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The Dominican Republic: from Columbus to cruise ships
The Dominican Republic, a top tourist destination in the Caribbean, stands in stark contrast to its violence-plagued, unstable neighbor Haiti.
Turkey court jails Kurdish leader for 42 years over 2014 unrest
A Turkish court on Thursday sentenced the former head of a pro-Kurdish party to 42 years in prison for his alleged role in deadly 2014 protests that erupted as Islamic State group jihadists overran the Syrian town of Kobane.
Kim's sister denies N. Korea exporting weapons to Russia
The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Friday denied widespread allegations that Pyongyang is shipping weapons to Russia, calling the claim "absurd".
New Caledonia sees fourth night of troubles but France says Pacific territory 'calmer'
Hundreds of extra military and police arrived in France's troubled Pacific territory of New Caledonia ahead of a fourth night of troubles that have left five dead and hundreds wounded, officials said Friday.
US Republicans confront Biden over pausing arms to Israel
The Republican-led US House of Representatives voted Thursday to force President Joe Biden to end his hold on high-payload bombs approved for Israel but blocked over concerns about their use in Gaza.
Chad junta chief officially wins election
Chad's junta leader General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno won the African nation's May 6 presidential election with 61 percent of the vote, according to final results announced Thursday.
Florida slammed for bill striking climate change from state law
Democrats on Thursday slammed a new law introduced by Florida that makes climate change a lesser priority and largely removes the phrase from statutes in the hottest state in the mainland United States.
Ukraine battles to hold back Russia advance
Ukraine battled Thursday "stabilise" the front line in the northeast Kharkiv region, where Moscow has made its largest territorial gains in 18 months after launching an offensive last week.
Paraguay leader to attend Taiwan inauguration
Paraguay's President Santiago Pena will attend the inauguration of Taiwan's new leader, a high-ranking government official said Thursday, making him the first head of state to confirm his presence at the ceremony.
US proposes reclassifying marijuana as low-risk drug
US President Joe Biden's administration formally proposed on Thursday reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous drug, a historic shift that would bring federal policy more in line with public opinion.
Ukraine trying to 'stabilise' front as Russia pushes northeast
Ukraine said Thursday it was trying to "stabilise" the front line in the northeast Kharkiv region, where Moscow has made its largest territorial gains in 18 months after launching a fast-moving offensive last week.
Demirtas: Erdogan's Kurdish nemesis condemned to prison
Languishing behind bars since 2016, Selahattin Demirtas has waged a relentless battle against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan while profoundly expanding the national appeal of his leftist pro-Kurdish party.
'I was trying to take a picture' with Slovak PM when he was shot: witness
Richard Krajcik was hoping to get a selfie with Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico in the main square of his hometown of Handlova when shots rang out.
Nigerian women's rights pioneer celebrated in new biopic
Generations of schoolchildren have grown up being taught that Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti was the first woman to drive a car in Nigeria.
Israel vows to 'intensify' operations in Rafah
Israel vowed Thursday to "intensify" its ground offensive in Rafah, in defiance of global warnings over the fate of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian civilians sheltering in Gaza's far-southern city.
S.Africa tells UN court Israel 'genocide' hit 'new and horrific stage'
South Africa accused Israel Thursday at the top UN court of stepping up what it called a "genocide" in Gaza, urging the court to order a halt to Israel's assault on Rafah.
Serbia leases army HQ bombed by NATO to Trump son-in-law
Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner has signed a lease for a building project at the site of the former Yugoslav army headquarters in Belgrade that was bombed in US-led NATO strikes in 1999.
France accuses Azerbaijan of interference in New Caledonia riots
France accused Azerbaijan on Thursday of "interference" in the politics of its Pacific territory of New Caledonia, which has seen deadly riots in recent days.
Dutch EU opt-out on asylum could take 'years': Wilders to AFP
Far-right leader Geert Wilders told AFP Thursday it could take "years" for the Netherlands' new government to fulfil its pledge to opt-out of the EU asylum system, but vowed the nation would enforce its strictest asylum policy ever.
A pariah in the West, Putin finds fans in Beijing
Beijingers praised Vladimir Putin's "charisma" on Thursday and expressed hopes that China would deepen ties with Moscow as the Russian leader paid a two-day visit.
