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Russia vetoes UN bid against Ukraine annexations, China abstains
Russia on Friday vetoed a Western bid at the UN Security Council to condemn its annexations of Ukrainian territory but found no other support, with China and India abstaining.
US Congress signs off on $12 bn for war-torn Ukraine
The US Congress approved $12.3 billion in aid Friday to help Ukraine battle its invasion by Russia as part of a stopgap spending bill that averts a chaotic government shutdown ahead of a midnight deadline.
Civilians lie slain as Russian troops flee Ukraine push
Ukraine's forces pushed forward their counteroffensive against Russian troops in the Kharkiv region on Friday, as more evidence emerged of violence against civilians in formerly occupied territory.
Bodies in cars, on the ground after Zaporizhzhia civilian convoy strike
The body of a man in a chequered jumper inside a car with blown-out windows, his tattooed hand still clutching the steering wheel.
Yemen truce deadline approaches as wait for peace drags on
As a ceasefire deadline in war-ravaged Yemen draws near, civilians hope the truce will be extended -- fearing any fresh fighting would wipe out the small gains they have made.
Suicide attack on Kabul classroom kills 20, mostly young women
A suicide bomber attacked an education centre in the Afghan capital on Friday where hundreds of students were preparing for university exams, killing at least 20 people, most of them young women.
Finnish air force turns highways into landing strips
Fighter jet engines whined this week on a stretch of highway in central Finland, where the military trained on stretches of road that double as spare landing strips.
Putin annexes Ukraine territories, Kyiv vows to fight back
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday annexed four territories in Ukraine controlled by his army at a grand ceremony in the Kremlin and urged Kyiv to lay down its arms and negotiate an end to seven months of fighting.
No regrets, says Catalan ex-minister on referendum anniversary
Five years after the failed secession push in Catalonia which landed him in jail, Oriol Junqueras remains convinced that defying Spain with a banned independence referendum was the right move.
Iran committed 'crimes against humanity' in 2019 crackdown: lawyers
Iran's government and security forces committed "crimes against humanity" in their suppression of huge nationwide protests in 2019, an international panel of lawyers probing the crackdown concluded on Friday.
Stocks waver, pound wobbles on mixed data
Stock markets fluctuated and the pound seesawed on Friday as investors tracked fresh growth and inflation data at the end of another turbulent week.
Putin annexes four more Ukraine territories
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday annexed four territories in Ukraine controlled by his army at a grand ceremony in the Kremlin and urged Kyiv to lay down its arms and negotiate an end to seven months of fighting.
Latvia's Russian-speakers fear becoming Ukraine war 'collateral'
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has complicated things for Latvia's Russian-speakers, already caught between an attachment to country versus cultural and linguistic identity and who now fear becoming collateral victims of Moscow's war.
'Internal crisis' in Burkina Faso army, gunfire near presidency
Shots rang out before dawn on Friday around Burkina Faso's presidential palace and headquarters of the military junta, which itself seized power in a coup last January, witnesses told AFP.
Suicide attack on Kabul classroom kills 19, mostly young women
A suicide bomber attacked an education centre in the Afghan capital on Friday where hundreds of students were preparing for university exams, killing at least 19 people, most of them young women.
Court upholds Tanzania move to cordon off land to protect wildlife
A regional court on Friday ruled that Tanzania's decision to cordon off land for wildlife protection was legal, dealing a blow to Maasai pastoralists who had protested the move, two lawyers for the community said.
Gunfire heard near Burkina Faso presidency: witnesses
Shots rang out before dawn on Friday around Burkina Faso's presidential palace and headquarters of the military junta, which itself seized power in a coup last January, witnesses told AFP.
European stocks climb, pound stalls on mixed data
European stock markets climbed Friday but the pound and euro fell as traders assessed mixed growth and inflation data.
Attack kills 25 in Ukraine ahead of Kremlin annexation
An attack on a frontline civilian convoy killed at least 25 people in southern Ukraine on Friday, just hours before Moscow was due to annex four occupied Ukrainian regions.
Kabul suicide blast kills 19 in classroom attack, casualties mostly girls
A suicide bomb attack on a classroom of hundreds of students preparing for exams in the Afghan capital on Friday killed at least 19 people, with most of the casualties girls, police and a witness said.
