US begins quietly flying Venezuelan migrants to Colombia under controversial border policy

The Biden administration, unable to return an increasing number of Venezuelans arrested at the US-Mexico border to their home country, is now sending those migrants to Colombia if they previously resided there, according to two Homeland Security officials.
https://ift.tt/JvQo5BG9t

Coronavirus lockdowns are still taking a toll on China's factories

Coronavirus outbreaks and strict lockdowns in China are continuing to take their toll on the country's factories.
https://ift.tt/85L1xNX6n

Warren Buffett is having the last laugh

It's been a tough start to the year for investors in big tech companies. Cathie Wood's ARK Innovation fund, a big owner of Tesla, Zoom and Roku, has plunged nearly 30%. And speculative meme stocks like GameStop and AMC have been crushed.
https://ift.tt/X4raM0ekK

Why companies are obsessing over worker pay

What do banks, airlines and fast food chains have in common?
https://ift.tt/ZIAt5TYfM

From visa denials to online trolling, foreign journalists in China say they face 'unprecedented hurdles'

China's government is using new intimidation methods against journalists and their sources, according to an annual survey by the Foreign Correspondents' Club of China.
https://ift.tt/HLefASYjV

UAE intercepts ballistic missile during Israeli President's visit

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Monday intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile in the third such incident this month, according to authorities, as the Israeli President visited the country.
https://ift.tt/Z6U2wWzJq

Striking photos shine a light on life in China

A village shadow puppet show, a shepherd grazing livestock and a pair of young acrobats performing handstands are among the scenes depicted in a photography competition shining a light on life in China.
https://ift.tt/8syFUZlKI

Authorities rush to contain oil spill moving toward eastern Thailand resort island

Authorities are rushing to prevent an oil spill in eastern Thailand from damaging fragile corals, after officials said on January 30 that the leak that began last week was drifting towards more coastal areas.
https://ift.tt/d09OhA7Uk

Priest killed by gunmen in Pakistan attack

Gunmen killed a Christian priest and wounded another as the clerics drove home from church in Pakistan's northwestern city of Peshawar on Sunday, police said.
https://ift.tt/Ku8L7ahVe

Kim Jong Un wants the world to know he still matters. Seven missile tests in a month may prove it

Since the turn of the year, North Korea has ramped up missile tests in defiance of international law at a frenetic pace that many who keep a close eye on the rogue state expect to continue.
https://ift.tt/B6mU8rJNC

Multiple criminal investigations underway for 'desecration' of Canadian monuments after protests against Covid-19 mandates, police say

Multiple criminal investigations have been opened in connection to the "desecration" of Canada's National War Memorial among other incidents during weekend protests in Ottawa against mandates for Covid-19 vaccines and other public health measures.
https://ift.tt/4dZDEWa5O

White House still eager for talks with North Korea, but sees missile tests as destabilizing

A string of provocations from North Korea -- including its most powerful ballistic missile test in years over the weekend -- could be designed to extract concessions from the United States ahead of potential negotiations, a senior US administration official suggested on Sunday.
https://ift.tt/XpJiI14Rn

Elon Musk is placing a bet on robots. It could be a long time coming

Tesla CEO Elon Musk said Wednesday that he believes the company's goal of a humanoid robot is the most important thing it's working on.
https://ift.tt/cW1uUZGeF

Peloton die-hards are sticking with the flailing company

Just as its classes promise, Peloton itself has been getting quite a robust workout lately as it deals with a series of unfortunate events.
https://cnn.it/32GcKWW

Inside the $128 million heist that shocked the world

It took at least nine hard blows from an ax to smash the glass case in Dresden's historic Green Vault. Once the glass shattered, the two masked thieves grabbed 21 priceless diamond-studded artifacts and disappeared.
https://ift.tt/DQJnX1hcy

Italy's ruling parties agree Mattarella should remain president

Italy's ruling parties say they have asked Sergio Mattarella to remain president after a chaotic week of voting where parties failed to agree on a new candidate.
https://cnn.it/3ovEN3h

'We've got a chance to win it all!': NBA superstar Joel Embiid discusses his love of Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations

At approximately 11am on Saturday, January 29th, in the Philadelphia area of the United States, a 27-year-old man is intending to ease his seven-foot frame into a chair -- or perhaps remain standing -- and turn on the device of his choosing, to spend 90 minutes consumed by the events unfolding on a soccer field in his birthplace of Yaoundé, Cameroon.
https://cnn.it/3s0krA3

Ashleigh Barty becomes first home Australian Open singles champion since 1978

Ashleigh Barty became the first home Australian Open champion since 1978 after beating grand slam final debutante Danielle Collins 6-3 7-6 in Saturday's final.
https://cnn.it/3u9Y9hH

Australia to spend a record $35 million to protect koalas

Australia will spend a record $50 million Australian ($35 million US) over the next four years to boost long-term protection and recovery of its koala population, Prime Minister Scott Morrison's office said in a statement on Saturday.
https://cnn.it/3uehlLl

Prince Andrew gives up membership at the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews

As Prince Andrew faces the prospect of a trial in a very public civil lawsuit for sexual abuse later this year, the British royal has given up his membership at the historic Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews in Scotland.
https://ift.tt/34ihcLP

Oil executives barred from leaving Peru after massive spill causes 'ecological disaster'

Four oil executives in Peru have been barred from leaving the country as authorities investigate a massive oil spill that forced Lima to declare an environmental emergency earlier this month.
https://ift.tt/3IMSqCF

Iranian women allowed to watch landmark moment as Iran qualifies for World Cup in Qatar

Iranian women were allowed to share a landmark moment as Iran secured qualification on Thursday for November's World Cup in Qatar.
https://ift.tt/3KSfq56

