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Pro-Russia candidate leads Romanian polls, PM out of the race

A pro-Russia far-right candidate took a surprise lead Monday in Romania's presidential election, knocking the EU-leaning premier out of the race that will be decided in a December run off.

Le Pen meets PM as French government wobbles

French far-right figurehead Marine Le Pen was on Monday holding talks with Prime Minister Michel Barnier as her party intensified warnings it was prepared to topple his government in a move that would fling France into political crisis.

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Macron warns of 'predatory' Russian mercenaries in Mali

While announcing on Thursday that France would withdraw its troops from Mali, President Emmanuel Macron made his strongest condemnation yet of the shadowy Russian mercenary group Wagner whose alleged arrival in West Africa has infuriated Paris.

Shelling accusations fuel tensions in Ukraine crisis

Ukraine and Moscow-backed separatists traded accusations Thursday of intensifying shell fire across their frontline, fuelling fears of a potential Russian invasion of its pro-Western neighbour.

Mozambican ex-president defends role at 'hidden debt' trial

Ex-president Armando Guebuza on Thursday took the witness stand in Mozambique's biggest corruption scandal, defending his government's decision to contract huge secret loans that triggered an economic crisis.

France to pull troops from Mali after decade-long jihadist fight

France announced Thursday that it was withdrawing troops from Mali due to a breakdown in relations with the country's ruling junta, after nearly 10 years of fighting a jihadist insurgency.

Russia says pulling back more troops despite US claims

Russia on Thursday announced more troop pullbacks from the Ukrainian border as Washington insisted that Moscow is still building up forces for a potential invasion of its pro-Western neighbour.

France announces Mali troop pullout after decade

France announced on Thursday that it was withdrawing troops from Mali due to a breakdown in relations with the ruling junta, after nearly 10 years of fighting a jihadist insurgency.

UK speaker urges 'respect' amid 'dangerous' Ukraine tensions

Long experienced in calming rowdy parliamentary debates, Britain's speaker Lindsay Hoyle has stressed the need for "respect" during confrontation and urged rivals "turn the heat down" amid soaring tensions in Ukraine.

Russian tanks at Belarus-Ukraine border stir up anger ... at US

Ukrainian pensioner Lidiya Silina would take her trash out on the Belarusian side of the border opposite the twisty stream. That was until trouble started and the Russian tanks came.

EU summit looks to boost strained ties with Africa

EU and African leaders meet for a two-day summit on Thursday, seeking to reboot ties with pledges of major investment in the face of competition from China and Russia.

Most Asian markets up as traders eye Ukraine, Fed eases rate fears

Asian markets mostly rose Thursday as investors assess the situation in Ukraine after the West said Russia had not started withdrawing troops from its border, while minutes from the Federal Reserve's January meeting eased concerns it was set to hike rates sharply.

Eleven years since revolt, Libya transition grinds on

Libyans on Thursday mark 11 years since the revolt that toppled dictator Moamer Kadhafi, but the democracy many hoped for seems as elusive as ever, and many fear a return to conflict.

Yellen acknowledges 'some global fallout' from any Russia sanctions

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen says "some global fallout" would result if the West moves ahead with the punishing, coordinated sanctions threatened against Russia, should it attack Ukraine.

US accuses Russia of deploying thousands more troops to Ukraine border

The United States on Wednesday dismissed reports that Russia was withdrawing troops from Ukraine's border, instead accusing Moscow of sending more soldiers as fears of an invasion grow.

'I'll kill you!': Mexico's nature defenders put lives on line

In the fir forests of Mexico, one of the world's most dangerous countries for environmentalists, the legacy of butterfly defender Homero Gomez lives on two years after his suspected murder.

France warns Iran only days left to agree nuclear deal

Iran has just days left to accept a deal on its nuclear programme at talks in Vienna, France warned on Wednesday, while Tehran's chief negotiator promised that an agreement was closer than ever.

China needs to be 'more active' in G20 debt relief effort: Yellen to AFP

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said China needs to do more to accelerate global efforts to provide debt relief for poor nations that ramped up borrowing during the pandemic.

Yellen acknowledges 'global fallout' from any Russia sanctions

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen says "global fallout" would be inevitable if the West moves ahead with the punishing, coordinated sanctions threatened against Russia, should it attack Ukraine.

High US inflation 'not acceptable' but recovery on track: Yellen to AFP

Soaring US inflation rates are "not acceptable" but the health of the world's largest economy is fundamentally sound thanks to policies that have mitigated the impact of the pandemic, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told AFP.

No sign of Russia pullback, say US, NATO and Ukraine

The United States and NATO joined Ukraine on Wednesday saying there was no sign of Russian troops withdrawing, after military movements in occupied Crimea fuelled reports that the crisis could be abating.

