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| - Duty Editor: Abhik Chanda Contact: engdeskers@afp.com -- TOP STORIES -- + Russia backs Belarus leader in EU showdown + Biden's $6 trillion to 'reimagine' economy + Colombia sends troops to Cali after protests + Man City, Chelsea clash in Champions League final + Mexico blasts clothing brands for appropriation Belarus-politics-aviation-Russia-US,WRAP WASHINGTON The United States announces punitive measures against Belarus targeting the regime of strongman President Alexander Lukashenko, who met with Russian leader Vladimir Putin amid a global outcry over the forced diversion of a European plane. 850 words moved by Anita Beattie in Washington with Anna Smolchenko in Moscow. Picture. Video. Graphic US-politics-economy-budget,WRAP WASHINGTON President Joe Biden proposes a $6 trillion budget to "reimagine" the US economy and stave off Chinese competition, though driving the United States into record debt -- and with Congress first needing to give approval. 600 words moved by Sebastian Smith Also moved: US-politics-economy-budget,POINTS Colombia-politics-protest-unrest,WRAP CALI, Colombia Colombian President Ivan Duque says he is deploying military troops to the city of Cali, as international alarm grows over the policing of deadly anti-government protests across the country in recent weeks. 850 words moved. Picture. Video Fbl-Eur-C1-ENG-ManCity-Chelsea,WRAP PORTO A season marked by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the shockwaves of the failed attempt to create a breakaway Super League reaches its climax when Pep Guardiola's Manchester City and Thomas Tuchel's Chelsea clash in an-all English Champions League final in Porto. 750 words at 0930 GMT by Andy Scott and Kieran Canning. Picture. Video. Graphic Mexico-US-Spain-fashion-indigenous MEXICO CITY Mexico blasts major clothing brands Zara, Anthropologie and Patowl for using patterns and other elements of Mexican indigenous textiles in their collections without permission. 300 words moved -- SPOTLIGHT -- Health-virus-US-economy-wage-restaurants,FOCUS WASHINGTON As the number of Covid-19 cases soared in Washington through the fall and winter, Tizoc Zarate waited tables at a local restaurant -- but struggled to put enough food on the table for himself and his girlfriend. 700 words moved by Philip Van Slooten. Picture Rwanda-France-diplomacy-genocide-history,INTERVIEW KIGALI Rwandan President Paul Kagame says France's recent acknowledgement over its part in the 1994 genocide in his country is "a big step" -- even if it didn't come with an apology. 800 words 0930 GMT by Simon Valmary. Picture. Video -- CORONAVIRUS -- Health-virus-Thailand--prisons BANGKOK A coronavirus surge sweeping through Thailand's prisons has thrown the spotlight on the kingdom's overcrowded penal system, where some inmates have less space to sleep than the inside of a coffin. 450 words moved by Lisa Martin and Pathom Sangwongwanich. File picture Health-virus-Nepal-Everest-mountaineering KATHMANDU Mount Everest guide Buddhi Bahadur Lama has spent days isolated in a tent after testing positive for coronavirus, as an outbreak that climbers say is putting lives at risk sweeps base camp. 650 words moved. File picture -- AMERICAS -- Canada-indigenous-school,lead OTTAWA The remains of 215 children have been discovered on the grounds of a former boarding school set up more than a century ago to assimilate Canada's indigenous peoples, according to a local tribe. 450 words moved US-politics-unrest-Capitol-commission,FOCUS WASHINGTON By blocking creation of an independent, bipartisan January 6 commission, congressional Republicans have signaled they would rather approach next year's midterm elections unencumbered by potentially damning findings about the deadly US Capitol riot. 800 words moved by Michael Mathes US-IT-security-hacking,WRAP WASHINGTON The state-backed Russian group behind a massive hacking campaign revealed last year has re-emerged with a series of attacks on government agencies, think tanks, consultants and other organizations, according to officials and researchers. 700 words moved by Rob Lever US-Russia-NATO-defense-diplomacy,WRAP WASHINGTON US President Joe Biden's administration announces it will not return to the Open Skies Treaty, which Donald Trump withdrew from, signaling a toughening stance against Russia. 800 words moved by Francesco Fontemaggi US-crime-shooting-guns-business,FOCUS WASHINGTON A disgruntled, heavily-armed employee shows up at work and murders nine of his colleagues: this week's carnage at a California rail yard is every American employer's worst nightmare come true. 750 words moved by Charlotte Plantive -- MIDDLE EAST -- Libya-conflict-Haftar-politics,FOCUS TRIPOLI Libya's military strongman Khalifa Haftar is polishing his political image ahead of elections, after a crippling rout on the battlefield and with support waning at home and abroad, analysts say. 650 words 0930 GMT by Jihad Dorgham and Hamza Mekouar -- ASIA -- SriLanka-Singapore-transport-pollution-fire NEGOMBO, Sri Lanka Sri Lanka is facing its worst beach pollution crisis as tonnes of plastic waste from a burning container ship wash ashore, a senior environment official says. 400 words 1100 GMT China-tourism-adventure GUANGZHOU Walking tightropes, rappelling down a four-storey-high rope tunnel, sitting in a dangling basket 58 floors high -- tourists have been steeling their nerves for adrenaline-filled challenges in a new assault course at the top of China's tallest TV tower. 350 words moved. Photo by Noel Celis. Video by Lillian Ding -- EUROPE -- Britain-climate-environment-retail-food,FOCUS LONDON Ella Shone's small electric truck used to deliver milk but now she drives it around London, selling groceries and household goods that are free of plastic packaging. 550 words moved by Linda Abi Assi. Picture. Video -- ENTERTAINMENT -- Entertainment-US-TV-Friends-China-censorship BEIJING Chinese fans of the popular sitcom "Friends" are furious after censors cut guest stars Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber and Korean boyband BTS from the much-awaited reunion episode. 350 words moved Entertainment-US-music-crime-Manson LOS ANGELES US goth rocker Marilyn Manson is hit with new allegations that he raped an ex-girlfriend and forced her to watch a video of him abusing a young fan. 250 words moved -- SPORTS -- Tennis-FRA-Open-Men,PREVIEW-UPDATE PARIS Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will set their sights on more Grand Slam history at the French Open as Roland Garros embraces a new but eerily empty era of night time tennis. 625 words moved by Dave James. File Picture Tennis-FRA-Open-Women,PREVIEW-UPDATE PARIS Iga Swiatek heads into the French Open trying to become the first player since Serena Williams at Wimbledon in 2016 to successfully defend a women's Grand Slam singles title, with injuries and poor clay form clouding the hopes of several of her chief rivals. 600 words moved. File Picture afp
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