US to block millions for Egypt over human rights

The Biden administration has decided to deny $130 million of military aid allocated for Egypt over the country's failure to comply with human rights conditions laid out by the State Department, according to a senior State Department official, congressional sources and activists.
https://ift.tt/34aNiJz

The Italian village that doesn't speak Italian

Nicknamed Italy's "Little Provence," Sancto Lucio de Coumboscuro is an isolated village in almost every sense.
https://ift.tt/3GYHO31

Forget Zoom school. For some students, class is in session in VR

Jeremy Bailenson has studied virtual reality for decades. But it wasn't until last year that the Stanford professor felt the technology was good enough that he could actually teach a class in VR.
https://ift.tt/3u32uTQ

Microsoft makes a big bet that it can fix Activision Blizzard's troubled culture

Microsoft's nearly $70 billion deal to buy Activision Blizzard could make it a leader in gaming. But it also risks creating a new headache for the tech giant in a key part of its operations: corporate culture.
https://ift.tt/3rYfYh0

McDonald's sales haven't been this good since Bill Clinton was president

Higher prices and chicken sandwiches are helping boost McDonald's sales. But earnings disappointed Wall Street Thursday morning.
https://ift.tt/3IExQEw

These companies decided to go fully remote --— permanently

As the pandemic heads into yet another year, companies are still grappling with uncertainty in the workplace.
https://ift.tt/3s2HhXQ

Chanel sends princess down the runway on horseback

Chanel unveiled its latest collection in dramatic style at Haute Couture Week in Paris -- by sending a real-life princess down the runway on horseback.
https://ift.tt/3FWZye1

After more than 600 days shut out, Delhi's students just want to go back to school

Dharini Mathur's son had just turned 4 when he started pre-school online. More than 600 days later, he still sits behind his computer screen, attempting to learn virtually -- while making zero contact with his classmates and teachers.
https://ift.tt/3G89NvV

Xiomara Castro becomes Honduras' first female president

Xiomara Castro was sworn in as Honduras' first female president Thursday in the capital, Tegucigalpa.
https://ift.tt/32GBuOW

27 drug smugglers killed at Jordan-Syria border, Jordanian army says

Jordanian soldiers killed 27 armed drug smugglers as they tried to enter the country from Syria on Thursday, an army spokesman said.
https://ift.tt/3g5FD1M

Kerry hosts world's largest carbon emitters in first forum since UN climate summit

John Kerry on Thursday is hosting his first major international climate meeting of the year with the world's largest greenhouse gas emitters.
https://ift.tt/3AJ2VnJ

Leaked emails suggest Boris Johnson may have lied about evacuating animals before people from Afghanistan

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's credibility was once again thrown into doubt on Wednesday, after leaked emails appeared to contradict his claim of having no involvement in the evacuation of animals from a British charity in Afghanistan as the country fell to the Taliban and people were scrambling to find a way out.
https://ift.tt/3KKDJlt

Anxiety and anger grip press corps in Mexico after spate of murders

A version of this article first appeared in the "Reliable Sources" newsletter. You can sign up for free right here.
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US Navy wants to get crashed stealth fighter back -- before China can

https://ift.tt/34bg4JV

Cuba calls on Biden to restaff embassies, normalize relations following CIA 'Havana Syndrome' report

A high-ranking official in Cuba's foreign ministry is calling for the Biden administration to restore relations with the island in light of a recent CIA report that found most "Havana syndrome" cases were unlikely to have been caused by a foreign power.
https://ift.tt/3KJvoOR

Exclusive: Coca-Cola is tripling down on boozy beverages

Coca-Cola is turning another one of its drinks into an alcoholic alternative. It's the company's third boozy beverage as it taps into the growing canned cocktail craze.
https://ift.tt/3H5qjOD

Thailand gives green light to growing cannabis at home

Thailand's narcotics board on Tuesday said it would remove cannabis from its drugs list, paving the way for households to grow the plant.
https://ift.tt/35ty4Ad

This 'zero waste' Japanese building is made from 700 donated windows

Planks of burgundy cedar wood frame 700 mismatched windows, forming a patchwork quilt of glass panes against a backdrop of mountain peaks and rolling groves of evergreens.
https://ift.tt/3g0SWkd

The US is only the 27th least corrupt country in the world

As Donald Trump prepares to potentially run for his old office in 2024, it's worth looking at what his four years as president -- and his yearlong campaign to undermine the 2020 election results -- meant for the country.
https://ift.tt/3Ges0Z3

Biden administration authorizes $2.5 billion in arms sales to Egypt despite human rights concerns

The Biden administration has authorized more than $2 billion in arms sales to Egypt despite ongoing concerns about Cairo's human rights record.
https://ift.tt/3KLyQZ8

Rio and São Paulo postpone official Carnival parades until April

Carnival celebrations in Brazil have had another setback because of a spike in Covid-19 cases.
https://ift.tt/3AwDyFy

Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis are taking the Australian Open by storm

Had you taken a stroll past the Kia Arena in Melbourne this week, you could have been forgiven for assuming that a rock and roll festival was taking place.
https://ift.tt/3tZWawG

Boris Johnson attended a birthday gathering while the rest of the UK was in lockdown

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson celebrated his birthday with a gathering at his official residence in June 2020 while the United Kingdom was in its first Covid-19 lockdown, a spokesperson said Monday, marking the latest scandal for the country's leader.
https://ift.tt/3fRIkDZ

Lebanon's Hariri withdraws from politics, leaving sectarian vacuum behind

Lebanon's former Prime Minister Saad Hariri has pulled out of politics, ending a turbulent 17-year career and throwing the crisis-ridden country into further uncertainty.
https://ift.tt/3fS5El5

Who is Nusrat Ghani, the British lawmaker who says she was fired over her religion

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has ordered an inquiry into allegations made by Nusrat Ghani, a Muslim lawmaker, that her faith was raised as a reason for her losing her job.
https://ift.tt/3FV56FB

