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Germany funds army update to face Russia threat

The German parliament voted on Friday for a constitutional amendment to create a 100-billion-euro ($107-billion) fund beefing up its military defences in the face of an emboldened Russia.

Zelensky vows victory on 100th day of Russian invasion

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed victory on the 100th day of Russia's invasion on Friday, even as Russian troops pounded the eastern Donbas region.

EU bans most Russian oil, sanctions alleged Putin girlfriend

The EU formally adopted a ban on most Russian oil imports on Friday, hitting Moscow with its toughest sanctions over the war on Ukraine after weeks of wrangling with Hungary.

AU head tells Putin Africans 'victims' of Ukraine conflict

African Union head Macky Sall on Friday urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to take into account the suffering in African countries from food shortages caused by Moscow's military campaign in Ukraine.

Police close Hong Kong's Victoria Park on eve of Tiananmen anniversary

Hong Kong police said on Friday that they will close large parts of Victoria Park, once the site of packed annual candlelight vigils to commemorate China's Tiananmen crackdown, on the eve of the event's 33rd anniversary.

Myanmar junta says will carry out first judicial executions in decades

Myanmar's junta will execute a former member of Aung San Suu Kyi's party and a prominent democracy activist, both of whom were convicted of terrorism, in the country's first judicial executions since 1990, a spokesman told AFP on Friday.

On 100th day of Russian invasion, Zelensky vows victory

Ukraine will emerge victor in the war started by Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday as Moscow's invasion of its neighbour entered its 100th day with Russian troops pounding the Donbas region.

Israel warns over Iran nuclear programme

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett warned the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency Friday that Israel was prepared to use it's "right to self defense" to stop Iran's nuclear programme.

Alarm bells for Macron as left gains in polls

France's rejuvenated left-wing parties appear to be gaining ground on President Emmanuel Macron's centrist allies ahead of parliamentary elections later this month, raising fears for the ruling party that it may fail to secure a majority.

UAE firm to screen passengers at Afghan airports

The Taliban have tasked a United Arab Emirates firm with the security screening of passengers and luggage at Afghan airports, officials said, as the country seeks to expand international flights.

China, Papua New Guinea discuss free-trade deal

China and Papua New Guinea held talks on a free-trade deal Friday, as Beijing's foreign minister wrapped up a landmark tour of the Pacific Islands with a stop in the resource-rich nation.

Asian markets track Wall St up before jobs data, oil holds gains

Asian equities rose Friday following a strong performance on Wall Street ahead of a key US jobs data release, while crude gave up some of the previous day's gains after an output hike disappointed traders.

As EU squeezes Russia, Serbia embraces old ally

While the European Union scrambles to isolate Russia and reduce energy imports from the country, EU candidate Serbia is tightening its bond with Moscow through a new gas supply deal.

China's diplomatic gambit heralds new 'Battle for the Pacific'

A 10-day South Pacific island-hopping tour by China's top diplomat focused world attention on a usually overlooked region, opened a new front in Beijing's quest for global influence and challenged decades of Western primacy.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine enters 100th day as fighting rages

Ukraine marked 100 days since Russia's invasion on Friday with fighting raging across the east of the country, where Moscow's forces are tightening their grip on the Donbas.

Asian markets track Wall St rally ahead of jobs data, oil holds gains

Asian equities rose Friday following a strong performance on Wall Street ahead of a key US jobs data release, while crude held most of the previous day's gains after an output hike disappointed traders.

US-Venezuela business picking up despite punishing sanctions

Venezuela's imports of US food and farming products are on the rise, with the private sector driving increased business between the two former partners despite punishing sanctions imposed on Caracas by Washington.

Biden makes emotional appeal for action on gun violence

US President Joe Biden pleaded with lawmakers Thursday to take action on gun violence plaguing the country, calling for a ban on assault weapons such as those used in recent massacres in Texas and New York state.

War enters 100th day with Russia controlling 'fifth of Ukraine'

Ukraine marked 100 days since Moscow's invasion on Friday with Russian forces hammering the Donbas in their push to capture the country's east.

