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UN, rights groups blame Taliban for missing journalists
The Taliban have arrested two Afghan journalists working for a local news channel, rights groups and the United Nations said Tuesday, weeks after two women activists went missing.
Myanmar protesters defy junta with strike and clapping protests on coup anniversary
Anti-coup protesters across Myanmar defied a junta order not to mark the first anniversary of the military's power-grab with a silent strike and clapping protests on Tuesday, AFP correspondents said.
African Union girds for fight over Israel's status
The African Union appears set for an internal clash over its relationship with Israel at a summit this weekend, a rare point of contention for a bloc that values consensus.
Taiwan delegation to attend Beijing Olympics ceremonies as 'required'
Taiwan announced Tuesday a reversal to its weekend decision to forgo the opening and closing of the Beijing Winter Olympics, saying the committee governing the Games was "requiring" attendance at the ceremonies.
Russia, US set for new call as West shows support for Ukraine
The top Russian and US diplomats were to speak again Tuesday amid intense efforts by NATO allies to prevent an invasion of Ukraine and to show support for Kyiv.
India to launch state-backed 'digital rupee', tax crypto
India will introduce a state-backed "digital rupee" and impose a 30 percent tax on profits from virtual currencies, the government announced Tuesday.
Controversial former Tokyo governor Ishihara dies
Controversial right-wing politician and former Tokyo governor Shintaro Ishihara, who made a decades-long career out of baiting China and offending Japan's liberals, has died aged 89, Japanese media reported Tuesday.
Inspired by Navalny, Russian bloggers stand up to corruption
Armed with only a phone and selfie stick, blogger Igor Grishin has set himself the task of fighting corruption in his hometown beyond Moscow, following in the steps of imprisoned Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.
US, Russia diplomats to talk as tensions over Ukraine rise
Washington's and Moscow's top diplomats will hold fresh talks Tuesday on the Ukraine crisis as Western officials say Russia continues to build a massive military force on the ex-Soviet state's border.
Mozambique looks to revive gas deals stalled by unrest
Global energy giants were quick to halt their Mozambican gas projects when jihadist violence erupted on their doorsteps. After months of calm, reviving those multi-billion-dollar projects is a much slower job.
Myanmar shuts shop to defy junta on coup anniversary
Streets emptied and shops shuttered across Myanmar on Tuesday as people defied junta orders to go about their business with a silent strike on the first anniversary of the military coup.
Australia to end stimulus but holds rates despite inflation surge
Australia's central bank moved to end multi-billion-dollar pandemic stimulus Tuesday, but kept interest rates at a record low despite rising inflation.
Conflict zone to slalom for India's only Beijing Olympian
At the age of four, Arif Mohammad Khan put on skis for the first time, just a few kilometres from the Line of Control that divides the disputed, conflict-ridden region of Kashmir.
Asian markets rise as traders buoyed by another Wall St rally
Asian markets rose in limited trade Tuesday following another strong lead from Wall Street fuelled by a rebound in tech firms, while comments from Federal Reserve officials eased concerns that it will embark on an aggressive phase of policy tightening.
US tells families of govt employees in Belarus to leave
The United States told the families of its government employees in Belarus to leave the country, the State Department said Monday, as fears grow of a Russian invasion of neighboring Ukraine.
Putin to host EU ally Orban amid Ukraine crisis
Russian President Vladimir Putin will host talks Tuesday with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has taken a softer line on the Ukraine crisis than NATO and the EU, with Hungary a member of both.
Warring guerrillas bring misery to Colombian region
Fear reigns in northeastern Colombia on the border with Venezuela where the local population has been caught in the crossfire of rival warring groups of left-wing guerrillas.
US judge rejects plea deals for murderers of Black jogger
A US judge on Monday rejected plea deals from two white men convicted of murdering a Black jogger in Georgia after relatives of the victim vehemently objected to the agreements.
770-km US megaflash sets new lightning record: UN
A single flash of lightning in the United States nearly two years ago cut across the sky for nearly 770 kilometres, setting a new world record, the United Nations said Tuesday.
