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Maldives signs China defence deal as India prepares exit
The Maldives has signed a "military assistance" deal with China after ordering Indian troops deployed in the small but strategically-placed archipelago to leave, officials said Tuesday.
Iran executed 834 people last year, highest since 2015: rights groups
Iran executed a "staggering" total of at least 834 people last year, the highest number since 2015 as capital punishment surged in the Islamic republic, two rights groups said Tuesday.
China's key objectives for 2024
Chinese Premier Li Qiang delivered the country's annual government work report on Tuesday, laying out the ruling Communist Party's key aims for the year ahead.
Philippine Coast Guard says ship damaged in collision with Chinese vessel
The Philippine Coast Guard said one of its ships was damaged Tuesday in a collision with a China Coast Guard vessel during a resupply mission to Filipino troops on a remote outpost in the South China Sea.
S. Korea Methodists excommunicate pastor over gay rights
South Korea's Methodist Church has excommunicated a pastor for advocating gay rights, according to a church verdict obtained Tuesday by AFP.
Diplomatic push for Israel-Hamas ceasefire intensifies
International mediators and Hamas delegates were in Cairo Tuesday for talks to try to secure a pause in the war in Gaza ahead of the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Vietnam property tycoon on trial in $12.5 billion fraud case
A top Vietnamese property tycoon went on trial Tuesday along with dozens of others, accused of embezzling $12.5 billion in the country's biggest ever fraud case.
Macron heads to Prague for talks on arms for Ukraine
French President Emmanuel Macron will visit Prague on Tuesday to clarify his country's standpoint on a Czech plan to buy weapons outside Europe for war-ravaged Ukraine.
China's leaders set five percent growth goal for 2024
China on Tuesday set a growth target of five percent, in line with last year's GDP but a far cry from the double-digit expansion that for years drove the world's second-largest economy.
US president's annual address an exhausting 'Super Bowl,' speechwriters say
When US President Joe Biden gives his State of the Union speech on Thursday, it will be the culmination of three months' intensive work for his speechwriters.
Indigenous Bolivian women take up taekwondo against gender-based violence
A violent attack by would-be robbers steered Bolivian Lidia Mayta towards the martial art of taekwondo. Three years later, she helps train other Indigenous women to defend themselves against rampant gender-based violence in the South American country.
US VP voices Gaza concerns in talks with Netanyahu rival
US Vice President Kamala Harris expressed "deep concern" over the situation faced by Gaza's civilians in talks Monday with Benny Gantz, an Israeli war cabinet member and top rival of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Fresh Israeli claims against UN aid agency as US ups pressure
Israel and the main Palestinian aid agency traded accusations of "terrorism" and torture on Monday, after Israel's top ally the United States stepped up pressure for a halt in fighting between Israel and Hamas militants.
Haiti capital 'paralyzed' after unrest, PM still abroad
Haiti's capital was largely shut down Monday with residents only venturing out for essentials, AFP reporters witnessed, as authorities imposed a state of emergency after an attack on a prison freed thousands of inmates.
US targets Zimbabwe leadership in sanctions revamp
The United States on Monday imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa and other senior leaders but scrapped a broad two-decade-old pressure campaign on the troubled country, replacing it with targeted action.
US VP meets Netanyahu rival as pressure mounts on Israel
US Vice President Kamala Harris was meeting Monday with Benny Gantz -- an Israeli war cabinet member and key rival of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu -- in a sign of growing White House frustration with Israel's offensive in Gaza.
Haiti capital 'paralyzed' by state of emergency after unrest
Haiti's capital was largely shut down Monday with residents only venturing out for essentials, AFP reporters witnessed, as authorities imposed a state of emergency after an attack on a prison freed thousands of inmates.
US hits Zimbabwe leadership in sanctions revamp
The United States on Monday imposed sanctions on Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa and other senior leaders, replacing a broad two-decade-old pressure campaign with targeted action.
US VP meeting Netanyahu rival as pressure mounts on Israel
US Vice President Kamala Harris meets Monday with a key member of Israel's war cabinet and rival of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a day after she delivered Washington's sharpest rebuke yet over the Israeli offensive in Gaza.
Haiti capital 'paralyzed' as state of emergency tightens
Haiti's capital was largely shut down Monday with residents only venturing out for essentials, AFP reporters witnessed, as authorities imposed a state of emergency after a deadly attack on a prison that freed thousands of inmates.
