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Taiwan will not send delegation to Beijing Olympics ceremonies
Taiwan will not send an official delegation to the opening or closing of the Beijing Winter Olympics due to China's strict pandemic controls and flight disruptions, the self-ruled island's governing body for sport said.
Saudis near Yemen border learn to live with Huthi fire
Huthi fire from Yemen this month on the UAE, traditionally a haven of security in a turbulent Middle East, stirred alarm at home and abroad, but for many Saudis it's nothing new.
Honduras lawmaker crisis heads to court
The crisis in Honduras's Congress -- where rival factions of new President Xiomara Castro's left-wing Libre party have elected separate leaders -- headed to the country's Supreme Court on Friday, with both sides asking justices to settle the dispute.
Biden to send troops to eastern Europe amid Ukraine diplomacy push
US President Joe Biden on Friday sought to maintain pressure on Russian leader Vladimir Putin over Ukraine, announcing a small troop deployment to eastern Europe even as top Pentagon officials backed a renewed push for diplomacy.
Canada truckers head for Ottawa to protest vaccine mandate
Hundreds of Canadian truckers converged on Ottawa Friday for a major demonstration against vaccine mandates to cross the Canada-US border.
New push for diplomacy as Ukraine urges calm over Russia threat
Top Pentagon officials on Friday backed a renewed push for diplomacy to avert conflict in Ukraine, after President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Western leaders to avoid stirring "panic" over the Russian troop buildup on his country's borders.
Bridge collapses just before Biden infrastructure speech
A bridge collapse Friday in Pittsburgh provided a symbolic backdrop for President Joe Biden's trip to the city to tout his $1 trillion infrastructure plan -- and try rebuilding his own crumbling approval ratings.
Russian invasion of Ukraine would be 'horrific': Pentagon
The Pentagon said Friday that the destruction and human cost of a full-scale incursion by Russian forces into Ukraine would be "horrific," but that there was still time for diplomacy to avoid a war.
Ukraine tells West not to 'panic' over Russian troop buildup
President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday called on Western leaders to avoid stirring "panic" as Ukraine faces a Russian troop buildup on the border that has sparked fears of an invasion.
Estonian PM warns against 'any steps towards Russia'
Europe and the US should be "very careful" not to make concessions to Russia, Estonia's prime minister told AFP on Friday, insisting that Moscow alone can de-escalate the situation.
IMF says 'understanding' reached with Argentina, more work needed
The IMF confirmed Friday it had reached a deal with Argentina on a massive loan repayment, though the Washington-based crisis lender stressed further approvals are needed before reaching a final agreement.
Kazakh president takes party leadership after sidelining mentor
Kazakhstan's president was voted chairman of the ruling party on Friday, replacing his mentor and former head of state Nursultan Nazarbayev, in the wake of bloody unrest that exposed a leaderhip struggle.
W.Africa bloc suspends post-coup Burkina
West African leaders on Friday decided to suspend Burkina Faso following a coup but will not impose other sanctions pending the outcome of talks with the junta, a participant at their summit said.
First Feline takes up residence in Biden White House
The dog-loving Bidens have finally fulfilled a key White House pledge -- they got a cat.
Putin says West ignoring Russia's security concerns
President Vladimir Putin told French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on Friday that the West was ignoring Moscow's security concerns over Ukraine but added that Russia would hold off from taking action immediately.
Campaigning wraps up for tight Portugal snap election
Campaigning wraps up Friday for a tightly-fought weekend general election in Portugal, with polls pointing to a hung parliament and huge gains by the far-right.
Orange appoints Heydemann as first female CEO
French telecoms multinational Orange said on Friday it had appointed Christel Heydemann as its first female chief executive, replacing Stephane Richard, who is leaving after his conviction in a case over his past work at the finance ministry.
European stocks slump at end of volatile week for markets
European stock markets tumbled Friday nearing the end of a highly volatile trading week worldwide as investors assessed the economy's recovery outlook faced with soaring inflation, rising interest rates and mixed earnings.
Nearly 40 percent of Tigrayans face 'extreme lack of food': UN
Nearly 40 percent of people in Ethiopia's Tigray are suffering "an extreme lack of food" in the face of an extended de-facto blockade of the war-hit region, a UN agency said Friday.
Nord Stream 2 pipeline: key card in West's hand against Russia
The Nord Stream 2 pipeline, set to double natural gas supplies from Russia to Germany, has become a key bargaining chip for the West in its bid to stop Moscow from invading Ukraine.
New Le Pen family feud looms ahead of French election
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen spoke of her shock and pain on Friday after her niece suggested she would back a rival in this year's presidential election, in what would be a heavy personal and political blow.
Serbians and Albanians kick aside differences on football pitch
Relations have rarely been good between Albania and Serbia. But for Serbian footballers playing in the land of their erstwhile foes, the sport transcends the long standing differences between the rivals.
Six rockets target Baghdad airport, damaging plane: sources
Six rockets were fired Friday at the Iraqi capital's airport, causing damage but no casualties, security sources said, the latest in a string of attacks the US blames on Iran-linked militias.
Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan agree ceasefire after clashes kill two
Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan said Friday they had agreed a ceasefire after shootouts at their contested border left two Tajik citizens dead.
Rattled by Russia, Finland and Sweden revisit NATO debate
The threat of a Russian invasion of Ukraine has reignited debate in Finland and Sweden over whether they should join NATO to fend off any possible eastern aggression.
Tajikistan says two dead after clashes with Kyrgyzstan
Tajikistan said Friday that two of its citizens were killed and 10 injured during overnight clashes at its contested border with Kyrgyzstan, where a ceasefire is now in place.
Hong Kong outbreak exposes flaws in 21-day quarantine policy
Hong Kong's U-turn on its mandatory three-week quarantine for arrivals follows growing scrutiny of the strict policy after a coronavirus outbreak was traced to a woman infected during her hotel stay.
Kyrgyzstan says ceasefire reached with Tajikistan after lethal clashes
Kyrgyzstan said it had reached a ceasefire with Central Asian neighbour Tajikistan on Friday following the latest lethal flare up at the pair's contested border.
Myanmar's Suu Kyi: Prisoner of generals
Myanmar's latest democracy struggle enters its second year with its best-known figurehead Aung San Suu Kyi isolated from the fight, a prisoner of the generals behind the coup and facing the rest of her life in prison.
The Myanmar nun who faced down a junta
Almost a year after she knelt in the dust to beg Myanmar police not to shoot anti-coup demonstrators, Sister Ann Rose Nu Tawng still shakes at the memory of the day she says God saved her.
'Living in a dark era': one year since Myanmar's coup
Hours before Myanmar's new parliament was due to convene last February, troops rounded up lawmakers in dawn raids, ending a brief democratic interlude and setting the stage for months of bloodshed.
Asian markets mixed as torrid week draws to close
Asian markets were mixed on Friday, at the end of a broadly damaging week for global investors as the Federal Reserve gave notice that the days of ultra-cheap cash were coming to an end quicker than some had envisaged.