Pope Benedict XVI admits being at meeting about abuser priest when he ran Munich archdiocese

Pope Benedict XVI admitted Monday that he was at a meeting in 1980 at which an abusive priest was discussed, blaming his earlier denial at having been there on "an error in the editing of his statement."
https://ift.tt/3GS3PR4

Four injured, gunman dead, after shooting at Heidelberg University in Germany

A lone gunman opened fire in an auditorium at Heidelberg University in south west Germany on Monday, injuring four people, police said.
https://ift.tt/3fTIaw4

Enormous superyacht squeezes under bridges

It's not every day that you spot an 80-meter superyacht squeezing under a bridge with just a few inches of clearance.
https://ift.tt/3ItTefH

New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern cancels wedding plans due to Omicron surge

New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Sunday revealed she has canceled her wedding as the country continues to curb a new wave of Omicron cases.
https://ift.tt/3Arhlsl

UK Royal Navy seizes more than $20 million worth of drugs in Gulf of Oman

The British Royal Navy has seized more than a ton of illicit drugs worth almost £15 million ($20.3 million) in the Gulf of Oman, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in a statement on Sunday.
https://ift.tt/346qL0E

At least 16 killed, several injured in nightclub fire in Cameroon's capital

At least 16 people were killed after a fire tore through a nightclub in Cameroon's capital city Yaoundé early on Sunday morning, according to the country's government.
https://ift.tt/3GTW50U

Inflation is soaring. Should the Fed unleash 'shock and awe'?

The Bank of England has already started to raise interest rates to fight inflation. The Federal Reserve is likely to follow soon. But how aggressive will America's central bank be?
https://ift.tt/3Ipbx5q

Bologna face masks and new M&Ms: 4 ways your food got weird this week

From M&Ms' mascots becoming more inclusive to a bologna face mask, there was lots of wild food news this week.
https://ift.tt/340J1bq

Boris Johnson faces make-or-break moment with report due into 'Partygate' scandal

It could be a crucial week for Boris Johnson in his battle to stay in power.
https://ift.tt/3tOGKuP

Heavy gunfire heard in Burkina Faso barracks, government denies army takeover

Gunfire rang out from several military camps in Burkina Faso early on Sunday, the government said, but it denied the military had seized power.
https://ift.tt/3rHaZ4r

Turkish journalist detained after 'insulting' President Erdogan in a TV interview

A Turkish journalist has been sent to prison for "insulting" the nation's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
https://ift.tt/3G0tVQQ

Ireland's data centers are an economic lifeline. Environmentalists say they're wrecking the planet

In the west of Ireland lies a medieval market town, its roots steeped in legend. Beyond the labyrinth of narrow streets of the center are the chimney stacks of housing developments that still puff coal and peat. Past those homes, on the outskirts of Ennis, is an unremarkable but huge plot of land, nestled between a power station and farmland where cattle and sheep graze. This is where a mysterious company has applied to develop a new data center the size of 22 American football fields.
https://ift.tt/3fRj6pj

Remote nation in the Pacific goes into lockdown for the first time

• 'I've got terminal cancer. Here's why I'm prioritizing travel' • 22 places added to 'very high' travel risk list • United Airlines flight to Tel Aviv turns around due to 'disruptive passengers'
https://ift.tt/3nOGCI3

US Embassy in Kyiv asks State Dept. to authorize departure of nonessential personnel

The US Embassy in Kyiv has requested that the State Department authorize the departure of all nonessential staff and their families, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.
https://ift.tt/33RWfY5

The stock market is a 'superbubble' about to burst, top hedge fund manager warns

Stocks are off to a tough start this year. The tech-heavy Nasdaq is already in a correction, a more than 10% drop. And if one the most influential hedge fund managers is to be believed, this could be only the beginning of a very painful time for investors.
https://ift.tt/3Ap6PBZ

The sky is falling for Netflix

Just like its comedy film "Don't Look Up," the sky may be falling for Netflix.
https://ift.tt/3qOUZhx

As Big Tech stocks get slaughtered, Intel rises from the ashes

Intel was once the undisputed king of the semiconductor industry until the chip giant lost momentum to rivals Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices in recent years. Now, with a new CEO, Intel is regaining some of its swagger.
https://ift.tt/3KuFqmQ

What's getting more expensive

Inflation and supply chain snags have sent prices for everyday items soaring, from Tide laundry detergent to new cars. Here's what CNN Business found got more expensive this week, and what might be next.
https://ift.tt/3FRIKEY

Saudi-led coalition denies targeting Yemeni detention center after airstrikes kill 70

The coalition led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates fighting in Yemen denied that it deliberately targeted a detention center in airstrikes on Friday that killed dozens and caused a nationwide internet blackout.
https://ift.tt/3H4i9G4

Death of horse tripped while filming stunt for South Korean drama prompts outcry

South Korea's public broadcaster has apologized over the death last year of a horse that was tripped during the filming of a stunt, in a case that has sparked outcry from animal rights advocates.
https://ift.tt/3Ipnl7V

Deadly ISIS prison break attempt fuels fears of the group's resurgence

At least seven fighters from the US-allied Syrian Democratic Forces were killed when ISIS attempted to break thousands of its fighters out of a Syrian prison on Thursday, an attack underlining concerns the terror group could be quietly resurging.
https://ift.tt/3GUsCE0

Airstrikes kill 70 people and knock out internet in Yemen

• Analysis: A drone attack in Abu Dhabi could mark dangerous turning point for Middle East
https://ift.tt/3FPkFi7

Canadian high school named after Prince Andrew to be renamed

The Prince Andrew High School in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, will be renamed as the sex abuse civil case against the British royal continues moving forward in the United States, school officials say.
https://ift.tt/3Inv1Yg

US charges Belarusian officials for diverting flight carrying dissident journalist

