Chinese leader Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron declared on Wednesday that the Paris climate pact is "irreversible", after the United States formally withdrew from the accord this week.
Major powers expressed regret and concern after President Donald Trump went ahead with the pullout despite mounting evidence of the reality and impact of climate change.
Washington presented its withdrawal letter to the United Nations on Monday, the first possible date under the accord negotiated by Trump's predecessor Barack Obama, making the world's largest economy the sole outlier from the agreement.
In a joint statement released after Xi and Macron held talks in Beijing, the two leaders reaffirmed "their firm support for the Paris accord which they consider as an irreversible process and a compass for strong action on climate".
Without directly naming the US, Macron said he "deplores the choices made by others" as he sat next to Xi following the talks.

Xi, Macron back 'irreversible' Paris climate pact

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LeBron James scored 30 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and passed off 11 assists on Tuesday, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a 118-112 comeback NBA victory at Chicago with his third consecutive triple double.
Anthony Davis produced a season-low 15 points on 6-of-15 shooting with seven rebounds in a return to his hometown, but James surged in the final minutes as the Lakers unleashed a 29-4 fourth-quarter run.
It was only the third time in James's career that he has produced three consecutive triple doubles after 2009 and 2017.
The Lakers improved to an NBA-best 6-1 with a third straight road win, having won six in a row since losing their opener to the Los Angeles Clippers.
"For us to come on a three-game road trip and take care of business means a lot," James said. "For us to come out 3-0, it's a good test for us." The Lakers return home for a Friday game against Miami, which fell to 5-2 with a 109-89 loss at Denver.
"We'll have a good rest and we're going to need it before we play ...

LeBron sparks Lakers in NBA comeback triumph at Chicago

The Israeli army said that the country's Iron Dome anti-missile defence system had intercepted seven rockets fired on Friday evening from the Gaza Strip.
"Seven rockets were fired at Israel from Gaza. The Iron Dome Aerial Defence System intercepted them all," the Israeli military said on Twitter.
The army had earlier said air raid sirens had sounded in southern Israel.
It was the second consecutive evening that the army reported rocket fire from the Palestinian enclave, which is run by the Islamist group Hamas.
Prior to Thursday, there had been no such reported rocket fire from Gaza towards Israel since September 12.
In August, a series of rocket attacks from Gaza and Israeli retaliations, as well as border clashes, raised fears of an escalation between Hamas and Israel, as elections approached in the Jewish state.
Those polls -- Israel's second elections this year -- took place on September 17, but have yet to yield a new government.
Sworn enemies Israel and Hamas have fought three ..

Israeli army says intercepts 7 rockets fired from Gaza

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Friday that the latest round of US sanctions against the Islamic republic show the "maximum failure" of Washington's anti-Iran policy.
Washington extended its sanctions on Iran on Thursday by targeting its construction sector, which the US linked to the country's Revolutionary Guards.
"Subjecting construction workers to #EconomicTerrorism only manifests maximum failure of 'maximum pressure'," Zarif tweeted.
"Rather than dig itself deeper, US should abandon failed policies & return to #JCPOA," Zarif added, referring to the formal title of the 2015 nuclear deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
Iranian tensions with the United States have escalated sharply since US President Donald Trump last year withdrew from the nuclear deal and reimposed unilateral sanctions as part of its "maximum pressure" campaign.
Tehran has hit back three times since May by suspending parts of its compliance with the nuclear deal.
It has threatened ...

Iran's FM says new US sanctions show 'maximum failure'

Fifteen soldiers were killed Friday in a "terrorist attack" on a Mali military post in the northeast of the country, the army said.
The attack on the outpost in Indelimane in the Menaka region left 15 troops dead according to a provisional death toll, the army said on Twitter.
The attack came a month after two jihadist assaults killed 40 soldiers near the border with Burkina Faso, one of the deadliest strikes against Mali's military in recent Islamist militant violence.
Friday's attack resulted in "injuries and material damage" to the camp and reinforcements have been dispatched to the Indelimane area, according to the army.
Some Malian soldiers were also declared missing during the attack, a military source told AFP.
No group immediately claimed responsibility.
Northern Mali came under the control of Al-Qaeda linked jihadists after Mali's army failed to quash a rebellion there in 2012. A French-led military campaign was launched against the jihadists, pushing them back a year ...