Iran protests over Mahsa Amini death enter third week
A protest movement in Iran over the death in custody of Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini entered its third week Friday, in defiance of an intensifying crackdown that rights activists say has cost at least 83 lives.
Comeback kid Lula seeking Brazil's top job at 76
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will be hoping his record as the most popular president in Brazilian history can trump the ignominy of a graft conviction to hand him a third term at the helm -- 12 years after his last.
'Democracy on the ballot' as Brazil holds divisive vote
After a polarizing campaign, Brazil votes for its next president Sunday in a combative heavyweight bout threatening to test its young democracy: far-right incumbent Jair Bolsonaro versus leftist former leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Kabul suicide blast kills 19, mostly girls, at education centre
A suicide bomb attack on a classroom of hundreds of people preparing for exams in the Afghan capital on Friday killed at least 19 people, with most of the casualties girls, police and a witness said.
Milorad Dodik: hardline leader of Bosnia's Serbs
For nearly 20 years, Milorad Dodik has been one of the major political players in post-war Bosnia -- a country he openly despises.
Suicide blast kills 19 at education centre in Afghan capital
A suicide attack at a learning centre in the Afghan capital killed 19 people as students prepared for exams on Friday morning, police said.
Bolsonaro, Lula in attack mode in last Brazil presidential debate
Far-right incumbent Jair Bolsonaro and leftist front-runner Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva traded heated attacks Thursday in a final debate three days from Brazil’s presidential election, accusing each other of corruption, nepotism and lying.
Kremlin set to annex four Ukraine territories at ceremony
Russia is expected to annex four occupied regions of Ukraine at a lavish Kremlin ceremony on Friday that follows a threat by President Vladimir Putin to use nuclear weapons in their defence.
Nobel 2022 prize season under shadow of war in Ukraine
Next week the world will celebrate peace and mankind's do-gooders when the winners of the Nobel prizes are revealed in a string of daily announcements -- as war rages in Ukraine.
Asian markets drop again but sterling holds up after recovery
Asian markets sank Friday after another devastating day on US and European trading floors, with inflation continuing to soar and central bankers getting increasingly hawkish in their attempts to bring prices under control.
Bolsonaro, Lula in attack mode in final Brazil president debate
Trailing in the polls for Brazil's polarizing presidential election, incumbent Jair Bolsonaro went on the attack against front-runner Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in their final debate Thursday, calling him a "liar, ex-inmate and traitor."
Fire in Paraguay elections office destroys thousands of vote machines
A fire broke out Thursday at Paraguay's Superior Court of Elections, destroying thousands of electronic ballot boxes and other equipment only two months ahead of the South American country's presidential primaries, officials said.
Thai court to decide suspended prime minister's fate
A Thai court is set to rule Friday on whether suspended prime minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha should be reinstated, or thrown out of office permanently, with a verdict in his favour likely to trigger protests.
Brazil presidential battle enters home stretch with Lula in the lead
Brazil's deeply polarized election campaign entered the home stretch Thursday with incumbent President Jair Bolsonaro and leftist rival Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva preparing to square off in what could be a bellicose final debate.
US senator Sanders urges respect for Brazil presidential vote
US senator Bernie Sanders on Thursday urged Brazilians of all stripes to respect the outcome of presidential elections and reject political violence, in a message tweeted by fellow leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Ukraine offensive defies Russia's annexation plan
As Russia prepares to annex four Ukrainian regions, Kyiv's forces are finishing the job of driving Moscow's retreating troops out of a fifth and threatening their foe's supply lines.
Macron agrees pension reform timeline as protests start
The French government vowed on Thursday to push through pension reform by the end of the winter despite opposition from unions which launched a first major day of strikes.
Poland blames toxic algae for Oder river fish kill
Polish authorities on Thursday said toxic algae was to blame for mass fish deaths in the Oder river, ruling out industrial pollution as the cause.
Kremlin to annex more Ukraine territories at ceremony Friday
Russia will annex four regions of Ukraine that its troops occupy at a grand ceremony in the Kremlin on Friday, Moscow said, after President Vladimir Putin threatened he could use nuclear weapons to defend the territories.