United States federal prosecutors charged four Belarus officials with piracy-related charges for diverting a RyanAir airplane mid-flight last year to arrest a journalist critical of the government.
https://ift.tt/3tLOvSb

'Huge explosion' in Ghana after vehicle carrying mining explosives hits motorcycle

A "huge explosion" in Ghana on Thursday was caused by a collision between a motorcycle and a vehicle carrying explosives to be used in mining, police said.
https://ift.tt/3qHArYa

Biden reveals an uncomfortable truth about NATO's divide on Russian aggression in Ukraine

US President Joe Biden's admission that Western allies are not entirely united on how they would respond to a "minor" Russian incursion into Ukraine has sparked an uproar in Kiev.
https://ift.tt/3rGYQfU

Novak Djokovic remains a national idol in Serbia despite anti-vax stance

Not long after the world's best tennis player, Novak Djokovic, stepped off the plane in Melbourne and into legal uncertainty, his father, Srdjan, held a press conference in the back room of his Novak-themed family restaurant in Belgrade, confidently declaring, "Novak is Serbia, Serbia is Novak."
https://ift.tt/3AjfEgw

Paris Fashion Week: How to watch the Autumn-Winter 2022 menswear shows online

It seemed another round of virtual catwalks was in store for the fashion industry this season, until France eased its coronavirus restrictions just days before the start of the Paris Fashion Week menswear shows on Tuesday.
https://ift.tt/3nCLOie

First contactless aid flights arrive in disaster-hit Tonga as islands aim to keep Covid out

The first contactless aid flights arrived in disaster-hit Tonga on Thursday, as the coronavirus-free Pacific island nation takes precautions to keep the virus out of its borders in the wake of a devastating volcanic eruption and tsunami.
https://ift.tt/3Ad6sdO

Three children killed as temperatures plummet in Syria, Lebanon and Jordan

Three Syrian children have died, with hundreds of thousands of people "at great risk" following heavy winter storms in Syria and neighboring countries, according to humanitarian organization CARE.
https://ift.tt/3tIlJlG

Palestinian family home demolished in sensitive East Jerusalem neighborhood

A Palestinian family has been removed from their home in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in East Jerusalem in an overnight operation carried out by Israeli police.
https://ift.tt/3GKft0m

Goldman Sachs earned nearly $4 billion, but that wasn't good enough

Goldman Sachs had a phenomenal year. But like many of its competitors on Wall Street, the numbers just weren't good enough to satisfy fickle investors.
https://ift.tt/3rwgv9E

Analysis: A drone attack in Abu Dhabi could mark a dangerous turning point for the Middle East. Here's what to know

A deadly drone attack in the heart of the United Arab Emirates' capital has thrust the Middle East into uncharted waters at a time when the region's leaders have sought to heal years-long rifts.
https://ift.tt/33N0MuF

US basketball player Sonny Weems racially abused by fans in China

American basketball player Sonny Weems has been subjected to racial abuse from fans while playing in China.
https://ift.tt/3fBuwxt

The European Parliament's new President immediately faced questions on her views on abortion

Maltese center-right politician Roberta Metsola has been elected as the new European Parliament President, a week after the body's previous head David Sassoli died suddenly, and she immediately faced questions around her stance on abortion rights.
https://ift.tt/3A8nJVz

FBI & European police take down computer servers used in 'major international cyberattacks'

The FBI and police from multiple European countries and Canada have taken down 15 computer servers that were used in "major international cyberattacks," law enforcement agencies said this week.
https://ift.tt/33HDw1k

Have you quit your job? We want to hear from you

Millions of people around the world are quitting their jobs or opting out of the workforce. We want to learn more about what's driving this phenomenon, and how attitudes about work are changing in the United States and other countries.
https://ift.tt/3tmf7Jn

Cognac sales jump 31%, thanks to the US and China

Cognac sales surged by nearly a third last year as American and Chinese drinkers guzzled old vintages, in the latest sign premium drink makers are putting the pandemic behind them.
https://ift.tt/3A4bKZ2

Afghanistan earthquake kills at least 22 people

An earthquake rocked western Afghanistan on Monday, killing more than 20 people and destroying hundreds of homes, local authorities said.
https://ift.tt/3rq4aDZ

Sudanese forces kill at least seven during anti-coup protests, medics say

At least seven protesters were shot dead by Sudanese security forces on Monday during anti-coup rallies in the capital Khartoum, according to the civilian-allied Sudanese Central Doctors Committee (SCDC).
https://ift.tt/3FH1A1r

3 killed in Houthi drone attack in Abu Dhabi

A Houthi drone attack near Abu Dhabi airport killed at least three people and sparked multiple explosions in the United Arab Emirates' capital on Monday.
https://ift.tt/3IbjivY

Opinion: For Putin, Kazakhstan is a domino too big to fall

As a series of high-level talks between the United States, European allies and Russia wind down this week, an uptick in Moscow's military muscle on its borders will remain a preoccupation of western diplomats long after they return to their duty stations.
https://ift.tt/3nzSRIm

Prince Harry seeks right to pay for UK police protection when in Britain

Britain's Prince Harry is making a legal challenge to a UK government decision that prevents him from personally paying for police protection for himself and his family when they are in the UK, according to his legal representatives.
https://ift.tt/3GzwVVj

Turkmenistan wants to close the 'Gates of Hell'

This week in travel, the United States declared Canada a "very high" risk destination, the world's most powerful passports for 2022 were revealed and Turkmenistan's president called for the country's "Gates of Hell" to close.
https://ift.tt/3Kg8Uow

China's economy expanded 8.1% in 2021, but growth is slowing

China's economy grew just 4% in the last quarter of 2021, its slowest pace in a year and a half as the country struggled with a deepening property crisis, renewed Covid outbreaks and Beijing's strict no-tolerance approach to controlling the virus.
https://ift.tt/33q67s3

Italian fashion pioneer Nino Cerruti dies at 91

Italian fashion designer and entrepreneur Nino Cerruti died Saturday at the age of 91, the Italian family business Lanificio Fratelli Cerruti said in a statement.
https://ift.tt/3IeP37p

Microsoft finds 'destructive' malware in Ukraine

Destructive malware capable of wiping data has appeared on dozens of computer systems at Ukrainian organizations, including government agencies, non-profits and technology organizations, Microsoft has warned.
https://ift.tt/3nxhOEb

Prices are soaring. How high can they go?