Biden to visit former 'pariah' Saudi Arabia: reports

US President Joe Biden will visit Saudi Arabia this month, reports said Thursday, a stark reversal for a leader who once called for the kingdom to be made a pariah.

Civilians urged to evacuate Sloviansk as Russia bombing intensifies

The bombing in eastern Ukraine is becoming more intense and, with no water or electricity, 100 people or so heeded the mayor's call on Thursday to evacuate the city of Sloviansk which sits in Russia's crosshairs.

West must brace for 'long haul' in Ukraine: NATO chief

Western nations need to brace for a long "war of attrition" in Ukraine, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg warned Thursday following White House talks with US President Joe Biden.

No Covid cash for Poland before rule of law reform: EU chief

Poland will only receive the money from its 35.4-billion euro ($38 billion) post-Covid economic recovery package if it carries out rule of law reforms, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said on Thursday.

Liverpool dismayed by 'disgraceful' claims from French Interior Minister

Liverpool chief executive Billy Hogan has reacted with "disbelief" at French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin's insistence that the chaotic scenes at Saturday's Champions League final in Paris were caused by supporters of the English club.

Oklahoma shooter killed surgeon treating him for back pain: police

The gunman who shot dead four people at a hospital in the US state of Oklahoma killed the surgeon whom he blamed for pain after back surgery, police said Thursday.

'Russia controls fifth' of Ukraine' as war's 100th day looms

Russian forces hammered Ukrainian positions in the Donbas region on Thursday, as Kyiv said Moscow was in control of 20 percent of Ukrainian territory on the eve of the war's 100th day.

Oil price rises as OPEC boosts output more than expected

Oil prices rose Thursday even as major crude producers agreed to boost output by more than the usual amount following an EU ban on Russian imports.

Protests as N.Korea takes helm of world disarmament body

North Korea on Thursday skipped the diplomatic niceties for a combative tone when it took the helm of the Conference on Disarmament.

OPEC+ agrees bigger output boost amid Russian isolation

Major oil producers led by Saudi Arabia and Russia agreed on Thursday to open the taps wider than expected amid soaring prices and hard on the heels of an EU ban on Russian oil imports.

US blacklists Putin money-manager, luxury yacht brokerage for Russian elite

The United States placed Russian President Vladimir Putin's money-manager and a Monaco company that provides luxury yachts to Moscow's elite on its sanctions blacklist Thursday, stepping up pressure over Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

EU drops Russian patriarch from sanctions to seal new deal

EU ambassadors on Thursday dropped the leader of Russia's Orthodox church from a proposed blacklist, allowing them to agree a new round of sanctions after opposition from Hungary, diplomats said.

Displaced by rebel clashes, people in east DR Congo make uneasy trek home

People who fled fighting between DR Congo's army and M23 rebels have begun to make a nervous return home, with tensions in the volatile east of the country remaining on a hair trigger.

Macron faces calls to finally make Ukraine trip

For months, French President Emmanuel Macron has used a stock reply to questions about why he has not visited Ukraine since the outbreak of war there.

Yemen's warring parties renew two-month truce: UN

Yemen's warring parties have agreed to renew a two-month truce, the United Nations said Thursday, in an 11th-hour move on the day it was set to expire.

Russia tightens noose around key Ukraine city on 99th day of war

Russian forces on Thursday hammered the last Ukrainian defences holding a strategic city in the Donbas region as the war approached its 100th day and Washington warned it could still last for months.

Asian markets drop on recession fears, output report hits oil

Equities fell in Asia on Thursday as traders grow increasingly worried that central bank moves to rein in inflation could tip economies into recession.

US, Taiwan launch trade talks in bid to deepen ties

The United States and Taiwan have launched talks aimed at deepening their trade ties as Washington vies to bolster its influence in the region to counter China.

Ukrainian musicians channel patriotism, anger into war anthems

The message behind Arsen Mirzoyan's new song "My Country" is simple -- stay in Ukraine and fight back.

Russians edge closer to taking key Ukrainian city

Russian forces edged closer Thursday to taking a key Ukrainian city after days of intense fighting, tightening their slow squeeze on the eastern Donbas region as Washington warned the war could last months.

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