Attack on Mali military post kills 15 soldiers in north: army

Some 600 yellow vest protest organisers from across France gathered in Montpellier on Friday for a national assembly to debate the future of their movement.
The gathering in a former museum in the southern French city, which goes on until Sunday, comes ahead of the first anniversary of the protests on November 17.
"We need to do something that stands out" to mark the date, said Fabienne, a delegate from Grenoble who like others attending gave only her first name to reporters.
Jacques, a delegate from Lille, said: "This assembly shows the extent of the yellow vest movement."
Some 200 delegations are expected at the assembly, which will include a series of workshops to discuss issues such as how to respond to heavy-handed police tactics or how to work with other protest movements.
"We started out amid heavy repression... with a sense of urgency to solve problems. Now is the time for longer-term work on a solid base," said Christophe Chapuis, the assembly's designated spokesman.
French ..

French yellow vests hold national assembly

Top Chinese and US trade negotiators have "reached consensus on principles", China's commerce ministry announced in a statement Saturday.
Chinese Vice Premier Liu He spoke by phone with US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Mnuchin on Friday, and "conducted serious and constructive discussions on properly addressing their core concerns and reached consensus on principles," the ministry said.
Additionally, "the two sides discussed the next consultations," the ministry said, without providing further detail.
Uncertainty has swirled over the potential US-China trade deal since the cancellation earlier this week of the APEC summit in Chile, where US President Donald Trump said that he expected a "phase one" trade deal with Beijing to be signed after an 18-month trade impasse between the two economic giants.
But Chile's President Sebastian Pinera announced Wednesday that his country could no longer host the event, due to violent unrest in the city.
China and the .

China, US trade negotiators reach 'consensus on principles'

Teen climate activist Greta Thunberg had made it half-way from Sweden to Chile by boat, train and electric car when next month's UN climate summit was unexpectedly scrapped.
But as a new venue was announced Friday for the gathering called COP25  -- this time in Spain -- the 16-year-old didn't bat an eyelid: she simply asked for a lift back across the Atlantic.
"As #COP25 has officially been moved from Santiago to Madrid I'll need some help," Thunberg tweeted from Los Angeles. "It turns out I've traveled half around the world, the wrong way:)" "Now I need to find a way to cross the Atlantic in November... If anyone could help me find transport I would be so grateful," said the teen, who refuses to fly because of the carbon emissions involved.
Thunberg's highly publicized journey has so far involved crossing on a zero-emission sailboat from the coast of England to New York, traveling overland through North America by train and in an electric car borrowed from Arnold Schwarzenegger.
She .

Greta Thunberg seeks lift back across Atlantic to climate meet

Novak Djokovic produced a magnificent performance to thrash seventh seed Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-1, 6-2 on Friday and set up a Paris Masters semi-final against Grigor Dimitrov.
The 32-year-old, battling Rafael Nadal for the year-end world number one spot, dispatched Greek star Tsitsipas in only 58 minutes.  The 16-time Grand Slam champion went into the match with a 2-1 losing record against
Tsitsipas, but put the youngster in his place with a commanding victory.
"It was a really good match for me today," said Djokovic. "All week and all year here, it's great to play in Paris." Djokovic will be usurped by Nadal at the top of the rankings next week, but can ensure the fight to be the best player at the end of the year reaches the ATP Tour Finals in London by winning a record-extending fifth title at Bercy.
The crushing defeat ended Tsitsipas' run of three consecutive semi-finals and dealt a blow to his confidence ahead of his maiden appearance at the season-ending championships, which ...

Djokovic crushes Tsitsipas to set up Dimitrov semi-final in Paris

Zinedine Zidane said on Friday Gareth Bale has resumed light training but will not be available for Real Madrid's La Liga game at home to Real Betis.
Madrid can register their third consecutive victory by beating struggling Betis on Saturday but Bale remains on the sidelines, as he continues his recovery from a calf problem.
Bale caused a stir this week by taking the day off on Monday to meet his agent in London, prompting reports in Spain he was discussing a move away from the Santiago Bernabeu in January.
But Zidane has insisted Bale had permission to be absent from the club and he is now back in training.
The Welshman was not with the rest of the squad for Friday's early session but did some running alone with a team physio.
"He is here with us, he is training and working hard," said Zidane in a press conference on Friday.
"He is back from his trip and he is getting better. He is not available yet but he is recovering bit by bit.
"It seems we should bring him out here to speak to ..