Americans have watched prices spike during the pandemic. By the end of 2021, one inflation measure was near a four-decade high while another hit two records in a row.
https://ift.tt/3FINbCh

The world's largest money manager just hit $10 trillion in assets. Here's where it's invested

The stock market boom has created an insatiable appetite for exchange-traded funds, which make it easy for traders to invest in many of the world's top companies all at once. That's great news for BlackRock, the world's largest money manager.
https://ift.tt/33C3DXy

Former Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita dies at 76

Former Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has died, Malian state media channel ORTM reported on Sunday. He was 76.
https://ift.tt/3FxYpcy

Dutch royal family to temporarily stop using Golden Coach

King Willem-Alexander has said the Dutch royal family will temporarily stop using the Golden Coach until "the Netherlands is ready," following criticism of colonial ties to the horse-drawn carriage.
https://ift.tt/3tx9d8l

China is risking a big hit to the economy and supply chains with zero-Omicron approach

The Chinese government's unwavering insistence on stamping out any trace of the coronavirus is facing its biggest test yet as authorities grapple with Omicron's quickening spread. And it could cost the world's second largest economy dearly this year.
https://ift.tt/3tulgmO

Opinion: Djokovic saga shows the absurd confusion of Australia's Covid-19 fortress

Many tennis commentators say Novak Djokovic is all but unbeatable in Australia. He is, after all, the winner of a remarkable nine Australian Open Grand Slam titles. And, as the Australian government discovered this week, it hasn't proven easy to defeat him in a court of law, either.
https://ift.tt/3rbzSVz

Downing Street held gatherings dubbed 'wine-time Fridays' during lockdowns

Staff at 10 Downing Street held gatherings dubbed "wine-time Fridays" during England's coronavirus lockdowns, British tabloid newspaper The Mirror reported on Friday.
https://ift.tt/3Fx6E8T

Men tried to smuggle $340,000 worth of cocaine in baked beans tins

Two men have been jailed for attempting to smuggle $341,875 (£250,000) worth of cocaine in baked beans and condensed coconut milk tins.
https://ift.tt/3qsNcWs

Ruling against Prince Andrew is another win for Child Victims Act's lookback window

In his ruling that a child sexual abuse lawsuit against Prince Andrew can move ahead, Judge Lewis Kaplan took several pages to flatly reject the royal's argument that the law undergirding the entire case is unconstitutional.
https://ift.tt/33Cudzw

The world's insatiable appetite for electricity is setting up a climate disaster

The world needs more electricity. That will mean severe climate damage, unless something changes soon.
https://ift.tt/3GtozhU

Cyberattack hits Ukraine government websites

A number of Ukrainian government websites were targeted in a cyberattack with threatening text warning Ukrainians to "be afraid and wait for the worst" and alleging their personal information has been hacked.
https://ift.tt/3qq1Zkt

China is still the ultimate prize that Western banks can't resist

For many companies, doing business in China is getting trickier by the day. But Western banks and asset managers are more than willing to up their bets on the world's second biggest economy, convinced that the opportunities remain too good to pass up.
https://ift.tt/3qqfXTB

Woman connected to Chinese Communist Party 'seeking to covertly interfere in UK politics,' MI5 says

The United Kingdom's domestic spy agency has warned British lawmakers that a woman connected to the Chinese Communist Party has been working to interfere in the UK political process.
https://ift.tt/3npxFom

El Salvador denies responsibility for hacking journalists after report finds Pegasus spyware on their phones

El Salvador's government has denied responsibility for hacking the cell phones of at least 35 journalists and other members of civil society by using the spying program known as Pegasus.
https://ift.tt/3trY4G2

RNC threatens to require GOP nominees to skip debates run by debate commission

• Members of the far right are already plotting to impeach Biden if the GOP takes Congress back • Analysis: Lindsey Graham just threatened Mitch McConnell over Donald Trump
https://ift.tt/3GqDBEZ

Michael Caine is selling his art and film memorabilia -- and even his glasses

Oscar-winning actor Michael Caine is giving fans the chance to own mementos of his illustrious film career.
https://ift.tt/3r1pJux

Assad's regime on trial for crimes against humanity. The court is about to rule on most senior official yet

A German court is set to rule on the case of a Syrian colonel accused of committing crimes against humanity on Thursday, in the first-ever torture trial against President Bashar al-Assad's regime.
https://ift.tt/3I5gKzt

US sanctions 5 North Koreans and 1 entity tied to regime's missile programs

The US on Wednesday announced sanctions on five North Koreans and one entity supporting the regime's ballistic missile programs, imposing the punishments after a new missile test by the country.
https://ift.tt/33ev75B

US military links prolific hacking group to Iranian intelligence

The US military's Cyber Command on Wednesday detailed multiple hacking tools that officials say Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security has used against computer networks "around the world."
https://ift.tt/3I49hRd

Energy watchdog says Russia is undermining Europe's gas supply amid Ukraine standoff

Russia is contributing to an undersupply of natural gas to Europe, the head of the International Energy Agency Fatih Birol said on Wednesday, noting it comes amid a standoff between Moscow and the West over Ukraine.
https://ift.tt/3noeACX

