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France lifts Covid restrictions as case numbers ease
France on Wednesday loosened several of the restrictions imposed to curb the latest Covid surge, with authorities hoping a recent decline in daily cases will soon ease pressure on overburdened hospitals.
More talks due as Putin accuses West of trying to draw Russia into war
NATO leaders pursued diplomatic efforts on the Ukraine crisis Wednesday after President Vladimir Putin accused the West of trying to draw Russia into a war but left the door open to further talks.
Beijing Olympics begins torch relay under shadow of Covid, rights
The Beijing Winter Olympics torch relay began its truncated journey to Friday's opening ceremony as China tried to move on from the diplomatic boycotts and Covid fears that have dogged the build-up to the Games.
US to send warship, fighter jets to UAE after Yemen attacks
The United States will deploy a guided missile destroyer and state-of-the-art fighter jets to help defend the United Arab Emirates after a series of missile attacks by Yemeni rebels, a US statement said Wednesday.
France eases Covid curbs, including outdoor mask-wearing
France began lifting coronavirus restrictions including mandatory outdoor mask-wearing Wednesday in a bid to ease citizens' daily lives, dividing opinion as the country only last month reported record Covid-19 infections.
Erdogan seeks payoff from Russia-US clash on Ukraine
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will try to leverage his strategic position in NATO and his rapport with Russia's Vladimir Putin when he visits Kyiv on Thursday in a bid to head off war in Ukraine.
G.Bissau president says survived deadly coup bid, situation 'under control'
Guinea-Bissau's president on Tuesday said he survived heavy fire for five hours during an attempted coup which he claimed killed or injured many people in the unstable west African country.
G.Bissau president says situation 'under control' after deadly coup bid
Guinea-Bissau's president on Tuesday said the government had the situation "under control" in the unstable west African country after an attempted coup in which he claimed many people had been killed or injured.
G.Bissau president says situation 'under control' after 'coup attempt'
Guinea-Bissau's president on Tuesday said the government had the situation under control after what the African Union and a regional bloc called an "attempted coup".
Guinea-Bissau president says 'all well' after 'coup attempt'
Sustained gunfire was heard on Tuesday near the seat of government in the coup-prone West African state of Guinea-Bissau, AFP reporters said, in what the African Union and a regional bloc called an "attempted coup".
Vladimir Putin's Ukraine obsesssion
Russian President Vladimir Putin has an obsession that is so close and yet so far: to return Ukraine to Moscow's fold, in the name of Russia's greatness.
Putin says West ignoring Russian concerns but hopes for 'solution'
President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday accused the West of ignoring Moscow's security concerns and of using Ukraine as a tool to contain Russia, though he said he hoped a solution could be found to end spiralling tensions.
UK premier safe for now, but future in jeopardy over 'partygate'
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will probably hold onto his job for now despite a scathing report about government coronavirus lockdown parties, but his long-term future is out of his hands as police probe claims of rule breaking, analysts said on Tuesday.
Two killed, 38 injured in Myanmar rally attack on coup anniversary
Two people were killed and 38 injured in a grenade attack on a pro-military rally in eastern Myanmar on Tuesday, a security official told AFP, as anti-coup protests were held across the country on the first anniversary of the military's power-grab.
Norway court rules killer Breivik to remain in prison
A Norway court on Tuesday rejected a request for parole from neo-Nazi Anders Behring Breivik 10 years after he was convicted of killing 77 people in the country's deadliest peacetime attack.
Gunfire heard in Guinea-Bissau, W. African bloc says 'attempted coup'
Sustained gunfire was heard on Tuesday near the seat of government in the coup-prone West African state of Guinea-Bissau, AFP reporters said, as a regional bloc condemned what it called an "attempted coup".
Myanmar, climate activists among Nobel Peace Prize nominees
Myanmar's defenders of democracy, a Belarus opposition leader, the pope, and environmental activists like Greta Thunberg and David Attenborough have emerged as likely nominees for the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize.
Blinken urges Russia to withdraw troops from Ukraine borders in Lavrov call
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Russia to "immediately" de-escalate tensions and withdraw its troops from Ukraine's borders in a call Tuesday with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, the State Department said.
US presses Russia to withdraw troops in Ukraine call
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Russia to immediately de-escalate tensions and to withdraw troops from Ukraine's borders in a call Tuesday with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.
Gunfire near government house in Guinea-Bissau
Sustained gunfire was heard on Tuesday near the seat of government in Bissau, the capital of the small coup-prone West African state of Guinea-Bissau, AFP reporters said.
Rampant graft under S.Africa's Zuma detailed in new report
South African investigators Tuesday released a 646-page report detailing how rampant corruption under former president Jacob Zuma undermined both the public logistics company Transnet and the state arms firm Denel.
World stocks shrug off rate, inflation concerns
Global stock markets mostly held their ground on Tuesday as investors shrugged off concerns of higher interest rates in the face of high inflation.
Russia, US set for new call amid burst of Ukraine diplomacy
The top Russian and US diplomats were to speak again Tuesday amid intense efforts by NATO allies to prevent an invasion of Ukraine and to show support for Kyiv.
Top US cyber official meets NATO allies on Russian threats
The top White House official for cyber security began a tour of European NATO allies Tuesday to prepare for potential Russian attacks in cyberspace, senior US officials said.
UN, rights groups blame Taliban for missing journalists
The Taliban have arrested two Afghan journalists working for a local news channel, rights groups and the United Nations said Tuesday, weeks after two women activists went missing.
Myanmar protesters defy junta with strike and clapping protests on coup anniversary
Anti-coup protesters across Myanmar defied a junta order not to mark the first anniversary of the military's power-grab with a silent strike and clapping protests on Tuesday, AFP correspondents said.
African Union girds for fight over Israel's status
The African Union appears set for an internal clash over its relationship with Israel at a summit this weekend, a rare point of contention for a bloc that values consensus.
Taiwan delegation to attend Beijing Olympics ceremonies as 'required'
Taiwan announced Tuesday a reversal to its weekend decision to forgo the opening and closing of the Beijing Winter Olympics, saying the committee governing the Games was "requiring" attendance at the ceremonies.
Russia, US set for new call as West shows support for Ukraine
The top Russian and US diplomats were to speak again Tuesday amid intense efforts by NATO allies to prevent an invasion of Ukraine and to show support for Kyiv.
India to launch state-backed 'digital rupee', tax crypto
India will introduce a state-backed "digital rupee" and impose a 30 percent tax on profits from virtual currencies, the government announced Tuesday.
Controversial former Tokyo governor Ishihara dies
Controversial right-wing politician and former Tokyo governor Shintaro Ishihara, who made a decades-long career out of baiting China and offending Japan's liberals, has died aged 89, Japanese media reported Tuesday.
Inspired by Navalny, Russian bloggers stand up to corruption
Armed with only a phone and selfie stick, blogger Igor Grishin has set himself the task of fighting corruption in his hometown beyond Moscow, following in the steps of imprisoned Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.
