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Senegal ruling party wins parliamentary majority: provisional results

Senegal's ruling party won over three-quarters of parliamentary seats in weekend elections, according to national provisional results announced Thursday, potentially handing them the means to deliver their ambitious reform agenda.

New proposal awaited in Baku on climate finance deal

Host Azerbaijan was set Friday to put forward a new proposal for a potentially major deal on climate financing, hoping to bridge gaps between rich and developing countries on the official last day of the COP29 talks.

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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.

North Korea confirms missile tests as Kim inspects 'important' munitions factory

North Korea test-fired two different weapons systems this week, state media said Friday, part of a record-breaking streak of launches, as leader Kim Jong Un inspected an "important" munitions factory.

Pentagon chief orders reforms to reduce civilian deaths

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered Pentagon officials Thursday to undertake reforms to reduce the number of civilian deaths from military strikes after multiple unjustified fatal incidents.

Global stocks mixed as markets digest Fed, dollar surges

Global stocks ended trading mixed Thursday as markets weighed strong US economic data against concerns about tightening monetary policy, while the dollar spiked to a 20-month peak against the euro.

US, Germany step up pipeline warnings if Russia invades Ukraine

The United States and Germany on Thursday warned Russia that a major gas pipeline was at stake if it invades Ukraine as Washington voiced hope for a diplomatic way out despite frigid statements from Moscow.

Ukraine crisis reveals growing Republican rift on Russia

As Washington rallies the international community against Russian aggression in Ukraine, conflict has broken out back home between traditional Republicans determined to defend democracy overseas and an isolationist base asking why America should take sides at all.

'Nightmare': Ukrainians in Canada worry for their home country

Worried and helpless, members of the Ukrainian community in Canada are closely following the crisis involving their home country from the other side of the globe.

Xiomara Castro: from first lady to Honduras's first woman president

Honduras's former first lady Xiomara Castro forged her political career at the head of protests against the coup d'etat that ousted her husband, Manuel Zelaya, in 2009.

US school board bans Holocaust graphic novel 'Maus'

A school board in Tennessee has added to a surge in book bans by conservatives with an order to remove the award-winning 1986 graphic novel on the Holocaust, "Maus," from local student libraries.

Syria Kurds hunt down jihadists after prison attack

Kurdish-led forces on Thursday found dozens of jihadists holed up in a Syrian prison during mop-up operations after recapturing the facility from Islamic State group fighters.

Xiomara Castro becomes first woman president of Honduras

Leftist Xiomara Castro was sworn in Thursday as the first woman president of Honduras after seemingly resolving a rebellion in her own party that had challenged her authority.

Zambia's leader says turning around economy, despite empty coffers

President Hakainde Hichilema on Thursday said his new government was on the fast track to restoring Zambia's credibility and creditworthiness after inheriting an economy strapped for cash and crippled by debt.

Denmark to pull troops out of Mali after junta demands

Denmark announced Thursday it would withdraw a newly deployed contingent of 100 troops from Mali after repeated demands, which Copenhagen denounced as a "political game" by the military junta.

With Fed set to hike US rates, 'ultra-cheap money' era nears end

Consumers, companies and financial markets are bound to see borrowing costs rise as the Federal Reserve gets ready to hike rates after two years of loose policy meant to support the US economy during the pandemic.

Stocks rise as US economy posts decades-high growth

US and European stock markets rose on Thursday as investors put aside rate hike fears and focused on data showing the US economy grew at its fastest pace in decades last year.

US economy grew 5.7% in 2021, but Omicron hit looms

The world's largest economy staged a solid recovery last year as it grew at the fastest pace since 1984, but damage from the Omicron variant of Covid-19 still looms.

Princess Charlene recovery 'several' weeks away: Monaco palace

Princess Charlene of Monaco, who is being treated for extreme fatigue, is still several weeks away from a recovery, the palace said on Thursday.

Media under watch on EU's frozen eastern frontier

Squeezed into the back of a military jeep driving along frozen unpaved roads on the Poland-Belarus border, a group of journalists is being taken into a restricted zone under strict surveillance.

Haunted by Holocaust, Israeli group helps fleeing Afghans

When Israeli lawyer Inbar Nacht saw pictures last year of Afghans desperately trying to escape their homeland, she thought of her relatives who were murdered in the Holocaust and knew she had to act.

Burkina's new junta holds talks on eve of key summit

Burkina Faso's new ruling junta held talks with union leaders on Thursday on the eve of a regional summit that could slap sanctions on the country for the overthrow of its elected president.

Ukraine leader orders probe after conscript shoots five dead

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday ordered police to investigate a mass shooting carried out by a member of the national guard that left five dead and several others fighting for their lives.

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