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Myanmar pro-democracy fighters battle to take state capital
Myanmar pro-democracy fighters in a battered pickup truck drive past abandoned and bombed-out houses in the eastern city of Loikaw, on their way to the front lines of the battle to capture their first state capital from the junta.
South Korea confirms first spy satellite in orbit
South Korea confirmed Saturday its first military spy satellite had reached orbit after a successful SpaceX rocket launch and that communication was established with ground control.
Israeli strikes rock Gaza for second day after truce collapse
Israel carried out deadly bombardments in Gaza for a second day on Saturday after a week-long truce with Hamas collapsed despite international calls for an extension.
Stocks bounce on growing optimism over interest rates
US and European stocks rose on the first day of December as investors grew more confident there would be interest rate cuts next year -- despite a warning from US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.
'How are you not ashamed?' elderly hostage told Hamas leader: grandson
After Hamas gunmen stormed into 85-year-old Yocheved Lifshitz's house and shot her husband in the hand, they threw her on a motorbike and dragged her off to a tunnel network beneath Gaza, her grandson Daniel says.
IMF to revise regional outlook over Israel-Hamas conflict
The IMF announced Friday that it will revise its economic outlook for the Middle East and North Africa region due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
S. Korea launches first spy satellite with SpaceX
A SpaceX rocket on Friday launched South Korea's first military spy satellite, intensifying a space race on the peninsula after Pyongyang launched its own first military eye in the sky last week.
UN Security Council puts end to mission in Sudan
At the request of Sudanese authorities, the UN Security Council on Friday ended the world body's political mission in the African country ravaged by more than seven months of fighting between two rival generals.
Deadly Israel strikes rock Gaza after truce collapses
Israel resumed its deadly bombardment of Gaza on Friday despite international calls for a renewed truce, killing at least 178 people according to Hamas authorities as five hostages held by the militant group were also confimed dead.
Ukraine says Polish trucker protest on border 'catastrophic'
Ukraine on Friday said that the fallout from a weeks-long protest by Polish truckers on their countries' shared border was "catastrophic", as Slovak hauliers also began blockading crossings with their war-torn neighbour.
Russia voices indifference over OSCE's future as summit concludes
The world largest regional security organisation concluded its annual summit Friday with Russia expressing indifference over the body's future.
US Fed Chair Jerome Powell calls rate cut speculation 'premature'
It is still "premature" to speculate on when the US Federal Reserve will start cutting interest rates despite the bank's recent progress on inflation, Fed Chair Jerome Powell said Friday.
Stocks grind higher on interest rate expectations
US and European stocks mostly rose on Friday as investors continued to anticipate a drop in interest rates as inflation wanes and economies slow.
Pro-Kremlin maestro Gergiev named head of Bolshoi Theatre
Russia on Friday appointed notoriously pro-Kremlin maestro Valery Gergiev, a personal friend of President Vladimir Putin for decades, to lead Moscow's world famous Bolshoi Theatre.
Pioneering US Supreme Court justice Sandra Day O'Connor dead at 93
Retired US Supreme Court justice Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman appointed to the nation's highest court and a noted pragmatist in an age of deep division, died Friday. She was 93.
Longtime US justice Sandra Day O'Connor: the power of moderation
Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman to serve as a justice on the US Supreme Court, wielded enormous influence as the key centrist on a sharply divided bench, where she often displayed a preference for pragmatism over ideology.
Russia voices indifference over OSCE's future
Russia on Friday expressed indifference over the future of the world's largest regional security organisation, which was grinding ahead with a summit overshadowed by Ukraine war tensions.
Gaza death toll mounts as Israel resumes bombardment
Israel resumed its deadly bombardment of Gaza on Friday, vowing to destroy suspected Hamas positions in the densely-inhabited Palestinian territory after a week-long truce expired despite global calls for its extension.
Inflation, unemployment weigh on DR Congo leader's economic gains
President Felix Tshisekedi, who once vowed to transform DR Congo into "the Germany of Africa", has promised to create jobs if he is re-elected, after a first term marked by economic growth but soaring inflation.
