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Rescuers search for missing after Russian missiles devastate Vinnytsia
Rescue workers were digging through debris Friday, a day after Russian missiles tore through Vinnytsia in central Ukraine, killing nearly two dozen people, including children, in an attack President Volodymyr Zelensky said was an act of terrorism.
Italy's government on shaky ground ahead of new confidence vote
Italians woke to political uncertainty Friday amid an unprecedented government crisis that has put Mario Draghi's future as prime minister on tenterhooks and raised the spectre of snap elections.
China asks UN Security Council for ban on small arms to Haiti
China has asked the UN Security Council to vote on banning small arms to Haiti, setting up a potential stand-off Friday with the United States whose revised draft resolution does not reflect Beijing's proposal.
Asian stocks mixed as recession fears grow, China data disappoints
Stocks were mixed in Asia on Friday as soaring inflation and a series of interest rate hikes around the world continued to fan recession fears, while a big miss on Chinese growth added to anxiety about the world's biggest economies.
Sri Lankan president's resignation accepted
The resignation of Sri Lanka's president has been accepted, the crisis-hit country's parliamentary speaker announced Friday, after he fled the country earlier this week, prompting relief among protesters camped outside his former offices.
Former Pakistan PM Khan faces popularity test in provincial by-election
Former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan faces a popularity test this weekend in a by-election for 20 assembly seats in the country's most populous province.
China's Xi makes first Xinjiang visit since crackdown
Chinese President Xi Jinping made a public visit to Xinjiang, state media reported Friday, his first since a crackdown in the region saw Beijing accused of detaining over a million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in camps.
Sri Lankan speaker says president's resignation accepted
The resignation of Sri Lanka's president has been accepted, the crisis-hit country's parliamentary speaker announced Friday, after he fled the country earlier this week and notified him from Singapore that he was stepping down.
China officials haul in Alibaba execs over massive data heist: report
Alibaba shares sank on Friday after a report said the tech giant's executives had been called in for meetings with Chinese officials over the theft of a vast police database.
Sri Lankans queue at pumps for days with no promise of petrol
Out of gas and stuck in line for days, a group of motorists kick off their shoes and settle on a sidewalk in Sri Lanka's capital for a round of cards.
Asian stocks mixed as recession fears grow, China data falls well short
Stocks were mixed in Asia on Friday as soaring inflation and a series of interest rate hikes around the world continued to fan recession fears, while a big miss on Chinese growth added to anxiety about the world's biggest economies.
The Red Sea islands caught between Egypt, Saudi and Israel
As US President Joe Biden visits the Middle East this week, one issue on the table will be the status of two small Red Sea islands that are uninhabited but of key strategic value.
US Secret Service deleted text messages from Jan 6 insurrection: watchdog
The US Secret Service, the law enforcement agency that protects the president, deleted agents' text messages sent during the January 6 Capitol riot, a government watchdog said in a letter published Thursday.
Verdict due on German soldier accused of far-right plot
A German court on Friday is to hand down its verdict in the bizarre case of a soldier accused of plotting a far-right attack on senior politicians while successfully posing as a Syrian refugee.
Security fears for Bolsonaro, Lula in tense election campaign
Brazil's far-right President Jair Bolsonaro and leftist rival Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva have both taken to wearing bullet-proof vests to campaign rallies ahead of the October elections, with the candidates' security a major concern in an atmosphere of deep political polarization.
Himars precision rockets shift the balance in Ukraine: experts
US-made precision rockets have given Ukraine forces a major battlefield boost since they were introduced in June, tilting the balance against the Russians and possibly forcing Moscow to pause its offensive, experts said.
Biden to meet Palestinian leaders ahead of Saudi visit
US President Joe Biden will meet Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas in the occupied West Bank Friday, with talks expected to focus on economic measures but without striking any major diplomatic breakthrough.
Russian strikes kill 23 as Zelensky accuses Moscow of terrorism
Russian missiles struck Vinnytsia in central Ukraine Thursday, killing at least 23 people including three children, in what President Volodymyr Zelensky called "an open act of terrorism".
Texas sues over federal rules requiring life-saving abortions
Texas sued the Biden administration on Thursday over its claim that federal law preempts state law when it comes to performing life-saving abortions.
Italy's Draghi urged to fix crisis as resignation refused
Italy's teetering government was thrown a lifeline Thursday after the country's president refused to accept the resignation of Prime Minister Mario Draghi, insisting he address parliament in a bid to avoid snap elections.
