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Asian markets fluctuate as traders weigh geopolitical tensions
Asian stocks fluctuated Wednesday following a positive lead from Wall Street as traders assessed the prospect of an escalation in the Russia-Ukraine war, Donald Trump's second presidency and the outlook for US interest rates.
'An inauspicious day': the landmines ruining Myanmar lives
It was an unlucky day in the Burmese calendar, farmer Yar Swe Kyin warned her husband in July, begging him not to go out to check on their crops.
UN to vote again on Gaza ceasefire, US plans unclear
The UN Security Council is expected to vote Wednesday on another draft resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza in its latest attempt to exert pressure to end the war.
Hong Kong tycoon Jimmy Lai tells court he championed 'freedom'
Jailed Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai insisted his newspaper had championed democracy and "freedom" as he took the witness stand for the first time in his collusion trial on Wednesday.
Myanmar led world in landmine victims in 2023: monitor
Landmines and unexploded munitions claimed more victims in Myanmar than in any other country last year, a monitor said on Wednesday, with over 1,000 people killed or wounded in the country.
Ugandan opposition figure Besigye 'kidnapped', says wife
Leading Ugandan opposition figure Kizza Besigye was "kidnapped" in Kenya and is being held in a Kampala military jail, according to his wife, a top UN official.
'They killed her dream': Israel strike leaves woman footballer in coma
Lebanese footballer Celine Haidar was about to make her dream of playing for the national women's team come true, but debris from an Israeli strike left the 19-year-old in a medically induced coma.
Iraqis face tough homecoming a decade after IS rampage
A decade after Islamic State group extremists rampaged through northern Iraq, Moaz Fadhil and his eight children finally returned to their village after languishing for years in a displacement camp.
Russian net tightens around last civilians left in eastern Ukraine
Along the road to Kurakhove in eastern Ukraine, ghost houses line the streets, their frames shattered by bombs, with peppers rotting on the vine and flower beds strewn with debris.
Xi, Lula meet in Brasilia to 'enhance ties'
China's President Xi Jinping will pay a state visit to Brazil Wednesday, fresh off a warm reception at summits of the G20 and APEC groups, both held under the cloud of Donald Trump's White House return.
US recognizes Venezuela opposition's Gonzalez Urrutia as 'president-elect'
The United States said Tuesday it recognizes opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia as president-elect of Venezuela -- the first time it called him that -- four months after a disputed election in which incumbent Nicolas Maduro claimed victory amid accusations of fraud.
US announces talks with Israel over civilian casualties in Gaza
Senior US and Israeli officials will meet in early December to address American concerns over harm to civilians caused by military operations in Gaza, the State Department said Tuesday.
G20 summit ends with Ukraine blame game
Ukraine's allies and Russia on Tuesday traded blame for a dramatic escalation in the war in Europe, which dominated the final day of talks at a G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro.
Trump appoints TV celebrity 'Dr. Oz' to key US health post
Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he was appointing Mehmet Oz, a former surgeon and TV celebrity known as "Dr. Oz," to lead the United States' massive public health insurance program.
Hong Kong tycoon Jimmy Lai takes witness stand in collusion trial
Pro-democracy Hong Kong tycoon Jimmy Lai will on Wednesday take the stand in his collusion trial, testifying in court for the first time despite five previous trials in almost four years.
Chinese man sentenced to 20 months for Falun Gong harassment in US
A 71-year-old Chinese man was sentenced to 20 months in prison on Tuesday for taking part in a plot targeting the Falun Gong spiritual movement in the United States.
Hong Kong court jails 45 democracy campaigners, drawing condemnation
Western governments and rights groups condemned Tuesday the jailing of 45 pro-democracy campaigners in Hong Kong in the city's largest national security trial.
Ukraine war escalation casts pall over G20 summit
Western powers and Russia on Tuesday blamed each other for a dramatic escalation in the Ukraine war, which dominated the final day of talks at a G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro.
Bodies burned after Haiti police, civilians kill 28 alleged gang members
Police and civilian self-defense groups killed 28 alleged gang members in the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince in an overnight operation, authorities said Tuesday, as the government seeks to regain some control of the city.
Iran faces new censure over lack of cooperation at UN nuclear meeting
European powers and the United States are moving ahead with a plan to censure Iran for its poor cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog at this week's board meeting, despite an offer by Tehran to cap its highly enriched uranium stock, diplomats told AFP.
Afghan woman teacher, jailed Tajik lawyer share top rights prize
An Afghan teacher and a jailed lawyer from Tajikistan on Tuesday won the Martin Ennals Award, one of the world's most prestigious rights prizes, with the jury hailing their "exceptional courage".
Pressure mounts on Scholz over bid for second term
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was under growing pressure Tuesday to step aside as the top candidate of his Social Democrats (SPD) for snap polls in February, as the party heads for a historic drubbing.
Take two: Biden makes it into G20 leaders' photo
The first time G20 leaders took their photo together at a summit in Rio they forgot Joe Biden. On Tuesday they had a reshoot -- with the outgoing US president firmly back in the frame.
Russia vows response after Ukraine fires long-range US missiles
Russia warned on Tuesday that it would respond after Ukraine fired longer-range US missiles at its territory for the first time, as President Vladimir Putin issued a nuclear threat on the 1,000th day of the war.
Trump ally seeks to block trans lawmaker from women's restrooms
Democrats and LGBTQ rights advocates expressed outrage Tuesday after a Republican lawmaker introduced a measure that would ban the first openly transgender person elected to the US Congress from using women's restrooms in the building.
'Sabotage' suspected after two Baltic Sea cables cut
Two telecommunications cables cut in the Baltic Sea in 48 hours prompted European officials to say Tuesday that they suspect "sabotage" and "hybrid warfare" linked to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Stocks diverge on fears of Ukraine-Russia escalation
Stock markets fell in Europe and were mixed on Wall Street as fears of escalation of Russia's war against Ukraine prompted investors to retreat.
Haiti police, civilians kill 28 gang members: authorities
Police and civilian self-defense groups killed 28 gang members in the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince in an overnight operation, authorities said Tuesday, as the government seeks to regain some control of the city.
Taxing the richest: what the G20 decided
Anti-poverty campaigners have hailed a decision by G20 leaders meeting in Rio to make sure the world's billionaires "are effectively taxed."
IMF, Ukraine, reach agreement on $1.1 bn loan disbursement
The IMF said Tuesday that it has reached agreement with Ukraine on a loan program review that paves the way for an additional $1.1 billion in much-needed funds.
Ukraine fires first US long-range missiles into Russia
Ukraine said Tuesday it had fired US-supplied long-range missiles into Russian territory in the first such strike, as Russia declared a "new phase" in the conflict and eased its protocol for nuclear strikes.
Stocks sink on fears of Ukraine-Russia escalation
Stock markets fell across the board in Europe and the United States on Tuesday as fears of further escalation of Russia's war against Ukraine prompted investors to retreat.