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Postmen deliver the goods on Ukraine's home front
There is war raging in Ukraine but the postmasters in the western city of Lviv promise to keep making deliveries.

Marquez suffers nasty fall in dramatic Indonesia MotoGP practice
Six-time MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez suffered a high-speed crash in second practice for the Indonesian Grand Prix on Friday as title-holder Fabio Quartararo roared back to go quickest.

Most Asian markets extend global rally, oil rebounds
Asian equities mostly rose Friday to end the week on a strong note after a blockbuster rebound boosted by China's pledge of support for its markets, while unease over the Ukraine war helped oil extend a recovery.

Tanzania Maasai torn over possible eviction from Ngorongoro reserve
For over a century, Tanzania's Maasai pastoralists have shared the famed Ngorongoro conservation area with zebras, elephants and wildebeests. But now they face the prospect of eviction as their exploding population poses a threat to wildlife.

Original 'Godzilla' actor Akira Takarada dies at 87
Japanese actor Akira Takarada, who starred in the original 1954 "Godzilla" and several later films featuring the city-wrecking monster, has died in Tokyo aged 87.

Myanmar junta approves sale of Telenor subsidiary to Lebanon's M1
Myanmar's junta has approved the sale of Norwegian telecoms giant Telenor's Myanmar subsidiary to Lebanese conglomerate M1 Group, both companies said on Friday, in a move activist groups warn could put sensitive customer data in the hands of the military.

As Ukraine war rages, Poles divided over US missile base
As the conflict in Ukraine rages, residents of a region in northern Poland that will house a US missile facility worry they could become Russian targets in case of a wider conflict.

Australia's World Cup hopes hit as coach tests positive for Covid
Australia suffered a major setback Friday ahead of their must-win World Cup qualifier against Japan next week with coach Graham Arnold testing positive for Covid-19.

Thailand to scrap pre-travel Covid-19 test to boost tourism
Travellers to Thailand will no longer have to take a Covid-19 test before boarding the plane, under plans announced Friday as part of efforts to reboot the kingdom's pandemic-battered tourism sector.

Russia strikes near Lviv airport as bombardment expands across Ukraine
Russian missiles struck near Lviv's airport in the far west of Ukraine early Friday, as Moscow expanded a countrywide aerial bombardment campaign that has intensified allegations of war crimes and deliberate targeting of civilians.

Beijing's vow to stabilise the market has worked... for now
An unexpected pledge by top Beijing officials this week to shore up the economy sent Asian stocks surging after days of jitters over China's coronavirus rebound, war in Ukraine and an uncertain property market.

Asian markets extend global rally, oil rebounds
Asian equities rose Friday to end the week on a strong note after a blockbuster rebound boosted by China's pledge of support for its markets, while unease over the Ukraine war helped oil extend a recovery.

Sri Lanka secures Indian lifeline as IMF signals help
Cash-strapped Sri Lanka has secured a billion-dollar credit line from India to buy urgently needed food and medicine, officials said Friday, as the IMF confirmed it would discuss a possible bailout.

From Syria to Ukraine border: refugee aids war victims
When 28-year-old Syrian Omar Alshakal saw the exodus of desperate people fleeing Russia's invasion of Ukraine, he knew first hand what they were going through -- and starting thinking of ways to help.

Hong Kong leader defends mainland medics against 'divisive comments'
Hong Kong's leader on Friday warned against making "divisive comments" about mainland medics helping battle the city's deadly Omicron-fuelled wave after questions of accountability were raised by the press.

Taliban welcomes UN's continued Afghanistan presence
The Taliban Friday welcomed a UN Security Council resolution formally extending the world body's presence in Afghanistan, although the government of the hardline Islamist group remains unrecognised by the international community.

The battle to keep Russia's internet free
Western powers have seized the yachts of Russian oligarchs and booted Russian banks out of the international system in response to the Ukraine invasion, but sanctions that limit access to the internet are proving highly divisive.

'We're family': meet Thailand's 'Chicano' community
The crowd roars in the tightly packed room as the broad-shouldered, tattooed men stop pummelling a young recruit and smother him with hugs -- completing his initiation into one of Thailand's "Chicano" gangs.

Deadly wake-up calls traumatise Kyiv
A distraught man crouches over a woman's body draped in a bloodstained cloth, the latest victim of a new Russian tactic that is making Kyiv wake up to daily terror.

Bowler Connell collapses in West Indies World Cup win
Pace bowler Shamilia Connell collapsed while fielding for the West Indies at the Women's Cricket World Cup in New Zealand on Friday and was taken from the ground in an ambulance.

Great Barrier Reef suffers 'widespread' bleaching event
The Great Barrier Reef has again been hit with "widespread" bleaching, authorities said Friday, as higher-than-average ocean temperatures off Australia's northeast threaten the already struggling World Heritage site.

Spanish teen Alcaraz books Indian Wells semi against 'idol' Nadal
Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz toppled defending Indian Wells champion Cameron Norrie to reach his first ATP Masters semi-final on Thursday and a dream matchup with idol Rafael Nadal.

Spain's Pol Espargaro sets pace at scorching Indonesian MotoGP
Repsol Honda's Pol Espargaro defied testing conditions to go fastest in opening practice on Friday for the first Indonesian Grand Prix in 25 years.

Search for Ukraine theatre bombing survivors as war crime claims mount
Rescue workers searched desperately for any survivors buried beneath the rubble of Mariupol's bombed-out theatre Friday, as Russia's forces pounded residential areas across Ukraine, stoking allegations of war crimes.

Kyrgios defiant after tumultuous Indian Wells loss to Nadal
Nick Kyrgios lashed out when questioned about a frustration-fueled fling of his racquet that sent a ballboy ducking for cover on Thursday after the Australian's crushing loss to Rafael Nadal at the Indian Wells WTA and ATP Masters.

Messi left to pick up pieces at PSG after jeers and Champions League failure
A season that started with such feverish excitement is turning out to be nothing short of a fiasco in Paris for Lionel Messi, who suffered the ignominy of being booed by his own supporters last weekend.

Nadal thwarts Kyrgios to reach Indian Wells semi-finals
Rafael Nadal left Nick Kyrgios frustrated and fuming with a 7-6 (7/0), 4-7, 6-4 victory in the quarter-finals of the Indian Wells WTA and ATP Masters on Thursday.

US comic Pete Davidson not going to space after all
Plot twist: American comedian and actor Pete Davidson isn't going to space next week after all.

Shenzhen eases lockdown as pandemic gnaws at China economy
China's southern tech powerhouse Shenzhen has partially eased lockdown measures, after President Xi Jinping stressed the need to "minimise the impact" of the coronavirus pandemic on the nation's economy.

Argentina parliament approves IMF deal for $45 billion debt
Argentina's Senate on Thursday gave final approval to an agreement with the International Monetary Fund that restructures a $45 billion debt, clearing the country's short-term financial horizon but leaving a serious inflationary challenge.

Asian traders take breather, Hong Kong slips after huge surge
Asian equities were mixed Friday as investors took a breather from a strong rally, with Hong Kong giving up some of the colossal gains fuelled by China's support pledge, while unease over the Ukraine war helped oil extend a recovery.

'Living legend' Zlatan Ibrahimovic comes to the silver screen
Even though he's still an active player, a new film premiering Friday is attempting to tell the story of Swedish footballer Zlatan Ibrahimovic by focusing on the star's childhood growing up in a poor part of the city of Malmo.