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Israel begins demolishing 25 buildings in West Bank camp

Israeli bulldozers began demolishing 25 buildings housing Palestinians in a refugee camp on Wednesday, in what the military said was an effort to root out armed groups in northern areas of the occupied West Bank.

Cambodian soldiers freed by Thailand receive hero's welcome

Eighteen Cambodian soldiers received a hero's welcome Wednesday after Thailand released them as part of a truce deal that ended weeks of deadly fighting along their contested frontier.

Ukrainians wish for peace in 2026 -- and no more power cuts

Ukrainians marking their fourth New Year's Eve since Russia's invasion said their biggest wish for 2026 was peace -- as well as an end to the power cuts that had made life "hell".

Putin wishes Russians victory in Ukraine in New Year speech

President Vladimir Putin said Russia believed it would win in Ukraine in an address Wednesday, as his country marked another New Year -- their main holiday -- at war.

Israel to ban 37 aid groups operating in Gaza

Israel has said 37 aid organisations will be banned from operating in Gaza from Thursday unless they comply with guidelines requiring detailed information on Palestinian staff, drawing criticism from the United Nations and the European Union.

Filmmaker Panahi says Iran protests 'to move history forward'

Award-winning Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi said Wednesday that protests which have gripped his country in recent days aimed "to move history forward".

China says live-fire drills around Taiwan 'completed successfully'

China "successfully completed" military drills around Taiwan that included live-fire exercises aimed at simulating a blockade of key ports and assaults on maritime targets, its military said on Wednesday.

Hoping for better year ahead, Gazans bid farewell to 'nightmare' of 2025

As 2025 draws to a close, Palestinians in Gaza are marking the new year not with celebration, but with exhaustion, grief and a fragile hope that their "endless nightmare" might finally end.

Japanese women MPs want more seats, the porcelain kind

Nearly 60 women lawmakers in Japan, including Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, have submitted a petition calling for more toilets in the parliament building to match their improved representation.

Silver slips lower in mixed end to Asia trading year

Silver slipped further as Asian markets presented a mixed picture in the the final trading day of 2025 on Wednesday, with some stocks tracking Wall Street losses as investors eyed a New Year break.

Guinea junta chief Doumbouya elected president: election commission

Guinea's junta chief Mamady Doumbouya, who had pledged not to run for office after seizing power four years ago, has been elected president after securing a sweeping majority of the vote, according to initial results by the country's election commission published on Tuesday.

Taiwan coastguard says Chinese ships 'withdrawing' after drills

Chinese warships and coastguard vessels are withdrawing from waters around Taiwan, the island's coastguard said Wednesday, with Beijing's military drills appearing to be "over".

Leftist Mamdani to take over as New York mayor under Trump shadow

Zohran Mamdani, young upstart of the US left, was readying Wednesday to take over as New York mayor for a term sure to see him cross swords with President Donald Trump.

Thailand releases 18 Cambodian soldiers held since July

Thailand on Wednesday released 18 Cambodian soldiers captured in July, both governments said, after a fresh ceasefire between the neighbours held for more than three days following weeks of deadly border clashes.

Asia markets mixed in final day of 2025 trading

Asian stocks were mixed at the start of the final trading day of 2025 on Wednesday, with some tracking Wall Street losses as investors eased towards the New Year break.

Global 'fragmentation' fuelling world's crises: UN refugee chief

The outgoing United Nations refugee chief fears an increasingly fragmented world is fuelling global conflicts and crises, and inflaming hostility towards people desperately fleeing for safety.

Guinea junta chief Doumboya elected president: election commission

Guinea's junta chief Mamady Doumbouya, who had pledged not to run for office after seizing power four years ago, has been elected president after securing a sweeping majority of the vote, according to initial results by the country's election commission published on Tuesday.

Stocks mixed, silver rebounds as 2025 trading winds down

Stock markets were mixed on Tuesday while silver prices rebounded amid volatile trading in precious metals.

Ukraine says no evidence it attacked Putin residence

Ukraine said Tuesday there was no "plausible" evidence it launched a drone attack on one of Russian President Vladimir Putin's residences, accusing Moscow of peddling falsehoods to manipulate talks on ending the war.

UAE to pull forces out of Yemen as 24-hour deadline set

The UAE said Tuesday it was pulling its remaining forces out of Yemen, following a Saudi demand to withdraw within 24 hours as tensions escalate over a sweeping offensive by Abu Dhabi-backed separatists.

AU observers praise 'peaceful' Central African Republic polls

African Union observers on Tuesday said elections in the Central African Republic, where incumbent president Faustin-Archange Touadera is widely expected to win, had gone ahead peacefully.

'Make our country happy': Sudan dream of AFCON glory as conflict rages at home

When war broke out in Sudan in April 2023, Ammar Taifour was in a training camp with his club Al Merrikh in Khartoum.

A war within a war: Yemen's latest conflict

Yemen has been fighting a crippling war with itself since Iran-backed Houthi rebels ousted the government in 2014, triggering a Saudi-led military intervention.

Saudi Arabia condemns 'dangerous' UAE moves in Yemen after striking shipment

Saudi Arabia declared a UAE-backed separatist advance in Yemen a threat to the kingdom's national security on Tuesday and called Abu Dhabi's actions "highly dangerous", as the rivalry between the Gulf monarchies boiled over into an open dispute.

Kyiv says no evidence for Putin residence attack

Kyiv said Tuesday there was no "plausible" evidence it launched a drone attack on one of Vladimir Putin's residences, accusing Moscow of peddling false claims to try to manipulate talks on ending its invasion.

European stocks climb, silver rebounds

European stock markets rose Tuesday after Tokyo closed out a strong year, as silver prices rebounded amid volatile trading for the precious metal.

Saudi Arabia condemns 'dangerous' UAE moves in Yemen, bombs arms shipment

Saudi Arabia declared a UAE-backed separatist advance in Yemen a threat to the kingdom's national security on Tuesday and called Abu Dhabi's actions "highly dangerous", as the rivalry between the Gulf monarchies boiled over into an open dispute.

Moody's lowers city of Budapest's rating to junk

Ratings agency Moody's downgraded the city of Budapest's credit rating to junk level late Monday, pointing to weak liquidity and an increased default risk amid a row between Prime Minister Viktor Orban's nationalist government and the capital's opposition mayor.

France pushes back plastic cup ban by four years

The French government on Tuesday postponed a ban on plastic throwaway cups by four years to 2030 because of difficulties finding alternatives.

Saudi says UAE-backed advance in Yemen threatens its security

Saudi Arabia declared a UAE-backed separatist advance in Yemen as a threat to Riyadh's national security on Tuesday and called Abu Dhabi's actions "highly dangerous", as the conflict boiled over into an open dispute between the Gulf powers.

Loss and laughter: war medics heal in west Ukraine mountains

Ukrainian war medic Roma Zukh has learned a hard rule during the Russian invasion -- don't get too close to your colleagues. They could be killed at any moment.

China fires missiles on second day of military drills around Taiwan

China launched missiles and deployed dozens of fighter aircraft and navy vessels around Taiwan on Tuesday for a second day of live-fire drills aimed at simulating a blockade of the self-ruled island's key ports and assaults on maritime targets.

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