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Two US volunteers in Ukraine feared captured by Russia

Two Americans who volunteered to support Ukraine have gone missing and are feared to have been taken prisoner by Russia, officials and family members said Wednesday.

US announces $1 bn more in arms for Ukraine

US President Joe Biden announced $1 billion worth of new arms for Ukraine Wednesday as Pentagon officials defended the pace and quality of supplies as meeting Kyiv's battlefield needs.

China vows support for Russia, drawing US ire

President Xi Jinping on Wednesday assured Vladimir Putin of China's support on Russian "sovereignty and security" -- leading Washington to warn Beijing it risked ending up "on the wrong side of history".

Ecuador Indigenous leader freed, protests unabated

Ecuadoran Indigenous leader Leonidas Iza was freed Wednesday on a judge's orders as protesters flocked to the capital Quito on a third day of anti-government protests led by his organization.

Biden announces $1 bn in new military aid for Ukraine

US President Joe Biden announced a new package of arms and ammunition for Ukraine Wednesday after speaking with President Volodymyr Zelensky and reaffirming Washington's support for Kyiv as it battles Russia's invasion.

Europe's Moroccans start returning home via Spain for holidays again

"Finally!," said 20-year-old Reda as he arrived at the port of Algeciras in southern Spain Wednesday on the first day of an operation to ease the return home of Moroccans living in Europe for their summer holidays.

France's Macron calls for 'new discussions' with Ukraine

French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday called for "new in-depth discussions" with Ukraine, without confirming if he would travel this week to Kyiv as several media have reported.

Equities rebound as central banks in focus

Europe's equities pushed higher Wednesday as the European Central Bank pledged to ease the stress in volatile eurozone bond markets, while US stocks advanced ahead of a major US rate hike.

Strike flattens street far from frontline in Ukraine's east

Yelena Gruzdeva and her children were asleep in a small Ukrainian town far from the frontline when an explosion blew off their roof, the family escaping uninjured "by a miracle".

Berlin blasts 'political decision' in Gazprom's gas squeeze

Russia on Wednesday stepped up the energy pressure on Europe, slashing gas supplies to the continent for the second day in a row in a move blasted as "political" by Germany.

West pledges more arms for Ukraine, as Russia and China renew ties

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin urged European allies to step up arms shipments to Ukraine on Wednesday, as Russia and China renewed their mutual support in the face of Western sanctions.

Anti-Rwanda tensions boil over into looting in eastern DR Congo city

An anti-Rwanda rally in the eastern DR Congo city of Goma boiled over into looting Wednesday, as bare-chested men ransacked shops and searched cars they suspected of transporting Rwandans.

Macron's 'attack dog' faces fight to hold seat in parliament

He may have been dubbed an "attack dog" by parts of the British press for his anti-Brexit sorties, but French Europe minister Clement Beaune is on the defensive in his first-ever election campaign.

Ukraine parades new French Caesar howitzer

Ukraine on Wednesday showed off one of its new French-made self-propelled howitzers, firing towards Russian-controlled areas, as Kyiv urges Western countries to provide more military hardware.

EU signs gas deal with Egypt, Israel to end 'dependency' on Russia

Israel and Egypt plan to boost gas exports to Europe under an agreement signed during a Cairo visit Wednesday by EU chief Ursula von der Leyen as the bloc seeks to wean itself off Russian gas.

Xi assures Putin of China's support for Russian 'sovereignty, security'

Chinese President Xi Jinping assured his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin of Beijing's support for Moscow on "sovereignty and security" during a call Wednesday, according to state media.

Pakistan military says ailing Musharraf should be 'allowed home'

Pakistan's powerful military said Wednesday that ailing former army chief Pervez Musharraf, who seized power in a bloodless coup 23 years ago and ruled for nine years, should be allowed to return from self-imposed exile in Dubai.

UK could ditch European rights pact after Rwanda plan blocked

Britain's government Wednesday refused to rule out abandoning a European human rights pact after a judge dramatically blocked its plan to fly asylum-seekers to Rwanda, sparking fury among Conservatives.

In the tunnels of Azovstal, traces of Ukraine's resistance

Scrapped metal and concrete debris is all that remains of the Azovstal steel factory in Mariupol, a symbol of Ukraine's weeks-long resistance against the Russian army in the devastated port city.

Xi tells Putin China will keep backing Russia on 'sovereignty, security'

Chinese President Xi Jinping told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in a call Wednesday that Beijing would keep backing Moscow on "sovereignty and security", according to state media.