Bale back in the fold but not fit to face Betis

Spain will host the COP25 climate summit in December, the UN said on Friday, after Chile abandoned plans to hold it due to deadly anti-government protests.
"We are pleased to announce the COP Bureau has agreed that COP25 will take place from 2-13 December in Madrid," United Nations climate chief Patricia Espinosa said on Twitter.
After more than 10 days of street protests, Chilean President Sebastian Pinera said Thursday his country was not in a position to host either the December 2-13 climate convention as well as the November 16-17 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.
"This has been a very difficult decision, a decision that has been deeply painful because we know exactly how important APEC and COP are for Chile and the world," said Pinera.
"When a father has problems, he must always prioritise his family over other options. The same goes for a president, he must always put his own compatriots first, ahead of any other considerations," he added.
He said Spanish Prime ...

Spain to host COP25 climate summit in December

Apple moved into new territory Friday with a streaming television service that features a budding library of original shows starring big-name celebrities, aimed at winning over its gadget lovers at home and on the go.
The Apple TV+ on-demand streaming service launched in more than 100 countries at USD 4.99 per month.
Apple is spending heavily on new content and promises a "powerful and inspiring lineup of original shows, movies and documentaries," in addition to a handful of already familiar titles.
The arrival of Apple TV+ "marks a pivotal new chapter" for the Cupertino, California-based titan, said Wedbush analyst Dan Ives.
"We believe Apple's goal here on this streaming endeavor is to be a major distribution platform for content," Ives said in a note to investors.
Ives said Apple is seeking to attract viewers from a massive worldwide customer base of approximately 1.4 billion active iOS device users.
The brand set the smartphone standard with its iPhone more than a decade ago but ..

Apple TV+ seeks stardom on streaming service stage

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is expected on Sunday to formally launch a long-anticipated stock offering of Saudi Aramco, a person close to the matter said Friday.
The Aramco stock listing, a key component of bin Salman's overall agenda, will offer a small fraction of the petroleum giant.
The company is valued at between USD 1.5 and USD 1.7 trillion, making it the biggest ever.
Aramco is expected to sell a total of five percent on two exchanges, with an initial listing of two per cent on the Tadawul Saudi bourse in December.
That will be followed next year by a three percent listing in an overseas exchange, but that has yet to be picked, the person said.
Prince Mohammed is expected on Sunday to provide specifics on the domestic aspects of the IPO, including a date before the end of the year, the person added.
Aramco was expected to launch the first part of the two-stage IPO in October, but the process has been delayed, reportedly due to the prince's dissatisfaction with the ..

Saudi prince seen formally launching Aramco IPO on Sunday: source

Vietnam police have arrested two people for trafficking in connection with the death of 39 migrants whose bodies were found in a truck in Britain, many of them feared to be Vietnamese.
The move comes after British police arrested four people over the tragedy and are now seeking to question two brothers from Northern Ireland who have links to the road-haulage and shipping business.
The victims were initially identified by British police as Chinese, but many are now believed to be Vietnamese after families in central Vietnam said their loved ones were missing and had not been heard from.
Vietnam said Friday two people were arrested for alleged involvement in the case, which has exposed the dangers of illegal people-smuggling from Vietnam to Europe.
Many of the suspected victims came from Ha Tinh province where police arrested two in connection with "the case of 39 dead bodies found in a container truck in the UK", according to a Friday statement on the website of the Ha Tinh police in ..

Vietnam arrests two in UK truck death investigation

Google agreed Friday to buy Fitbit for USD 2.1 billion in a deal giving the US tech giant a fresh entry in the wearable technology space and helping it ramp up its challenge to Apple.
The move comes with the internet search leader seeking to expand further into hardware, and with Fitbit struggling against rivals including Apple.
"We have built a trusted brand that supports more than 28 million active users around the globe who rely on our products to live a healthier, more active life," Fitbit co-founder and chief executive James Park said in a statement by the two firms announcing the deal.
"Google is an ideal partner to advance our mission." Rick Osterloh, Google senior vice president for devices and services, said the deal means "bringing together the best hardware, software and AI" to bring more wearables to the marketplace.
"Google  aspires to create tools that help people enhance their knowledge, success, health and happiness. This goal is closely aligned with Fitbit's long-time 

Google to buy Fitbit to expand in wearable tech

Anti-European populist Nigel Farage urged Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday to follow Donald Trump's advice and form a "non-aggression" pact with his Brexit Party in Britain's pre-Christmas general election.
The US president used a lengthy appearance on Farage's radio phone-in show Thursday to share his characteristically blunt views ahead of Britain's December 12 snap elections.
"I know that you and (Johnson) will end up doing something that could be terrific if you and he get together as, you know, an unstoppable force," Trump told Farage.
Trump also warned Johnson Thursday that the terms of his EU divorce deal meant that "under certain aspect... you can't trade" with the United States.
The US president's unannounced intervention turned into top UK news and put Farage in the headlines just as he launched his party's official campaign in London.
It also threatened to hurt Johnson at the onset of an election campaign that carries massive repercussions for Britain's future place ..

