police said.

Day after Kabul attacks, 10,000 peace balloons
After a day of explosions and gunfire, residents of Kabul woke up on Saturday morning to be greeted by a public art project in which volunteers handed out 10,000 neon-pink "peace" balloons.

Openly gay Rogers returning to MLS: report
Former US midfielder Robbie Rogers has reportedly agreed terms with the Los Angeles Galaxy on a deal that would make him the first openly gay player competing in Major League Soccer.

Artists seek global audience at Hong Kong's Art Basel
Having taken five Volkswagen Beetles and compressed them into spheres, artist Ichwan Noor was always going to grab attention at the inaugural Hong Kong Art Basel.

Africa celebrates progress and 50 years of 'unity'
African leaders Saturday marked the African Union's 50th birthday against a backdrop of economic growth, despite persistent armed conflicts and the new shadow of the threat of terrorism.

African Union opens 50th anniversary celebrations
African leaders on Saturday opened celebrations for the 50th jubilee of the continental bloc, with Africa's myriad problems set aside for a day to mark the progress that has been made.

Africa to celebrate progress and 50 years of 'unity'
African leaders gathered Saturday ahead of extravagant celebrations for the 50th jubilee of the continental bloc, with Africa's myriad problems set aside for a day to mark the progress that has been made.

Liverpool manager's son found not guilty
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers voiced his family's relief after his footballer son Anton was cleared Friday in a sex case at England's central criminal court.

Toronto mayor denies smoking crack
Toronto's embattled Mayor Rob Ford denied that he uses crack cocaine, despite allegations he was seen on a video smoking the drug.

Bayern, Dortmund relax before Champions final
Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund fought traffic and driving rain as they got their first taste of Wembley, 24 hours before they were due to lock horns in the Champions League final.

British zoo worker mauled to death by tiger
A British zoo worker mauled in a tiger attack has died of her injuries, police said Saturday.