Kiev mayor sends strong warning to Russia over troops near the Ukraine border

Vitali Klitschko, the former heavyweight boxer and now the Mayor of Kiev, has sent a strong warning to Russia about the presence of its troops near the Ukraine border saying "we prepare for any case."
https://ift.tt/3nklKZ2

Italian Catholic, Jewish leaders condemn use of Nazi flag at church funeral

Italian Catholic and Jewish leaders on Tuesday condemned as outrageous an episode in which right-wing extremists put a flag with a swastika on a coffin outside a church after a religious funeral and gave Nazi salutes.
https://ift.tt/3K2bOwY

Denmark's spy chief imprisoned for allegedly leaking classified information

Denmark's spy chief has been in prison for over a month for allegedly leaking classified information, it was revealed on Monday.
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Magawa, the 'hero rat' who sniffed out landmines, has died

Magawa, the "hero rat" whose work sniffing out landmines in Cambodia won him a medal for life-saving bravery, has died at the age of 8.
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US grounded planes as a 'precaution' after a North Korean missile launch

An unusual ground stop was issued to some pilots for a short period of time following a North American Aerospace Defense Command alert of a launch of a North Korean missile, a US official said Tuesday.
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Hungary sets a date for referendum on controversial LGBTQ law

Hungary will hold a referendum in April on its controversial law that bans educational materials and programs for children that are considered to promote homosexuality and gender reassignment, the government announced Tuesday.
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Nigeria tops Egypt as Mohamed Salah struggles

Kelechi Iheanacho scored a goal of real quality as Nigeria won its opening game of the Africa Cup of Nations against Egypt.
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More than half of Europe could catch Covid-19 in two months, WHO expert warns

The Omicron variant is forecasted to infect more than half of all Europeans in the next six to eight weeks, a World Health Organization official said Tuesday as he urged nations to strengthen mask rules and warned that the window to act was closing.
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Djokovic won his court case but few Australians are cheering

An Australian judge's stunning dismissal of the government's hasty attempt to deport the world No. 1 men's tennis player is a spectacular defeat for an administration that prides itself on strong borders.
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China appoints former paramilitary chief as new Hong Kong garrison commander

China has appointed a former paramilitary chief, Peng Jingtang, as the new commander of the People Liberation Army's (PLA) garrison in Hong Kong, state broadcaster CCTV reported, citing the PLA's spokesman.
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European Parliament President David Sassoli dies age 65

European Parliament President David Sassoli has died in Italy, according to a Tweet from his spokesman early Tuesday local time.
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Leaked email shows Boris Johnson's top official invited Downing Street staff to a lockdown-breaking party

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has more questions to answer after it emerged on Monday that one of his top officials sent an invitation to a Downing Street party to dozens of employees amid the first Covid-19 lockdown in the country.
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North Korea has launched an 'unidentified projectile,' South Korea says

North Korea launched an unidentified projectile, or projectiles, off its east coast Tuesday, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a text message to media.
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US, EU slap new sanctions on Nicaraguan officials before Ortega's inauguration

The United States and the European Union issued new sanctions on a number of Nicaraguan officials on Monday, just hours before the the country's long-time strongman leader Daniel Ortega was expected to be sworn in for his fifth term as the president.
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Djokovic vows to compete in the Australian Open after his visa was restored

World tennis No. 1 Novak Djokovic should be allowed to defend his men's singles title at the Australian Open in Melbourne this month, after a judge quashed the government's decision to cancel his visa and ordered him to be freed.
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Analysis: The West has a rare window to put Putin in his place

This week may see one of the most significant and defining moments in relations between the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and Russia since the break-up of the Soviet Union.
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Uganda reopens schools after world's longest Covid-19 shutdown

This week 18-year-old Fridah Namuganza is taking orders and wiping down tables in the Ugandan restaurant where she works -- but she wishes she was putting on a new school uniform and returning to classes like her friend Rachael Nalwanga.
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Brits face a massive increase in energy bills. BP and Shell could be on the hook to pay

The UK government is coming under mounting pressure to increase taxes on oil and gas companies, including BP and Shell. The aim: to help British households cope with skyrocketing energy bills.
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Fire destroys hundreds of homes in Bangladesh Rohingya refugee camp

A fire swept through a Rohingya refugee camp in southeastern Bangladesh on Sunday, destroying hundreds of homes, according to officials and witnesses, though there were no immediate reports of casualties.
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Baby handed to a soldier during Afghanistan evacuation has been found

An infant boy handed in desperation to a soldier across an airport wall in the chaos of the American evacuation of Afghanistan has been found and was reunited with his relatives in Kabul on Saturday.
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Kazakhstan detains former head of national security as Putin and Kazakh president discuss restoring 'order'

Russia's President Vladimir Putin and his Kazakh counterpart Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Saturday discussed restoring "order" in Kazakhstan following days of violence and unrest, as several high-profile officials were detained on suspicion of treason.
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Kazakhstan is huge for crypto mining. Political upheaval could change that

Political turmoil in Kazakhstan is hitting the country's vast bitcoin mining industry.
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Why Nike, Adidas and Ralph Lauren stuff is getting tougher to find

Looking to buy Nike sneakers, Adidas sweats, Crocs clogs, Polo shirts or Canada Goose parkas?
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Papa Johns plans to open over 1,350 stores in China

Papa Johns is making a big bet on China.
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Aid workers say Ethiopia air strike in northwest Tigray killed 56 people

An air strike in Ethiopia's northern region of Tigray killed 56 people and wounded at least 30 in a camp for the internally displaced, two aid workers told Reuters on Saturday, citing local authorities and eyewitness accounts.
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16 killed in gas explosion in southwest China

At least 16 people were killed and 10 others injured Friday in a gas explosion in southwestern China, according to the country's Ministry of Emergency Management.
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Snowstorm kills at least 16 tourists, with hundreds stranded, at Pakistani resort