Sunak leads race for UK PM as rivals round on bookies' favourite Mordaunt
Former finance minister Rishi Sunak topped the latest vote Thursday by Conservative MPs to decide Britain's next prime minister followed by bookmaker favourite Penny Mordaunt, as attacks on her escalated within the ruling party.
Russian strikes kill 23 as Zelensky urges 'special tribunal' for Moscow
Russian missiles struck Vinnytsia in central Ukraine Thursday, killing at least 23 people including three children, in what President Volodymyr Zelensky called "an open act of terrorism".
Italy holds breath for PM Draghi's next move in political crisis
Prime Minister Mario Draghi's coalition government teetered on the brink of collapse Thursday, after the Five Star Movement refused to participate in a confidence vote, raising the spectre of a snap general election.
Mali to suspend all new UN peacekeeping rotations
Mali said Thursday it was suspending rotations of the UN's peacekeeping mission for "national security" reasons, in the latest complication in ties between the ruling junta and international partners.
EU to seek cuts in heating, cooling of buildings to save gas
The European Commission is expected next week to ask EU countries to reduce heating and cooling of public buildings and offices to cut demand for gas, according to a document seen by AFP.
Sunak heads race to become UK PM after latest vote
Former finance minister Rishi Sunak came out on top in the latest round of voting Thursday by Conservative MPs to decide Britain's next prime minister, followed by bookmaker favourite Penny Mordaunt.
Amazon offers to settle EU antitrust cases over rival data
Amazon has offered a settlement against EU charges that the online giant undermined rivals by misusing the sensitive information of independent sellers to benefit its own retail business, the EU said Thursday.
Biden talks joint investment with Israel, India, UAE
US President Joe Biden held joint investment talks Thursday with Israel, India and the United Arab Emirates, as Washington seeks to counter the global reach of China.
Russian strikes kill 20 as Zelensky urges 'special tribunal' for Moscow
Russian missiles struck Vinnytsia in central Ukraine Thursday, killing at least 20 people including three children, in what President Volodymyr Zelensky called "an open act of terrorism".
US vows to use all means to stop Iran nuclear bomb in new Israel pact
The US and Israel signed a new security pact on Thursday reinforcing their common front against Iran, as President Joe Biden pledged to use "all" American power to stop the Islamic republic from acquiring nuclear weapons.
In east Ukraine trench, soldiers dig in for 'total war'
Down a trench in Ukraine's Donbas region, Dima admits it took him time to adjust to the sounds of war, to living with fellow soldiers and to the flies everywhere.
Sri Lanka leader flees to Singapore
Sri Lanka's president arrived in Singapore Thursday, as protestors who chased him from his residence demanded he keep his promise to step down over his country's worst-ever economic crisis.
Russian strikes kill 17 in central Ukraine
Russian missiles struck Vinnytsia in central Ukraine Thursday, killing at least 17 people including a child, in what President Volodymyr Zelensky called "an open act of terrorism".
12 killed in Russian strikes in central Ukraine ahead of EU talks
Russian missiles struck the city of Vinnytsia in central Ukraine on Thursday, killing at least 12 people in what President Volodymyr Zelensky called "an open act of terrorism".
US, Israel to sign security pledge as Biden visits Jerusalem
US President Joe Biden and Israel's Prime Minister Yair Lapid will sign a security "declaration" on Thursday affirming their united front against Iran, an American official said, as Biden holds bilateral talks in Jerusalem.
Sri Lanka protesters to end occupation of official buildings
Sri Lanka's anti-government demonstrators said Thursday they were ending their occupation of official buildings, as they vowed to press on with their bid to bring down the president and prime minister in the face of a dire economic crisis.
Call to prayer merges Turkish politics with art
Cupping his hands to his ears, one of the contestants in an annual competition for Turkey's most melodious religious voice leans closer to the microphone to intone a tender call to prayer.
Sri Lanka protesters in talks to end occupation
Sri Lanka's anti-government demonstrators were in talks Thursday to hand back official buildings they seized, protest representatives said, even as they insisted the president and prime minister both quit in the face of an economic crisis.
Libyans at boiling point amid summer power cuts
Mahmud Aguil has a comfortable house in Libya's capital Tripoli, but chronic power outages in the war-battered country and roasting summer heat now force him to sleep in his air-conditioned van.