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Sailors stranded off France's La Reunion by Cyclone Batsirai saved
The crew of an oil tanker stranded near the coast of the Indian Ocean island of La Reunion after Cyclone Batsirai swept the region were rescued and brought ashore Friday, officials said.
Sports
Chen fires warning to rival Hanyu as Olympic figure skating begins
Strongly fancied Nathan Chen laid old demons to rest with a blistering start to his Olympics campaign in Beijing on Friday, as the figure skating competition kicked off.
Boulevard
UN demands Taliban provide info on two more missing women activists
The United Nations has demanded the Taliban provide information on two more women activists allegedly detained by the group this week -- bringing to four the number missing this year.
Sports
North Korean Olympics message may signal halt to missile tests: analysts
North Korea sent "warm congratulations" Friday to ally China ahead of the opening of the Beijing Winter Olympics, a message analysts said likely signals it will stop test-firing missiles during the event.
Sports
High-flying Hawks halt Suns' 11-game NBA winning streak
The Atlanta Hawks, fueled by 43 points from Trae Young, halted the Phoenix Suns' 11-game NBA winning streak on Thursday with a 124-115 victory over the top team in the league.
Sports
High-flying Hawks halt end Suns' 11-game NBA winning streak
The Atlanta Hawks, fueled by 43 points from Trae Young, halted the Phoenix Suns' 11-game NBA winning streak on Thursday with a 124-115 victory over the top team in the league.
Sports
Six players to watch in the Six Nations
The 2022 Six Nations Championship gets underway this weekend with Ireland at home to Wales, Scotland taking on arch-rivals England and favourites France facing Italy in Paris.
Sports
England coach Jones happy to spark 'red-hot' Scotland
England coach Eddie Jones labelling Scotland "red-hot favourites" for the old rivals' Six Nations opener at Murrayfield on Saturday may be a familiar ploy, but he might have a point.
Economy
Rotterdam says no decision on dismantling bridge for Bezos superyacht
The Dutch port city of Rotterdam has not received a request for a permit to temporarily dismantle an historic bridge to allow a superyacht built for Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to pass, local media reported Thursday.
Sports
British athlete says China should not host Olympics over rights record
A British silver medallist and a prominent US coach at the Beijing Winter Olympics have criticised the decision to award the Games to China over its human rights record.
Economy
Asian markets mostly rise as Hong Kong reopens, eyes on US jobs
Asian markets mostly rose Friday as a rally in Hong Kong on its first day back from a break helped overcome a sharp drop on Wall Street, though a surprisingly hawkish tilt from the European Central Bank added fuel to fears about the removal of pandemic-era stimulus.
Economy
Morocco rescuers dig for boy trapped in well
Moroccans waited anxiously Thursday as authorities said a dramatic operation to rescue a young boy trapped in a deep well for over two days was nearing its end.
Technology
New 'highly virulent' HIV strain discovered in the Netherlands
Oxford researchers announced Thursday the discovery of a highly virulent strain of HIV that has been lurking in the Netherlands for decades, but because of the effectiveness of modern treatments, is "no cause for alarm."
Boulevard
Activision Blizzard to bolster 'Call of Duty' line-up
Activision Blizzard on Thursday said it will beef-up its "Call of Duty" video game franchise after sagging interest by players led to a sales decline in the recently ended quarter.
Technology
'Moonfall' and the art of the disaster film cliche
Director Roland Emmerich knows a thing or two about the ingredients needed for a good disaster flick, having given the world "Independence Day", "2012" and "The Day After Tomorrow".
Culture
Row over 'machismo' in song by Brazil icon Chico Buarque
In 1966, the late bossa nova singer Nara Leao asked Brazilian music icon Chico Buarque to write her a song about a long-suffering woman waiting on her man.
Politics
Costa Rica: Central America's green pin-up
Costa Rica, which elects a new president Sunday, is a small country thriving on ecotourism. Its neutrality, strong democracy and political stability have earned it the nickname of Central America's Switzerland.
Politics
Ex-heavyweights resurrected in Costa Rica polls, but election still unclear
There is a feeling of uncertainty hanging over one of Latin America's most stable democracies as Costa Rica heads to the polls on Sunday with a crowded presidential field and no clear favorite.
Technology
Mexican kayaker on mission to clean up floating gardens
As dawn breaks over Mexico City's floating gardens, Omar Menchaca paddles his kayak through a maze of canals collecting garbage left by visitors to one of the last vestiges of the ancient Aztec capital.
Politics
Private military contractors bolster Russian influence in Africa
Russia's geopolitical ambitions in Africa have in recent years been backed by private military contractors, often described as belonging to the "Wagner group" -- an entity with no known legal status.
Politics
Repsol says Peru oil spill will be cleaned up in March
Spanish energy giant Repsol on Thursday vowed to finish by March cleaning up a devastating oil spill that has polluted beaches and killed wildlife.
Sports
Japan's Hataoka, USA's Alex fire 65s to share LPGA lead
Japan's Nasa Hataoka and American Marina Alex fired seven-under-par 65s to share a one-stroke lead after Thursday's opening round of the LPGA Drive On Championship.
Economy
Ford Q4 profits hit by supply chain woes
Ford reported weaker-than-expected fourth-quarter profits Thursday amid supply chain problems, even as higher car prices boosted results in North America.
Sports
Egypt suggest delaying AFCON final against Senegal by a day
Egypt called on Africa Cup of Nations organisers to delay this weekend's final against Senegal to give them more time to prepare after overcoming hosts Cameroon on penalties in Thursday's semi-final.
Sports
Real Madrid's double bid ends in shock loss to Athletic Bilbao
Real Madrid's hopes of clinching a Spanish domestic double were dashed on Thursday as Athletic Bilbao scored a dramatic 89th-minute winner to knock them out of the Copa del Rey.
Sports
Teammates of transgender swimmer seek bar from women's competition
Sixteen teammates of transgender swimmer Lia Thomas on Thursday urged US college sport authorities to follow new USA Swimming rules which could bar her from competing at upcoming championships.
Sports
Salah and Egypt beat Cameroon on penalties to reach Cup of Nations final
Mohamed Salah's Egypt are through to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations after beating hosts Cameroon 3-1 on penalties at the end of a goalless 120 minutes in Yaounde on Thursday.
Europe to fore in Ukraine crisis as US warns of Russian plot
The leaders of Turkey and France attempted to mediate in the Ukraine crisis on Thursday as Washington announced it had evidence of a Russian plan to fake a Ukrainian attack to justify invading its neighbour.
Economy
Amazon holiday quarter profit doubles
Amazon on Thursday reported its profit doubled to $14 billion in the recently ended quarter, giving a boost to jittery markets that expected less due to higher labor, sourcing and delivery costs.
Politics
US claims evidence of Moscow plan for 'false flag' Ukrainian attack
The Pentagon said Thursday it had evidence of a plan by Moscow to film a fake Ukrainian attack on Russians to justify a real assault on its pro-West neighbor.
Boulevard
Argentine police race to eradicate laced cocaine that killed 22
Argentine police on Thursday seized vast quantities of cocaine likely laced with opioids and made several arrests after 22 people died and dozens ended up in hospital poisoned in Buenos Aires.
Politics
'Incredibly complex': the US raid that killed IS chief
By early December US intelligence was certain: the man occupying the top floor of a nondescript house in Atme, northern Syria -- who never left the premises, emerging only to bathe on the roof -- was the head of the Islamic State group.