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Former EU Commission president Jacques Delors dies at 98
Jacques Delors, a former head of the EU Commission and key figure in the creation of the euro currency, has died, his daughter Martine Aubry told AFP on Wednesday.
Blinken visits Mexico seeking way forward on migration surge
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Mexico on Wednesday in hopes of tackling surging migration, which has become a major political headache for President Joe Biden as he enters an election year.
Gaza deaths soar as Israel says war to last 'many more months'
The Hamas-run Gaza Strip's health ministry said Wednesday the death toll from the war with Israel now tops 21,000, with a spokesman reporting 195 deaths over 24 hours.
Police prevent election protest in DR Congo capital
Police in the Democratic Republic of Congo's capital Kinshasa prevented protesters from assembling Wednesday, AFP reporters saw, after a demonstration against last week's elections was banned.
Russian pro-peace candidate, barred from vote, will create own party
Russian former city councillor and pro-peace politician Yekaterina Duntsova vowed to form a political party on Wednesday after authorities confirmed she would not be able to run in the elections in 2024.
Indonesian students force Rohingya refugees from temporary shelter
Hundreds of university students in Indonesia's westernmost province stormed a temporary shelter for more than a hundred Rohingya refugees on Wednesday, forcing them to leave in the latest rejection of the persecuted Myanmar minority.
Gaza deaths surge as Israel says war to last 'many more months'
The Hamas-run Gaza Strip's health ministry said Wednesday the death toll from the war with Israel had surged above 21,000, about two thirds of them women and children.
Former Israeli settlers yearn to return to Gaza after war
"A house on the beach is not a dream!" The advertising slogan by an Israeli settlement developer is music to the ears of former Gaza settlers yearning to return to the Palestinian territory after the war.
German political heavyweight Wolfgang Schaeuble dies
Wolfgang Schaeuble, one of the most important figures in German politics and an icon of budgetary rigour in the eurozone, has died aged 81, the German parliament said Wednesday.
Israel army chief says Gaza war to last 'many more months'
Israel again pounded Gaza with air strikes and shelling on Wednesday after its armed forces chief warned the war raging with Hamas since the October 7 attacks will last "many more months".
Guatemala supreme court orders release of anti-corruption prosecutor
Guatemala's supreme court on Tuesday ordered the release of former anti-corruption prosecutor Virginia Laparra, who was sentenced in December 2022 to four years in prison for abuse of authority in a trial criticized by the international community.
Karabakh refugees hold little hope for Azerbaijan peace
Before fleeing the advancing Azerbaijani troops for Armenia, Suren Martirosyan glanced back one last time at his fruit garden in Nagorno-Karabakh, and the momentary vision has haunted him ever since.
Israel army chief says war with Hamas will last 'many more months'
Israel's army chief warned its war with Hamas will last "many more months" as the military stepped up strikes inside the Gaza Strip, where more than 20,000 people have already been reported killed.
US, Israel discuss 'different phase' of war
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met Tuesday to discuss shifting "to a different phase" of the Israel-Hamas war with Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, a White House official said.
North Korea kicks off key party meeting ahead of new year
North Korea has opened a year-end ruling party meeting attended by leader Kim Jong Un, state media said Wednesday, with key policy decisions for 2024 expected to be unveiled.
UN names outgoing Dutch minister humanitarian coordinator for Gaza
The United Nations named an outgoing Dutch minister its humanitarian coordinator for Gaza on Tuesday following last week's watered-down Security Council resolution which called for aid to be delivered to the strip "at scale."
Israel strikes Gaza as UN voices grave concern
Israel on Tuesday kept up its strikes against Gaza targets despite grave concern expressed by the United Nations, and international calls for a halt to the Israel-Hamas war.
Kremlin confirms Russian warship hit by Ukrainian strike
The Kremlin on Tuesday acknowledged a Ukrainian attack had damaged a warship in the occupied Crimean port of Feodosia in what Ukraine and its Western allies called a major setback for the Russian navy.
Turkey parliament committee approves Sweden's NATO bid
A key committee in the Turkish parliament on Tuesday approved Sweden's bid to join NATO after months of delays, clearing another hurdle in the Nordic country's accession process in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year.
Turkey's parliament resumes debate on Sweden's NATO bid
The Turkish parliament's committee on Tuesday started a session to debate a number of issues including Sweden's bid to join NATO, a thorny topic that was further complicated after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan linked it to Ankara's request for F-16 fighter jets from its ally the United States.