Eurosceptic Farage urges British PM to listen to Trump

Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba said second quarter revenue growth slowed to 40 per cent on-year Friday, although net profits more than tripled thanks in part to a one-time payment from a fintech affiliate.
Total revenue was 119 billion yuan (USD 16.9 billion), with growth down from 42 per cent in the April-June period and 54 per cent in last year's second quarter, a company statement said, in its first earnings report since founder Jack Ma stepped aside as chairman in September.
The second quarter jump in net profits was partly due to a one-time payment received in September as part of a deal in which Alibaba acquired 33 per cent equity in fintech affiliate Ant Financial while ending a previous profit sharing arrangement, the company said.
In a presentation to investors Friday Alibaba attributed the group's continued revenue growth -- which comes amid a slowdown in the world's number two economy -- to "robust" expansion of its China retail and cloud businesses.
Cloud computing was ..

Alibaba's revenue growth eases in second quarter

At least 42 people have been killed and dozens injured during anti-government protests in Haiti since mid-September, the UN's human rights body said Friday, adding it was "deeply concerned" by the crisis.
The poorest country in the Americas has been roiled for two months by protests, which were triggered by fuel shortages but have turned violent and morphed into a broader campaign against President Jovenel Moise.
"We are deeply concerned about the protracted crisis in Haiti, and its impact on the ability of Haitians to access their basic rights to healthcare, food, education and other needs," the UN's Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said in a statement.
It said reports indicate that security forces were responsible for 19 of the deaths, with the remainder of those killed by armed individuals or unknown attackers.
Spokeswoman Marta Hurtado said some 86 people had also been injured in the violence since September 15. The majority were victims of gun shots.
At ...

At least 42 killed in Haiti protest violence: UN

A motorist in Cyprus steering a car with his legs is to be questioned for possible driving offences, police said Friday, after a video he posted went viral.
The two-and-a-half minute clip shows the driver with both feet in long black socks on the steering wheel navigating with his calves on the slow lane of a two-lane highway with apparent ease.
An investigation has been opened and the driver called in for questioning, police said on Twitter, together with a stiff warning.
"Driving is not a game or a joke. We all have a responsibility to be careful whilst behind the wheel and show respect not only for our own lives but those of others," they said.
Police pointed out that Cypriot law states that drivers must have both hands on the wheel.

Police question Cyprus 'leg up driver'

Greece on Friday approved a law tightening asylum procedures that has been widely criticised by rights groups as harmful to the interests of migrants.
The government says the new rules will allow it to focus on swiftly identifying refugees that need protection, instead of being bogged down by thousands of applications by economic migrants which it says are not entitled to asylum.
"These adjustments establish a compact law on international protection," Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told lawmakers before the bill was approved by his conservative party majority, with support from the socialists.
Mitsotakis said Greece's asylum system till now "was in a state of prolonged paralysis" with nearly 70,000 pending requests.
"It gave the signal that people could come to Greece and stay for unspecified periods of time, without any scrutiny," said the conservative PM who was elected in July on promises to bolster border patrols at land and sea.
"This law... sends a clear message: enough with 

Greece approves controversial migration law

Stock markets pushed higher on Friday after data showing the US economy continued to add jobs at a steady clip despite turbulence from a trade war with China.
A better-than-expected 128,000 net new jobs in October showed demand for workers remained resilient despite President Donald Trump's protracted trade war with China, that has chilled investment and slowed the economy.
And gains in the prior months were revised up sharply and wages continued to climb, making the jobs picture even stronger.
"US stocks are higher in early action, with the markets gaining steam following a stronger-than-expected pace of job gains for October and favorably-revised September figures, which followed a relatively upbeat read on Chinese manufacturing activity," said analysts at the Charles Schwab brokerage.
On Wall Street, the broad-based S&P 500 moved into record territory shortly after trading began, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq was also not far off an all-time high.
"This barnstorming set of jobs ...

AFP

AFP

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