Diplomacy the 'only way' to end Israel-Hezbollah clashes: US envoy
A US envoy said Monday that a diplomatic solution was key to ending nearly five months of intensifying hostilities between Lebanon's Hezbollah and Israel after the eruption of the Israel-Hamas war.
Haiti schools and banks shut as state of emergency tightens
Haiti's schools and banks shut Monday with residents only venturing out for essentials, after authorities declared a state of emergency to try to regain control following an attack on a prison that freed thousands of inmates.
US Supreme Court rules Trump can stay on Colorado primary ballot
The US Supreme Court on Monday removed a potential hurdle to Donald Trump's bid to recapture the White House, unanimously dismissing a state court ruling that could have barred him from the ballot for engaging in insurrection.
Mediators seek Gaza truce as US VP seeks 'immediate ceasefire'
Mediators in Cairo persisted Monday with efforts towards a Gaza truce after Israel's top ally the United States stepped up pressure for a halt in fighting and more aid to enter the besieged Palestinian territory.
Head of UN Palestinian refugee agency seeks General Assembly support
The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) is set to defend his organization's work at the General Assembly on Monday, after crippling backlash over accusations that some employees were involved in Hamas's surprise October 7 attack on Israel.
Kremlin says German leak shows 'involvement' of West in Ukraine
The Kremlin on Monday said the content of leaked conversations between German officials discussing potential strikes on Crimea proved Western countries were participating in the conflict in Ukraine.
Mediators seek Gaza truce as US calls for 'immediate ceasefire'
Mediators in Cairo pushed on Monday with efforts towards a Gaza truce after Israel's top ally the United States stepped up pressure for a halt in fighting and more aid to enter the besieged Palestinian territory.
China's leadership 'confident' economy will improve
China's leadership is confident the economy will improve, an official said Monday, ahead of a key political meeting in which Beijing is expected to unveil one of its most pessimistic growth targets in years.
Indian train drivers in crash that killed 14 were watching cricket
The drivers of a train that missed a signal and ploughed into another train, killing 14 people, were distracted because they were watching cricket on a phone, India's railways minister said Monday.
Haiti declares state of emergency after huge prison break
Haiti's government declared on Sunday a state of emergency and nighttime curfew in a bid to regain control of the country after a deadly gang assault on the capital's main prison that allowed thousands of inmates to escape.
US calls for 'immediate ceasefire' in Gaza
US Vice President Kamala Harris urged an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, upping the pressure on key ally Israel as heavy fighting raged in the Palestinian territory.
Tunisian civil society fears plan to limit foreign funding
Tunisian civil society groups fear the government is planning to starve them of foreign funding under the pretext of fighting money laundering and terrorism.
Conspiracy theories gain new life as US campaign unfolds
In this week's "Super Tuesday" primaries, security guards will monitor the back door at one Shasta County polling precinct -- a sign of the high political tensions in rural northern California.
China's economy of 'great concern' as annual political meeting to kick off
China's annual political conclave kicks off in Beijing on Monday, with officials saying the flagging economy and youth unemployment are of "great concern" as they lay out plans for the coming year.
ASEAN-Australia summit to decry 'threat or use of force' in region
Leaders from Southeast Asian nations and Australia gathered in Melbourne on Monday are expected to denounce the "threat or use of force" to settle disputes in the region, a collective swipe at China.
Philippines foreign minister urges China: 'stop harassing us'
Philippine foreign minister Enrique Manalo told AFP on Monday that his country wants to solve maritime disputes with China peacefully -- but delivered a simple message to Beijing: "stop harassing us".
Haiti gang attack triggers massive jailbreak, at least a dozen dead
At least a dozen people died as gang members attacked the main prison in Haiti's capital, triggering a breakout by several thousand inmates, an AFP reporter and an NGO said Sunday.
US vice president calls for 'immediate ceasefire' in Gaza
US Vice President Kamala Harris called Sunday for a proposed six-week ceasefire deal in the Israel-Hamas war to be accepted, while criticizing Israel over insufficient aid deliveries into Gaza.
Ailing King Harald back home in Norway from Malaysia
King Harald of Norway returned home from Malaysia on Sunday after falling ill on holiday and spending several days in hospital, the royal palace said.