Colombia demands removal from 'hunger hotspots' list
Colombia took umbrage Monday at being included in a report by UN agencies on 20 "hunger hotspots," demanding to be removed from the list of countries considered at risk of "acute food insecurity."
Nasdaq ends bruising January on a positive note
Wall Street stocks finished a bruising month on a positive note Monday, rallying ahead of a heavy week of economic news and corporate earnings.
Russia, US clash at UN over Ukraine crisis as oligarchs threatened
Russia and the United States clashed over Ukraine at the UN Security Council Monday, as London and Washington threatened to slap sanctions on wealthy Russian oligarchs if the ex-Soviet state is attacked.
One year after Myanmar coup, sanctions and new charges
The United States, Britain and Canada unveiled coordinated sanctions on Myanmar officials Monday as the junta leveled fresh charges against Aung San Suu Kyi, one year after ousting her in a coup.
International envoys praise 'openness' of Burkina junta
Burkina Faso's military junta said Monday it had restored the constitution a week after seizing power in the poor Sahel country, an announcement that came as it held talks with international negotiators who praised its "openness" to their proposals.
Sanctions and new charges, one year after Myanmar coup
The United States, Britain and Canada unveiled coordinated sanctions on Myanmar officials Monday as the junta leveled fresh charges against Aung San Suu Kyi -- one year after ousting her in a coup.
Oil higher, stocks wobble
Stocks struggled Monday as a pre-weekend rally on Wall Street fizzled while oil prices pushed higher ahead of a meeting of OPEC and its allies.
UK PM sorry for 'partygate' but vows to plough on
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday apologised after his government was criticised for "failures of leadership and judgment" in allowing lockdown-breaching parties at his offices.
Climate change, population threaten 'staggering' US flood losses by 2050
Climate change is on track to ramp up the annual cost of US flood damage more than 25 percent by 2050, according to new research Monday that warns disadvantaged communities will likely bear the brunt of the financial burden.
US, Britain, Canada hit top Myanmar justice officials with sanctions
The United States, Britain and Canada hit top Myanmar justice officials with sanctions on Monday on the one-year anniversary of a military coup.
US hits top Myanmar justice officials with sanctions
The United States hit three top Myanmar justice officials with sanctions Monday on the one-year anniversary of a military coup that Washington says stifled democracy and the rule of law.
Canada PM Trudeau says tests positive for Covid-19
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday he had tested positive for Covid-19 but was not experiencing severe symptoms.
Burkina junta says constitution restored after AU suspension
Burkina Faso's military junta said Monday it had restored the constitution a week after taking power and appointed the coup's leader as head of state for a transitional period.
UK 'partygate' report slams 'failures of leadership'
A long-awaited report into claims of lockdown-breaking parties at British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's offices was published in part on Monday, criticising "failures of leadership" that allowed events to go ahead.
Stocks wobble, oil higher in major trading week
Stocks diverged Monday as a pre-weekend rally on Wall Street fizzled with traders looking ahead to a charged week of central bank policy meetings and US jobs data.
Africa Union suspends Burkina after coup as envoys start talks
The African Union on Monday suspended Burkina Faso a week after the volatile country suffered its latest coup, as diplomats from West Africa and the UN began talks with the new junta.
French left 'people's primary' fails to end feuding
France's leftist presidential hopefuls traded barbs on Monday after a prominent former minister won a grass roots "people's primary" that failed to end the squabbling between left-wing forces ahead of the April vote.
Africa Union suspends Burkina after coup as envoys head for talks
The African Union on Monday suspended Burkina Faso a week after the volatile country suffered its latest coup, as envoys from West Africa and the UN headed for talks with the new junta.
Portugal PM prepares to govern after surprise win
Portugal's Prime Minister Antonio Costa prepared Monday to govern solo after his Socialist party scored a surprise landslide win, with economic recovery from the pandemic among his top priorities.
Qatar emir meets Biden in shadow of Ukraine tensions
US President Joe Biden will build on attempts to ensure energy back-up for European allies when he hosts Qatar's emir Monday in a White House meeting overshadowed by fears that Russia could cut exports over the Ukraine crisis.