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Nicaragua detains dissident bishop for 'provocative' activities
After two weeks under police siege at his home, Nicaraguan bishop and government critic Rolando Alvarez was detained Friday for "destabilizing and provocative" activities, authorities said.
Putin allows inspectors to visit Russia-held nuclear plant via Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed that a team of independent inspectors can travel to the Moscow-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant via Ukraine, the French presidency said on Friday.
US announces new $775 mn arms package for Ukraine
The US Defense Department on Friday announced a new $775 million package of defense equipment and ammunition for Ukraine, including various types of missiles, artillery and mine-clearing systems.
Islamic State 'Beatles' member jailed for life by US court
A member of the notorious Islamic State kidnap-and-murder cell known as the "Beatles" was sentenced to life in prison by a US court on Friday for the deaths of four American hostages in Syria.
Stocks mostly retreat over recession fears
Stock markets mostly dropped on Friday, with investors focussed firmly on the outlook for interest rate hikes as central banks battle to bring down sky-high inflation.
Putin, Marcon urge Ukraine nuclear inspections 'as soon as possible'
Russian President Vladimir Putin and French counterpart Emmanuel Macron called Friday for independent inspections at Europe's largest nuclear plant, as Putin warned fighting there could bring about a "catastrophe".
North Syria violence kills 19 civilians: monitor
At least 19 civilians were killed during two separate incidents in the latest flare-up of violence along Syria's northern border with Turkey, a war monitor said on Friday.
Nicaraguan police remove bishop from his home: church
Nicaraguan police on Friday forcefully removed Catholic bishop and government critic Rolando Alvarez from his official residence after two weeks under siege, said Church and rights groups who had no news on his whereabouts.
Myanmar junta chief says military open to negotiations with Suu Kyi after her trial
Myanmar's military chief said Friday the junta is open to negotiations with ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi to end the crisis sparked by its coup after her trials in a junta-run court have concluded.
Sri Lanka's ousted leader hopes to return home: party
Sri Lanka's deposed former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa is seeking to return home from his exile in Thailand and has asked his successor to guarantee his safety, his party announced Friday.
UN chief to visit Odessa as Russian strikes batter Donbas
UN chief Antonio Guterres was expected in war-scarred southern Ukraine's main port of Odessa on Friday, a day after he said Turkey and Ukraine hoped to scale up their landmark grain export deal with Russia.
Asian, European markets mixed as investors assess Fed outlook
Markets drifted on Friday as investors tried to assess the Federal Reserve's plans for lifting interest rates to fight inflation, with mixed data and differing opinions by bank officials providing little clarity.
Vanuatu parliament dissolved as power struggle heads to court
A controversial decision to dissolve Vanuatu's parliament looked set to be challenged in court, as opponents accused the country's embattled prime minister of illegally dodging a Friday vote of no confidence.
North Korea rejects Seoul's aid offer as 'height of absurdity'
The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Friday rejected Seoul's offer of economic assistance in return for denuclearisation steps, calling it the "height of absurdity" and a deal Pyongyang would never accept.
Vitaliy Kim: south Ukraine leader with a sardonic side
Vitaliy Kim has a wicked sense of humour. Perhaps it's necessary: he is governor of Ukraine's southern region of Mykolaiv, where a fresh faceoff with Russian troops is rumoured to loom.
Germany's Scholz faces grilling over tax fraud scandal
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will answer to a committee on Friday as part of investigations into a financial scandal that cost the government billions, as the leader struggles to shed suspicions over his possible role in the huge tax fraud scam.
N Korea rejects Seoul's aid-for-denuclearisation offer
The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Friday rejected Seoul's offer of economic assistance in return for denuclearisation steps, calling it the "height of absurdity".
Danger part of job in Mexico's coal mining heartland
Water is the worst enemy of Mexican miner David Huerta, who once survived an accident similar to the one that has trapped 10 workers in a flooded tunnel for more than two weeks.
Lula keeps big lead over Bolsonaro in new Brazil presidential poll
A new poll ahead of Brazil's presidential election in October shows former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva maintaining a significant lead over Jair Bolsonaro, but the right-wing incumbent is gaining ground.
Truth commission faults Mexico military over 43 missing students
A truth commission investigating one of Mexico's worst human rights tragedies said Thursday that military personnel bore responsibility, either directly or through negligence, in the disappearance of 43 students in 2014.
Jailed Saudi woman tweeter shrugged off risk: friend
A Saudi woman given 34 years in prison for tweets critical of the government knew people were informing on her but did not take it seriously, a friend said Thursday.
Erdogan warns of 'another Chernobyl' after talks in Ukraine
Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Thursday of a nuclear disaster in Ukraine during his first face-to-face talks with President Volodymyr Zelensky since Russia's invasion began, echoing pleas from the UN's chief.
Zelensky hails Turkish leader's visit as Russian strikes batter Kharkiv
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday hailed a visit to his war-ravaged country from Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan as Russian strikes battered the eastern region of Kharkiv, leaving several dead and dozens injured.
Kenya's election commission in eye of vote storm
Feuding officials, questionable calculations and accusations of intimidation and violence -- Kenya's election body is once again under the glare of public scrutiny.
Europe divided over banning Russian tourists
Ukraine is pressuring the EU to bar Russian tourists from entering the bloc but has met varying responses, with some EU countries agreeing while others resist.
Two rebel leaders return to Chad ahead of 'national dialogue'
Two exiled rebel leaders returned to Chad Thursday two days before the start of landmark talks aimed at paving the way for elections after 18 months of military rule.
Congolese split over Burundi troops in troubled east
The deployment of Burundian troops to help quell rebel groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo's east has divided local people, with some fiercely opposed but others giving a cautious welcome.
Turkey stuns markets by cutting rate despite soaring inflation
Turkey's central bank on Thursday stunned the markets by lowering its main interest rate even as inflation soared to a 24-year high and looks set to climb further.
Turkey central bank cuts rate despite soaring inflation
Turkey's central bank on Thursday stunned the markets by lowering its main interest rate even as inflation soared to a 24-year high and looks set to climb further.
Germany to lower tax on gas to help consumers
Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Thursday that Germany would temporarily slash the sales tax on gas to help consumers facing soaring bills amid a crunch in Russian energy supplies.
Russia strikes Kharkiv ahead of Erdogan, UN chief meeting with Zelensky
Russian strikes battered the northeast Ukraine region of Kharkiv Thursday, killing at least five people, hours ahead of the first face-to-face meeting since the start of the war between the Turkish and Ukrainian leaders.
Crisis-hit Sri Lanka warns of record 8% economic contraction
Sri Lanka's economic meltdown will result in a record contraction of at least eight percent this year but the public could soon expect some relief from runaway inflation, the head of the country's central bank said Thursday.