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Extinct-in-the-wild species in conservation limbo

For species classified as "extinct in the wild", the zoos and botanical gardens where their fates hang by a thread are as often anterooms to oblivion as gateways to recovery, new research has shown.. "This is an overlooked category," the researchers noted. 

More than 40 migrants die in boat wreck off Italy

More than 40 migrants, including a baby just a few months old, died after their overloaded boat sank early on Sunday in stormy seas off Italy's southern Calabria region, rescue services said.. Calabria is in mourning after this terrible tragedy," regional governor Roberto Occhiuto said.

Nigeria tallies votes for new president

Nigeria was counting ballots on Sunday, a day after a historically tight election among three frontrunners competing for the presidency of Africa's most populous nation.. If no candidate wins, a runoff will take place within 21 days between two frontrunners.

Blinken eyes US inroads in Central Asia as Ukraine rattles nerves

Secretary of State Antony Blinken is heading to Central Asia hoping that greater US engagement will reassure former Soviet republics rattled by the Ukraine war, although Russia's historic clout limits the extent of cooperation.. - The Ukraine war is not the first time that an international crisis has thrown a greater spotlight on Central Asia.

Macron to visit China after Beijing's Ukraine peace plan

French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday said he would visit China in April and urged it to pressure Russia to end the war in Ukraine, a day after Beijing presented a peace plan.. Macron on Saturday said he would visit China in "early April" and urged Beijing to help "put pressure" on Russia to end the war.

Vote count starts after tight Nigeria election

Vote counting started in Nigeria's tightly contested election on Saturday, with three frontrunners vying to govern Africa's most populous democracy after a ballot hit by delays and isolated violence. . Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said vote counting started where the voting had ended but has not said when official results will be released.

Rallies in Berlin, Paris call for peace in Ukraine

Protesters in the German and French capitals Saturday demanded peace for Ukraine, a day after activists in both countries marked one year since the Russian invasion.. Under the slogan "Rise up for Peace", demonstrators bundled up against the cold gathered at the iconic Brandenburg Gate near where a day earlier activists had parked a bombed-out Russian tank in front of Russia's embassy in Berlin.

Trade resumes as key Afghan border crossing with Pakistan reopens

Vital trade resumed at a key border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan on Saturday as their busiest trading waypoint reopened almost a week after being shut by Taliban authorities.. The Torkham border crossing was reopened at 6 am (0130 GMT) on Saturday, Afghan customs official Muslim Khaksar said at the site in Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar province.

French prosecutors drop 'sexual assault' probe into cardinal

French prosecutors said Saturday they had closed an investigation into sexual assault charges against a cardinal as the statute of limitations had passed.. The most serious sexual offences in France, such as rape, usually have a statute of limitations of 30 years, but the period to bring charges can be extended if the victim was a minor at the time of the offence.

Macron says will visit China in 'early April'

French President Emmanuel Macron announced Saturday that he would visit China in early April, urging Beijing to help "put pressure" on Russia to end the war in Ukraine.. Beijing announced earlier on Saturday that Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko would visit China from February 28 to March 2.