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Ethiopia govt team in rebel Tigray after Nov 2 peace deal
A high-level Ethiopian team arrived Monday in the capital of rebel-held Tigray for a first official visit following a peace deal aimed at ending a brutal two-year conflict.
Seoul says military fired at N. Korean drones after incursion
South Korea accused the North of flying several drones across their shared border on Monday, prompting Seoul's military to deploy warplanes to shoot them down -- with local media reporting one of the planes later crashed.
Final verdicts in Suu Kyi junta trial set for Friday
A Myanmar junta court will give its verdicts on five remaining charges in the 18-month trial of jailed civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Friday, a legal source told AFP.
Ukraine to demand Russia's removal from UN Security Council
Ukraine was set Monday to demand Russia's exclusion from the UN Security Council as Moscow claimed to have foiled the deepest drone attack by Kyiv in its territory.
Taiwan says China deployed 71 warplanes in weekend war drills
China deployed 71 warplanes in weekend military exercises around Taiwan, Taipei's defence ministry said Monday, including dozens of fighter jets in one of the biggest daily incursions to date.
Demonstration for Belgian held in Iran calls for his release
Supporters of a Belgian aid worker being held in Iran staged a Christmas Day protest in Brussels to demand his immediate release, with a spokesman questioning why a prisoner swap treaty was stalled.
Thousands rally in Nagorno-Karabakh to protest land blockade
Thousands rallied on Sunday in Azerbaijan, in the Nagorno-Karabakh region's largest city Stepanakert, to protest the blockade of the only land link to Armenia, an AFP journalist saw.
Iran says Western claims show 'effectiveness' of its drones
Iran's top general has said that Western claims its drones are being used by Russia against Ukraine show the 'effectiveness' of Tehran's unmanned aerial vehicles, Iranian media reported Sunday.
Defying Russia, some Ukrainians embrace Christmas in December
Church bells and chanting rang throughout Ukraine's capital as Orthodox Christians attended Christmas services on Sunday, a defiant break from Russian religious leaders who will mark the holiday in two weeks.
Putin says West wants to 'tear apart' Russia
President Vladimir Putin blasted the West for trying to "tear apart" Russia and said his offensive in Ukraine aimed to "unite the Russian people".
At Christmas, Pope urges end to 'senseless' Ukraine war
Pope Francis on Sunday appealed for an end to the "senseless" war in Ukraine, in his traditional Christmas Day message broadcast around the world.
Three foreign NGOs stop work in Afghanistan after Taliban ban on women staff
Three foreign aid groups, including Save the Children, announced on Sunday they were suspending their operations in Afghanistan after the Taliban ordered all NGOs to stop their women staff from working.
Pope Francis to address faithful on Christmas Day
Thousands of people are set to gather Sunday in St Peter's Square to hear Pope Francis deliver his Christmas Day message, where he is expected to offer prayers for war-torn Ukraine.
Troops deployed in San Salvador amid massive gang crackdown
More than 2,000 soldiers and police surrounded two districts in El Salvador's capital on Saturday as part of President Nayib Bukele's war on gangs, the second such operation this month in the Central American country.
Taliban order NGOs to stop women staff from working over 'hijab'
Afghanistan's Taliban rulers ordered all national and international NGOs to stop their women employees from working after "serious complaints" about their dress code, the economy ministry said on Saturday.
M23 rebel retreat a 'sham', DR Congo army says
DR Congo's army called an M23 rebel withdrawal from a strategic town near the eastern city of Goma a "sham" on Saturday, saying the militia is reinforcing its positions elsewhere.
FARC dissident group announces end-of-year truce in Colombia
A group of armed renegades who refused to sign a 2016 peace accord in Colombia have declared a unilateral ceasefire until the new year, the country's peace commissioner tweeted Saturday.
Salvadoran troops encircle district in second major gangs crackdown
More than 1,000 soldiers surrounded a district in El Salvador's capital on Saturday as part of President Nayib Bukele's war on gangs, the second such operation this month in the Central American country.
Salvadoran troops encircle second community in gangs crackdown
More than 1,000 soldiers surrounded a community in El Salvador's capital on Saturday as part of President Nayib Bukele's war on gangs, the second such operation this month in the Central American country.
Zelensky blasts Russian 'terror' after deadly Kherson shelling
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday blasted Russian "terror" after shelling on Christmas Eve left at least seven dead and 58 injured in Kherson city, which Kyiv's forces recaptured in November.
Turkey says Ukraine war 'will not end easily'
Turkey conceded Saturday that Russia's war on Ukraine "will not end easily", despite Ankara's repeated efforts to arrange peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow.
Zelensky blasts Russian 'terror' after Kherson city shelled
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday blasted Russian "terror" after shelling on Christmas Eve left at least eight dead and 17 injured in Kherson city, which Kyiv's forces recaptured in November.
'Rambo' Rabuka returns as Fiji prime minister
Former military commander Sitiveni Rabuka was on Saturday confirmed as Fiji's prime minister, after accusing the outgoing government of stoking "fear and chaos" to derail his return to power.
Ukraine estimates grain harvest fell around 40%
Ukraine estimates its grain harvest fell by around 40 percent year on year due to the Russian invasion, a representative for the country's industry told AFP Friday.
US asks Putin to keep 'acknowledging reality' after 'war' reference
The United States on Friday derisively called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to acknowledge reality and pull troops from Ukraine after he finally called the conflict a "war."
Russia's FM Lavrov calls to lower tensions in Karabakh
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday called for de-escalation in Azerbaijan's Armenian-populated Nagorno-Karabakh, a region which has sparked two wars between the Caucasus neighbours.
US spending bill gives Boeing reprieve on latest MAX models
Boeing has won a reprieve from a regulatory deadline for the new versions of the 737 MAX under the $1.7 trillion spending bill approved by Congress on Friday.
Stocks volatile as US inflation cools
US and European stocks wobbled on Friday despite a key gauge showing inflation to be slowing, as investors remain concerned about recession risks.
Mexican president holds 1,000th daily news conference
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Friday delivered his 1,000th daily news conference -- a marathon appearance before the cameras every weekday that, like the populist leader, sharply divides opinion.
Kurdish protesters clash with police after Paris shooting
Kurdish demonstrators clashed with police in central Paris on Friday after a 69-year-old gunman opened fire at a Kurdish cultural centre and a hairdressing salon, killing three people and injuring three others.
Israeli police shoot dead Arab-Israeli after attack
Israeli officers on Friday shot dead an Arab-Israeli after he attempted to fired at them and then rammed them with his car near Tel Aviv, the police said.
Argentine group finds 131st dictatorship-era 'stolen' child
More than four decades after being taken from his parents -- activists who "disappeared" under Argentina's military dictatorship -- a man raised by others has learned his true identity, an activist group has announced.