Taiwan man charged over voter trips to China ahead of election
A Taiwanese man has been charged with violating the island's election laws by arranging sponsored visits to China ahead of the January poll.
Israel PM says no peace until Hamas destroyed
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted peace can only be achieved in Gaza if Hamas is destroyed, the territory demilitarised and Palestinian society "deradicalised", after warning the war is set to intensify.
Turkey's parliament set to debate Sweden NATO bid
The Turkish parliament was Tuesday set to resume debate on approving Sweden's bid to join NATO, a thorny issue that was further complicated after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan linked it to Ankara's request for F-16 fighter jets from its ally the United States.
Attacks kill at least 160 people in central Nigeria
Armed groups have killed at least 160 people in central Nigeria in a series of attacks on villages, local government officials said on Monday.
Sudanese in 'total panic' as paramilitaries move south
On a countryside road in battle-ravaged Sudan, the hum of a passing vehicle turns villagers' blood cold, fearing the arrival of paramilitaries plundering their way south in their war against the army.
Serbian opposition marches in support of arrested protesters
Thousands gathered in front of a Belgrade police station on Monday evening in support of those arrested the previous day during protests against what they say was electoral fraud in Serbia's recent parliamentary and local elections.
Iran Guards say Israeli strike kills senior general in Syria
An Israeli strike in Syria has killed a senior general with Iran's Revolutionary Guards, the military force said, with Tehran vowing retribution.
Eight civilians killed in Turkish strikes on Syria: monitor, media
Turkish air strikes killed eight civilians in Syria's Kurdish-held northeast Monday, a war monitor and local media said, as Ankara launched operations in Iraq and Syria following deadly attacks on its soldiers.
Protesters set up roadblocks over alleged electoral fraud
Demonstrators set up roadblocks in the Serbian capital Belgrade Monday, to protest what they say was electoral fraud in Serbia's recent parliamentary and local elections.
Gaza refugee camp in ruins after Israeli strike
Residents of Gaza's Al-Maghazi refugee camp returned to their neighbourhood on Monday only to find blocks of concrete strewn where their homes had stood just a day ago.
Israel 'intensifying' Gaza fighting as Hamas says strikes kill dozens
Israel on Monday said it was "intensifying the fighting" against Hamas in Gaza, where relentless strikes across the Palestinian territory exacerbated the dire conditions for civilians in the war's 12th week.
Plane with Indian passengers leaves France after police release
A plane with close to 300 Indian passengers detained near Paris over suspicions of human trafficking took off Monday for Mumbai after being cleared for departure by French police, an AFP reporter said.
Kremlin critic Navalny moved to Arctic penal colony: ally
Jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been moved to a penal colony in the Arctic, allies said on Monday after over two weeks during which his whereabouts were unknown.
Serbian protesters set up road block over alleged vote fraud
Protesters on Monday launched the first of several announced road blocks in Belgrade over alleged electoral fraud in Serbia's recent parliamentary and local elections, an AFP reporter saw.
World celebrates Christmas in shadow of war
People donned Santa caps on beaches, ski slopes and streets around the globe on Monday to celebrate Christmas, with Israel's war on Hamas and Russia's invasion of Ukraine casting a shadow over one of the world's favourite holidays.
Gaza war makes for sombre Christmas in the Holy Land
Sadness over the war in Gaza subdued the holiday cheer in Bethlehem on Christmas Eve, when the biblical town would usually be decked out in festive finery.
Palestinians feel 'no joy' as Israel bombs Gaza on Christmas
Palestinians said they felt "no joy" this Christmas as Israel bombed the besieged Palestinian territory on Monday, with no end in sight to the war that Hamas says has claimed more than 20,000 lives.
Pope kicks off Christmas celebrations in shadow of wars
Pope Francis on Sunday kicked off global Christmas celebrations with a call for peace, as Israel's war on Hamas and Russia's invasion of Ukraine cast a shadow over one of the world's favourite holidays.
'Tonight our hearts are in Bethlehem,' pope says in Christmas mass
Pope Francis on Sunday appealed for peace as he kicked off Christmas celebrations with a mass at Saint Peter's Basilica as the Israel-Hamas war raged in the Gaza Strip.