Russia says advancing on all fronts in Ukraine
Russia said on Friday its troops were advancing in every section of the Ukrainian front, despite observers seeing little movement.
Guinea-Bissau army says in control after gunfire, clashes
Guinea-Bissau's army said Friday it was holding the leader of the security forces unit involved in overnight clashes in the capital and had the situation under control.
Europe's defence sector seeks EU clarity, greater efficiency
Europe is ploughing billions into its defence industry, with record sums being spent since Russia's all-out invasion of Ukraine, but experts say the EU must make bolder moves to be battle ready.
Regional tourism a casualty in Israel-Hamas conflict
Tourists are abandoning the Middle East region due to the conflict between Israel and Hamas, putting at risk nations like Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt, whose economies depend heavily upon international tourism.
DR Congo's presidential candidates crisscross conflict-torn east
Candidates have hit the campaign trail in the DR Congo's conflict-wracked east ahead of elections, holding rallies where the mood is festive -- even if the issue of security is never far from the surface.
With 80,000 attendees, COP28 is largest UN climate summit ever
COP28 is officially the largest ever UN climate summit, with 80,000 participants registered on a list that -- for the first time -- shows who they work for.
Wilders vote win confirmed, coalition talks tricky
Geert Wilders' stunning election win was confirmed officially Friday, but the far-right Dutch leader faces an uphill battle to forge a coalition with other parties uncomfortable with his anti-Islam views.
Gazans flee homes, dig through rubble as Israeli strikes resume
Gazans were fleeing their homes and rushing their dead and wounded to hospitals after fresh Israeli strikes on Friday, as combat resumed between Israel and Hamas following the expiry of a week-long truce.
COP28: Why energy efficiency matters so much
If we are to save the planet, we are going to have to use energy far more efficiently.
Asian markets mixed even as US data fuels rate cut talk
Asian markets diverged Friday following a mixed day on Wall Street, with data showing a continued fall in US inflation unable to relight the buying that characterised much of November.
Spain bets on mixed gender prisons
At a jail in northwestern Spain, a sole female inmate played football with 21 male convicts, part of a push towards mixed prison living that remains rare in Europe.
Israel resumes military operations in Gaza as truce expires
Israel's military said Friday it had resumed fighting in Gaza, with airstrikes and artillery fire reported in Gaza City, as a truce expired with no agreement to extend it.
Asian markets struggle even as US data fuels rate cut talk
Asian markets drifted Friday following a mixed day on Wall Street, with data showing a continued fall in US inflation unable to relight the buying that characterised much of November.
Meta sues US regulator to stop privacy settlement change
Meta filed a lawsuit late Wednesday arguing that US regulators planning to change the terms of a 2020 privacy settlement are overstepping their authority and should be stopped.
Venezuela to vote on oil-rich region controlled by Guyana
"The Venezuelan sun rises in Essequibo," "Essequibo belongs to Guyana" -- the opposing camps' slogans say it all.
Biden meets Angolan leader as US aims to counter China in Africa
President Joe Biden and his Angolan counterpart Joao Lourenco met at the White House on Thursday to discuss infrastructure and regional security, as the United States seeks to counter China's growing influence in Africa.
Kissinger transformed Middle East, where turmoil reigns again
It was the original shuttle diplomacy. Nearly 50 years ago, Henry Kissinger was flying across the Middle East, seeking a new US-led order following war between Israel and Arab states.
Paraguay official sacked after dealings with fictitious country
A senior Paraguayan official was fired this week after signing a cooperation memorandum with a country he has since learned does not exist.
Blinken urges Israel to create safe zones in Gaza when fighting resumes
Visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday urged Israel to create safe zones for Palestinian civilians in Gaza before it resumes "major military operations" in the Hamas-ruled territory.
Zelensky visits front as Kyiv says six killed in Russian attacks
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday visited frontline command posts in eastern and southern Ukraine, as local officials reported six killed in a spate of Russian air, rocket and artillery attacks.