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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.
Cross-Channel migrants in UK decry Rwanda deportation plan
If the UK government has its way, the tens of thousands of migrants arriving on England's southeastern shores each year, after crossing the Channel in small boats, will face swift deportation to Rwanda.
Trump should never hold office again: US insurrection report
Donald Trump should never be allowed to run for public office again after inciting an insurrection, lawmakers investigating last year's assault on the US Capitol concluded in their watershed final report.
Stock markets mostly retreat on returning recession worries
Stock markets mostly fell Friday as fears of a global recession returned owing to expectations of more aggressive US interest-rate hikes to fight sky-high inflation.
Ethiopia's warring parties agree to ceasefire monitor
Ethiopia's government and Tigray's rebel forces have agreed to create a joint monitoring body to ensure a peace deal to end the country's brutal war is respected by all sides.
Thai PM declares candidacy in next year's general election
Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha is to seek another term in a general election due to be held in the kingdom before May next year, he told local media on Friday.
Haitians accuse Dominicans of race-based arrests, expulsions
His Haitian passport was in order, with up-to-date visas, so when police in the Dominican Republic detained him for hours, Josue Azor feels certain it was because of the black color of his skin.
Fiji govt accused of stoking fear to stay in power as troops deployed
Fiji's opposition on Friday accused the government of sowing "fear and chaos" in a bid to stay in power, as the military began deploying to the streets of the capital Suva.
'Armed with English': Ukraine soldiers take language lessons
When Olena Chekryzhova followed in her grandmother's footsteps and began teaching English, she never dreamt the job would lead to a months-long stay at a frontline military base.
Stocks mini rally falters as central bank angst returns
A mini stocks rally triggered by positive US economic data faltered on Thursday, while the yen held onto gains against the dollar after surging earlier in the week.
Zelenksy, Biden show unity, but war fatigue a threat
Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to Washington sent Russia a message of steadfast unity and resolve, but defense analysts say he needs more concrete battlefield gains to sustain US and NATO backing through 2023 and fend off pressure to negotiate with Moscow.
Patriot, Crotale, IRIS-T: Ukraine's multiple air defence systems
Ukraine is having to master a patchwork of different air defence systems, with the latest addition -- the American-made Patriot -- bringing new capabilities but also complexity, analysts say.
Peru's ousted president seeks meeting with rights inspectors
Peru's ousted president Pedro Castillo called from prison Thursday for a visit from inspectors of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, who are in the country to probe widespread civil unrest.
Scotland passes law easing gender change rules
Lawmakers in Scotland passed a contentious law Thursday making it easier and faster for people to change their gender, despite a rare rebellion within the ruling Scottish National Party (SNP) and "concerns" from the UK government.
Suez Canal chief seeks to dispel fears over draft Egypt law
The chairman of Egypt's Suez Canal on Thursday affirmed the waterway is "not for sale", in a bid to allay fears over a draft law under discussion in parliament.
NKorea sold arms to Russia's Wagner group, US says
North Korea has delivered arms to Russia's private military group Wagner, the White House said Thursday, calling the group a "rival" for power to the defense and other ministries in the Kremlin.
UN experts point to Rwandan role in east DR Congo rebel crisis
Rwanda's army "engaged in military operations" against DR Congo's military in the country's troubled east, according to a report by a group of independent United Nations experts seen by AFP on Thursday.
Rwandan army conducted military ops in DR Congo: UN experts
Rwanda's army "engaged in military operations" against DR Congo's military in the country's troubled east, according to a report by a group of independent United Nations experts seen by AFP on Thursday.