Ukraine says halted Russian 'advance' in some Kharkiv zones
The Ukrainian army said on Thursday it had partially halted a Russian advance in the northeast, where Moscow has secured its largest territorial gains in 18 months over the last week.
Five Israeli troops killed by friendly fire in Gaza
Israel said Thursday that five of its troops were killed by friendly fire in a Gaza battle, as a rift emerged inside the war cabinet on how the Palestinian territory should be ruled in future.
US military says aid pier anchored to Gaza beach
US troops early Thursday anchored a long-awaited temporary pier, meant to boost aid deliveries into war-ravaged Gaza, to a beach in the besieged Palestinian territory, the US military said.
New Dutch coalition govt wants 'strictest' asylum policy
The newly agreed Dutch coalition government on Thursday proposed what it called the "strictest ever" asylum policy, including an opt-out from European Union rules, and vowed to examine moving its Israel embassy to Jerusalem.
Lai Ching-te: from coal miner's son to Taiwan president
Son of a coal miner, Taiwan's Lai Ching-te takes the helm Monday as president of the self-ruled island, tasked with navigating the widening rift with an increasingly assertive China.
Xi, Putin hail ties as 'stabilising' force in chaotic world
Leaders Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin framed their nations' ties as a stabilising force in a chaotic world as they met Thursday in Beijing, where the Russian president is seeking greater Chinese support for his war effort in Ukraine and isolated economy.
Xi hails Russia ties as 'conducive to peace' in Putin talks
Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Thursday hailed ties with Russia as "conducive to peace" as he met with counterpart Vladimir Putin in Beijing.
Putin meets Xi in Beijing seeking greater support for war effort
Russian President Vladimir Putin met Thursday with counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing as he seeks greater support from China for his war effort in Ukraine and his isolated economy.
Pro-Turkey Syria mercenaries head to Niger to earn cash
Like hundreds of other pro-Turkish fighters, Omar left northern Syria for mineral-rich Niger last year, joining Syrian mercenaries sent to the West African nation by a private Turkish military company.
Iraqi car bomb survivor eyes gold in Paris Paralympics
When car bomb survivor Najlah Imad first took up table tennis, her relatives warned against it. But a decade later, the Iraqi teenager who lost three limbs is gunning for gold at the 2024 Paralympic Games.
France deploys troops, bans TikTok to quell deadly New Caledonia unrest
France deployed troops to New Caledonia's ports and international airport, banned TikTok and imposed a state of emergency Thursday after three nights of clashes that have left four dead and hundreds wounded.
Arab leaders head to Bahrain for Gaza-focused summit
Arab leaders are gathering Thursday in Bahrain for a summit dominated by the Israel-Hamas war which has been raging in the Gaza Strip without a ceasefire in sight.
Dutch parties reach deal to form government
Six months after Geert Wilders won a stunning election victory, squabbling politicians finally clinched an agreement Wednesday on a coalition government, said the Dutch far-right leader, who will not be prime minister.
IMF approves use of reserve assets for 'hybrid' financial instruments
The IMF said Wednesday that its board had voted to allow member states' IMF-issued international reserve assets to be used by multilateral development banks (MDBs) to acquire financial instruments that would stretch their balance sheets further.
Putin arrives in Beijing seeking greater support for war effort
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in China on Thursday to meet with counterpart Xi Jinping as he seeks greater support from Beijing for his war effort in Ukraine and his isolated economy.
Slovak PM shooting suspect named as 71-year-old writer
A suspect detained for shooting Slovakia Prime Minister Robert Fico is a 71-year-old writer from the centre of the European nation, the interior minister said Wednesday, after media identified the man.
'Ready to rumble' - Biden, Trump agree to two election debates
US President Joe Biden and Donald Trump agreed Wednesday to hold election debates in June and September, with the rivals trading barbs about their first on-stage meetings in nearly four years.
France imposes state of emergency in New Caledonia after deadly riots
France ordered troops to guard ports and the international airport in its Pacific territory of New Caledonia as a state of emergency started Thursday after two nights of riots left four dead and hundreds wounded.
30,000 rally in Georgia amid new criticism of 'foreign influence' law
Some 30,000 Georgians took to the streets Wednesday in the latest round of a weeks-long mass protest against a "foreign influence" law whose adoption by parliament has prompted a blizzard of international condemnation.