Stocks mixed, oil higher as markets monitor Ukraine

US stocks ended mixed Wednesday while oil prices rallied as markets assessed skepticism over Russia's latest statements on Ukraine and Federal Reserve minutes that contained no major surprises.

Bulgarian MEP gives Nazi salute in European Parliament

A Bulgarian nationalist MEP gave a Nazi salute in the chamber of the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday, sparking outrage after he spoke during a debate on the rule of law in Poland and Hungary.

US accuses Moscow of creating Ukraine invasion pretext with 'genocide' claims

The US State Department said Wednesday that Russia was attempting to create a "pretext" for invading Ukraine with unsupported claims of "genocide" and mass graves in Ukraine's eastern Donbass region.

US governors, Canadian premiers call for end to vaccine mandate

A group of 16 US state governors and the premiers of two Canadian provinces on Wednesday called on the leaders of both countries to end the cross-border vaccine requirement that sparked protests and briefly closed trade routes.

'I can't move': Queen Elizabeth complains of stiffness during engagement

Queen Elizabeth II complained Wednesday about mobility issues, as she carried out her first in-person official engagements since fears emerged that she could have contracted coronavirus last week.

Macron hosts African leaders ahead of expected Mali withdrawal

President Emmanuel Macron welcomed African leaders for dinner in Paris Wednesday ahead of an expected announcement that France is withdrawing its troops from Mali after nearly 10 years fighting a jihadist insurgency.

Russian planes intercepted US Navy aircraft over Mediterranean: Pentagon

Three US Navy aircraft were intercepted by Russian planes in an "unprofessional" manner over the Mediterranean Sea last weekend, the Pentagon said Wednesday.

Police issue warning to protesters to leave Canada capital

Canadian police on Wednesday warned demonstrators opposed to Covid rules who have clogging Ottawa streets for nearly three weeks to leave or face possible arrest, fines and seizures of their trucks.

Germany to start lifting Covid curbs as Omicron passes peak

Germany will start rolling back most of its coronavirus restrictions as the country's falling infection rate suggests the Omicron-fuelled wave has peaked, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Wednesday after talks with regional leaders.

Poland, Hungary risk funding cuts after EU rule-of-law decision

The EU's top court on Wednesday rejected a challenge by Poland and Hungary to a mechanism allowing Brussels to slash funding to member states that flout democratic standards.

Stock markets dip, oil surges as Ukraine worries return

European and US stock markets headed lower while oil prices shot higher on Wednesday as investors tracked developments surrounding the Ukraine crisis and awaited fresh clues about the US Federal Reserve's interest rate plans.

Putin hails Brazil ties after Bolsonaro talks in Moscow

Russian leader President Vladimir Putin welcomed "constructive" talks Wednesday with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who was on his first official trip to Moscow, defying US concerns amid the Ukraine crisis.

Nepal arrests dozens in protest against US grant

Nepali police fired tear gas and water cannon and arrested 77 demonstrators in the capital Kathmandu as several hundred people protested against a $500-million US grant, authorities said.

French language watchdog warns of English infiltration

The centuries-old language watchdog Academie Francaise has warned that growing use of English by public and private bodies risks poor communication and could even undermine social cohesion.

Outspoken British Olympian Kenworthy 'treads lightly' in Beijing

Outspoken British Olympian Gus Kenworthy said Wednesday that he is biting his tongue while in Beijing because of the "very real risks" of criticising hosts China.

Ukraine marks 'Day of Unity' as NATO warns on Russia pullback

Ukraine staged military drills and defiant displays of flag-waving patriotism on Wednesday as NATO warned Russia is continuing to mass forces for a possible invasion.

Burkina junta chief sworn in as president

Burkina Faso strongman Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba was inaugurated as president on Wednesday, just over three weeks after he led a coup to topple elected head of state Roch Marc Christian Kabore.

French public spending watchdog warns about post-Covid debt

France's public accounts watchdog warned Wednesday about the state of the country's finances, which have deteriorated dramatically in the last two years due to a massive Covid-19 rescue package, tax cuts and spending commitments.

China has expanded statist economic policies over 20 years in WTO: US

China has not adopted the rules of the World Trade Organization even after 20 years' membership, the United States said Wednesday, adding that the world's second-biggest economy had "retained and expanded" its statist approach to the detriment of businesses and workers globally.

Markets rally on hopes for easing Russia-Ukraine tensions

Asian markets rebounded Wednesday and Europe extended gains on hopes that Russia will not invade Ukraine after Moscow said some of its troops on the countries' border had started pulling back.

The Fort Worth Press - Politics (English)