Two political veterans face off in fight for Nigeria's presidency

When Nigeria's opposition named veteran operator Atiku Abubakar as its 2023 election candidate, ruling APC party chief Bola Tinubu quickly welcomed a chance to compete against a "worthy" opponent.

Ukraine pleads for western arms as Russia chokes frontline city

Ukraine pleaded with Western governments Wednesday to decide quickly on sending heavy weapons to shore up its faltering defences, as Russia said it would evacuate civilians from a frontline chemical plant.

Saudi seizes rainbow toys in 'homosexuality' crackdown

Saudi officials are seizing rainbow-coloured toys and articles of clothing from shops in the capital as part of a crackdown on homosexuality, state media reported.

Thousands in anti-Rwanda rally in eastern DR Congo city

Several thousand people rallied Wednesday in the eastern DR Congo city of Goma to protest against Rwanda, a day after the government reiterated claims Kigali backed a notorious rebel group.

European equities rebound as ECB holds emergency meet

Europe's equities rebounded Wednesday as the European Central Bank began an emergency meet to discuss volatile eurozone bond markets and soaring inflation, while investors also braced for a major US rate hike.

Calls in UK to ditch European rights pact after Rwanda plan blocked

Furious Conservatives called on Britain's government Wednesday to abandon a European human rights pact after a judge dramatically blocked its plan to fly asylum-seekers to Rwanda.

France claims capture of senior IS figure in Mali

French troops in Mali have captured a senior member of the Sahel affiliate of the Islamic State group, the French military said Wednesday.

Ukrainian mothers abroad stuck between guilt and uncertainty

For more than three months Oleksandra Osadcha, who fled Ukraine with her two children at dawn on February 24, drove from one country to another trying to find a place that "feels like home".

Markets see post-rout calm as traders await Fed hike

Equities were mixed Wednesday with investors nervously awaiting a Federal Reserve interest rate decision that has taken on greater significance since a forecast-busting inflation report sent shockwaves through world markets.

Ecuador judge orders release of Indigenous leader amid protests

An Ecuador judge ordered the immediate release of prominent Indigenous leader Leonidas Iza, his lawyer said early Wednesday, less than a day after he was arrested and accused of paralyzing roads during nationwide anti-government protests.

Russia plans evacuations from chemical plant in battleground Ukraine city

Russia said it would establish a humanitarian corridor to evacuate civilians from a chemical plant in Severodonetsk starting Wednesday as Ukrainian forces wage a desperate battle for control of the city.

China's middle class looks to flee as Covid policies bite

Alan Li no longer sees any future for his family in China after harsh Covid rules decimated his business, upended his son's education and left his country out of step with the rest of the world.

Clashes in Ecuador after Indigenous leader arrested

Ecuador police clashed with protesters Tuesday hours after authorities arrested the leader of an Indigenous movement, as his organization called for a popular uprising following nationwide roadblocks to protest high fuel prices.

Asian markets enjoy post-rout calm as traders await Fed hike

Asian equities were mixed Wednesday with investors nervously awaiting a Federal Reserve interest rate decision that has taken on greater significance since a forecast-busting inflation report sent shockwaves through world markets.

Germany races to stockpile gas before winter

Germany's race to wean itself off Russian energy and stockpile enough gas before winter is playing out largely hidden from view, some 1,600 metres (one mile) below ground in the foothills of the Bavarian Alps.

Donbas battle will determine course of war: Zelensky

Ukraine's battle against Russian troops in the eastern region of the Donbass will determine the course of the war, President Zelensky said Tuesday, asking his nation to stay strong in the face of Moscow's devastating attack against two key cities.

Eletrobras goes private with Bolsonaro bell ring

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro rang the bell at the Sao Paulo stock exchange Tuesday to mark the start of trading in shares of newly privatized electricity company Eletrobras, the second-biggest stock offering worldwide this year.

UK vows to send migrants to Rwanda despite last-minute legal challenges

The UK government on Tuesday insisted it would go ahead with its controversial policy to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, even as last-minute legal appeals meant there was a chance the first such flight might not take off.

Canada, Denmark settle 'whiskey war' over Arctic island

Canada and Denmark on Tuesday finally settled the largely good-natured "whiskey war" that was fought for decades with weapons such as flags and bottles of alcohol over a tiny, barren, and uninhabited outcrop in the Arctic.

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