At least 16 people have been killed in a snowstorm in the northeastern Pakistan resort town of Murree.
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Australian tennis star criticizes 'really bad' treatment of Djokovic as visa saga continues

Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios has criticized the "really bad" treatment of Novak Djokovic as the world No. 1's visa saga rumbles on.
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US and Moroccan Navy rescue 103 migrants off African coast

The US and Moroccan navies rescued 103 migrants from two rafts taking on water some 40 miles west of the Moroccan coast late Tuesday night, the US Navy said Friday.
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Indian police hunt Covid-positive air passengers who escaped on way to quarantine

At least 10 passengers have escaped from an airport in the northern Indian city of Amritsar after testing positive for Covid-19, according to Ruhee Dugg, a senior district official.
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What's next for supply chains after the holiday rush

Retailers can breathe a sigh of relief now that the Christmas holiday is over, capping months of laborious planning to keep shelves stocked over the busy shopping period. But it may not be much of a respite.
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Coca Cola is releasing a boozy version of this soda

Coca-Cola is tapping into the canned cocktail craze with a boozy version of its Fresca soda.
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America calls out sick

Montclair Bread Co. closed last weekend after a quarter of the staff tested positive for Covid-19. The bakery missed out on 25% of its monthly sales.
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Chinese Premier Li Keqiang calls for tax cuts to boost slowing economy

A top Chinese official this week called for more tax cuts as the world's second largest economy contends with fallout from renewed Covid outbreaks, a strict zero-tolerance approach to containing the virus and a deepening real estate crisis.
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What Xi'an's chaotic lockdown reveals about China's uncompromising top-down bureaucracy

As harrowing stories continue to emerge from within the locked-down city of Xi'an, a wave of disbelief has washed over the Chinese public: why are such tragedies still unfolding two years into the pandemic, in a major metropolis of 13 million people?
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Two journalists burned alive by gang in Haiti

Two Haitian journalists were burned alive by a gang in the country's capital on Thursday, a source with the Haitian Security Forces told CNN.
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Dozens of children were mummified in an Italian catacomb. Scientists want to know why

A team of scientists is trying to find out why dozens of children were mummified and buried in catacombs at a convent on the Italian island of Sicily.
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More European countries order mandatory vaccination to battle Omicron wave

Anyone over 50 living in Italy must be vaccinated against Covid-19, under strict new rules introduced by the government.
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France begins terrorism probe into Saudi Arabia blast ahead of Dakar Rally

French prosecutors have opened a terrorism investigation into an explosion in Saudi Arabia that injured a French driver ahead of the Dakar Rally.
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Pets' welfare will be considered in divorce battles in Spain

Spain will consider a pet's welfare when couples divorce or break-up from Wednesday in a legal shift that strengthens the case for couples obtaining shared custody of their animals.
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Pope Francis calls out couples who choose pets instead of kids

Pope Francis has criticized couples who choose to have pets instead of children as selfish, arguing that their decision to forgo parenthood leads to a loss of "humanity" and is a detriment to civilization.
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Analysis: North Korea claims to be testing the world's most advanced weapon. Experts are doubtful

North Korea says it tested a hypersonic missile on Wednesday, its second alleged test of such a weapon by the Kim Jong Un regime.
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Emergency declared in Kazakhstan as fuel protests rage and government resigns

Unrest broke out in cities across Kazakhstan on Wednesday, as thousands angrily protested a sharp fuel price hike that sparked the resignation of the Central Asian country's government.
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Macron wants to 'piss off' the unvaccinated, as tensions rise over French vaccine pass

French President Emmanuel Macron has said he "really wants to piss off" unvaccinated people, intensifying a heated political debate over strict new rules for those who have refused the shot.
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'Traumatic': 30-day quarantine keeps Hong Kong man isolated

CNN's Will Ripley shares the story of a man isolated in Hong Kong due to the city's Covid-19 rules. Experts say the protocols may harm individuals' mental health.
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Canada reaches agreement to compensate indigenous children taken from families

Canada announced on Tuesday two agreements totaling $31.5 billion (40 billion Canadian dollars) to compensate First Nations children who were taken from their families and put into the child welfare system and to reform the system that removed them and deprived them of services they needed.
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US charges Colombian man with conspiracy to kill Haiti's President

The United States has arrested a Colombian man for his alleged involvement in the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise, who was killed in his bedroom last July.
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North Korea fires unidentified projectile into waters off Korean Peninsula, South Korea says

North Korea has fired an unidentified projectile into waters off the east coast of the Korean Peninsula, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said Wednesday.
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How a child's kidnapping shone a light on an alleged plot to topple the French government

Armed with homemade explosives, fueled by conspiracy theories and fermented during the pandemic, ​French authorities say "The Overthrow" was a potentially dangerous creation.
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Judge expects to make decision on motion to dismiss lawsuit against Prince Andrew

An attorney for Prince Andrew argued at a hearing Tuesday that a lawsuit filed against his client by Virginia Giuffre, who alleges Prince Andrew sexually abused her, should be dismissed largely in part because he believes a settlement agreement Giuffre signed with Jeffrey Epstein releases him from legal action.
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OPEC and its allies agree to keep pumping more oil

OPEC+ agreed on Tuesday to stick to its planned increase in oil output for February because it expects the Omicron coronavirus variant to have a short-lived impact on global energy demand.
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Outcry over Xi'an lockdown tests limits of China's zero-Covid policy

For residents in China's northwestern city of Xi'an, the start of 2022 is looking a lot like 2020 -- only worse.
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The best destinations to go in 2022

Travel is more challenging now than it has been in a long time. Borders tentatively reopen only to slam shut again. A once-simple visa on entry is replaced with piles of paperwork. And the whole world is brushing up on the Greek alphabet whenever a new variant makes headlines.
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Hong Kong activist sentenced to 15 months in prison over unauthorized Tiananmen Square vigil

Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Chow Hang-tung was sentenced to 15 months in prison on Tuesday for her part in organizing an unauthorized vigil to commemorate the victims of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre.
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Evergrande has been ordered to demolish 39 buildings in Chinese resort

Troubled Chinese real estate developer Evergrande is trying to reassure investors that it will work with authorities who have ordered the company to demolish a few dozen buildings in China.
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China, US, UK, France and Russia pledge to avoid nuclear war

Five of the world's largest nuclear powers pledged on Monday to work together toward "a world without nuclear weapons" in a rare statement of unity amid rising East-West tensions.
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Opinion: This woman could topple the French President

As France gears up for a presidential campaign amid a savage fifth coronavirus wave sweeping the country, for the first time in the nation's history, female candidates occupy three of the principal axes of the political spectrum and may hold the key to the nation's future.
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At India's Golden Temple, an intruder was allegedly beaten to death. So why don't politicians want to talk about it?

The throngs of worshipers were mid-prayer when a man emerged from the crowd and jumped over the barrier, entering into the sanctum of Sikhism's holiest shrine.
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A slam dunk if you need a balance transfer (21 months)

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What Elon Musk is likely to do with the billions he got from selling stock

What's Elon Musk doing with the billions he's collected in the past two months from selling shares in Tesla?
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See Dutch police and protesters clash over Covid-19 measures

Demonstrators in the Netherlands defied a government ban on large protests to voice their anger over Covid-19 restrictions. Meanwhile, more countries in Europe are implementing or considering further measures to contain the Omicron variant as people return to work and school after the holidays. CNN's Michael Holmes reports.
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India is investigating a fake website that offered Muslim women for sale

The Indian government says it is investigating a website that purported to offer Muslim women for sale, the second time in less than a year that a fake online auction of this kind has sparked outrage in the country.
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Biden tells Ukrainian president US 'will respond decisively if Russia further invades'

• Analysis: Why Democrats haven't given up on Manchin and voting rights
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Malaysia floods hit seven states forcing thousands to evacuate

Seven states in Malaysia were hit by floods on Sunday and thousands of people were evacuated, taking the total affected by heavy rain in the past two weeks to more than 125,000, the National Disaster Management Agency said.
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Unidentified person crossed the militarized border from South Korea into North Korea

An unidentified person has crossed the heavily militarized border from South Korea into North Korea, the South Korean military said on Sunday.
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EU flag removed from Arc de Triomphe after causing stir

A large European Union flag attached to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris on Friday to mark the start of France's six-month presidency of the bloc was removed on Sunday after it drew outrage from far-right and right-wing leaders.
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Lionel Messi tests positive for Covid-19

Lionel Messi is one of four Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) players to have tested positive for Covid-19, the club said in a statement on Sunday.
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Hong Kong's flagship airline says strict new quarantine rules could cause 'dramatic' supply chain disruptions

Hong Kong's flagship airline warned Friday that strict new quarantine measures in the city could lead to "dramatic disruptions" to local supply chains, as the company is forced to curb some passenger and cargo flights.
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Ikea is raising prices by 9% in 2022

Ikea said its customers will pay more when they shop at its stores in 2022.
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China's Xi'an lockdown hits some of the world's largest chipmakers

Two of the world's biggest chipmakers are warning that Covid-19 outbreaks and stringent lockdowns in a major Chinese industrial hub are hampering their operations.
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Why prices will keep soaring in 2022

America is finishing the year with decades-high inflation. That doesn't bode well for 2022.
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Dutch police disperse thousands protesting against lockdown measures

Riot police with batons and shields tried to break up a crowd of several thousand who had gathered in the Dutch capital on Sunday to protest against Covid-19 lockdown measures and vaccinations.
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France cuts isolation times and plans crackdown on unvaccinated amid record surge in Covid cases

The Omicron variant's rapid spread across France has prompted the government to slash Covid-19 isolation times for vaccinated people and move to further isolate the unvaccinated from public venues in a bid to ease the financial and social burdens of the outbreak.
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Mali proposes five-year election delay to West African bloc

Mali's interim authorities proposed to its West African neighbors that a transition back to democracy following a 2020 military coup be extended by five years, the foreign minister said in comments broadcast on Saturday.
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Elite Afghan military pilots resettled in US fear for family they had to leave behind

Belal Khohestani wishes the United States would feel like home. The former pilot for the Afghan Special Mission Wing -- the elite of Afghanistan's military -- recently moved from Fort Pickett in Virginia to Chicago, where he has found a place to live and a roommate.
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2022 could be a make-or-break year for Europe

In 2022, the European Union must confront some of the most difficult challenges it faces if it is ever to become the geopolitical power its leaders so desperately want it to be.
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874 cars were torched in France on New Year's Eve

A total of 874 vehicles were set ablaze across France on New Year's Eve as part of a decades-old tradition.
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India's daily Covid-19 cases rise by 22,775

India on Saturday reported 22,775 new Covid-19 infections over the past 24 hours, health ministry data shows, adding to concerns for authorities around the country about the rising number of cases.
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Kim Jong Un focuses year-end speech on 'food problem' in North Korea

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has again admitted there is a "food problem" in the country, during a speech which brought an important five-day meeting of his Korean Worker's Party to a close.
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Pope Francis calls violence against women an 'insult to God' in New Year's Day homily

Pope Francis has condemned violence against women as an "insult to God" in his New Year's Day homily.
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12 killed in stampede at Indian shrine

A stampede at one of India's holiest shrines left at least 12 people dead on New Year's Day, a local official said.
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Anti-apartheid hero Desmond Tutu laid to rest at state funeral in South Africa

Archbishop Desmond Tutu's family and friends gathered for his official state funeral on New Year's Day in Cape Town, capping a week of events honoring a man long considered to be the moral compass of South Africa.
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