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Second-lowest turnout ever for HK legislative election
Hong Kong's legislative election on Sunday drew the second-lowest turnout rate on record, with voters choosing candidates under Beijing's "patriots only" rules in the aftermath of the city's deadliest fire in decades.
Benin government says has 'foiled' coup attempt
Benin's government said Sunday the government had thwarted an attempted coup, just hours after a group of soldiers announced on state television that they had ousted President Patrice Talon.
'It's all over': how Iran abandoned Assad to his fate days before fall
As city after city fell to a lightning rebel offensive in Syria last December, Iranian forces and diplomats supporting Bashar al-Assad saw the writing on the wall, abandoning the longtime ruler days before his ousting, sources told AFP.
Netanyahu expects to move to Gaza truce second phase soon
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Sunday he expected the second phase of the US-sponsored ceasefire plan for Gaza to begin soon, and said he would meet President Donald Trump this month.
Benin government says 'foiled' coup attempt
Benin's government on Sunday said it had thwarted an attempted coup, after a group of soldiers announced on state television that they had ousted President Patrice Talon.
Benin govt says 'foiled' coup attempt
Benin's government on Sunday said that it had thwarted an attempted coup, after a group of soldiers announced on state television that they had ousted President Patrice Talon.
Palestinian coach gets hope, advice from mum in Gaza tent
Coach Ehab Abu Jazar is guiding a national team that carries on its shoulders all the hopes and sorrows of Palestinian football, but it is his mother, forced by war to live in a Gaza tent, who is his main inspiration and motivation.
Benin presidency says still in control despite coup attempt
Military personnel in Benin on Sunday announced that they had ousted President Patrice Talon, although his entourage said he was safe and the army was regaining control.
In Jerusalem, Merz reaffirms Germany's support for Israel
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz reaffirmed Berlin's support for Israel during a visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem on Sunday before talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Hong Kong heads to the polls after deadly fire
Hong Kong began voting on Sunday to choose new lawmakers under Beijing's "patriots only" rules, though government efforts to drive turnout have been overshadowed by the city's deadliest fire in decades.
Divided US Fed set for contentious interest rate meeting
While the US Federal Reserve's final interest rate meeting this year could see an unusual amount of division, financial markets view a third straight interest rate cut as nearly certain.
Trump's Pentagon chief under fire as scandals mount
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is under mounting pressure from scandals surrounding strikes on alleged drug boats and his use of Signal to discuss sensitive military information, sparking growing criticism and calls for him to quit.
Mexico's Sheinbaum holds huge rally following major protests
Hundreds of thousands of people gathered Saturday in Mexico's capital to support President Claudia Sheinbaum, as the leftist leader sought to demonstrate her continued popularity following a month of political pushback and major protests.
Bethlehem Christmas tree lit up for first time since Gaza war
Christmas cheer returned to the traditional birthplace of Jesus Christ on Saturday as Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank lit up a tree for the first time since the war in Gaza began over two years ago.
Greyness and solitude: French ex-president describes prison stay
Greyness and solitude marked French ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy's three weeks in prison, according to excerpts released on Saturday from an upcoming book.
Milei welcomes Argentina's first F-16 fighter jets
President Javier Milei on Saturday hailed the arrival of Argentina's first six F-16 jets purchased from Denmark, describing them as "guardian angels" that will strengthen the South American country's armed forces.
No breakthrough at 'constructive' Ukraine-US talks
Three days of talks between Ukrainian and US officials produced no apparent breakthrough Saturday, with President Volodymyr Zelensky committing to further negotiations toward "real peace," even as Russia launched another series of drone and missile strikes on its neighbor.
UN Security Council delegation urges all sides to stick to Lebanon truce
A United Nations Security Council delegation on Saturday urged all parties to uphold a year-old ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, expressing support for a state weapons monopoly at the end of a Lebanon visit.
Syria's Kurds hail 'positive impact' of Turkey peace talks
Efforts to broker peace between Turkey and the Kurdish militant group PKK have had a "positive impact" on Syria's Kurds who also want dialogue with Ankara, one of its top officials said Saturday.
UK's Farage rallies in Scottish town hit by immigration protests
Populist politician Nigel Farage rallied supporters Saturday in Scotland, decrying immigration, climate change mitigations and other policies, as he bids to build on unexpectedly strong backing there for his anti-immigration Reform UK party.
Venezuela's Machado vows to make Nobel Peace Prize ceremony
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has vowed to go to Norway to pick up her Nobel Peace Prize, defying a warning from Caracas that she would be a fugitive if she did so.
Russian strikes on Ukraine trigger heating, water cuts
Russian drone and missile strikes on Ukraine have targeted critical infrastructure, including energy sites and railways, triggering heating and water outages for thousands of households, Kyiv said on Saturday.
Mediators Qatar, Egypt call for next steps in Gaza truce
Qatar and Egypt, guarantors of the Gaza ceasefire, on Saturday called for the withdrawal of Israeli troops and the deployment of an international stabilisation force as the necessary next steps in fully implementing the fragile agreement.
Venezuela's Machado to receive peace prize in Oslo: Nobel Institute
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who lives in hiding in her country, has confirmed she will travel to Oslo to receive her Nobel Peace Prize, the head of the Nobel Institute told AFP on Saturday.
Four civilians, soldier killed in Afghan-Pakistan border clash
An overnight exchange of gunfire and shelling at a major Pakistan-Afghanistan border crossing killed four civilians and one soldier, Afghan officials said Saturday, the latest flare-up of fighting between the two countries despite a ceasefire since deadly clashes in October.
Myanmar citizens head to early polls in Bangkok
A few dozen early voters in Myanmar's widely criticised elections cast their ballots at the country's embassy in Bangkok on Saturday as polls opened for citizens abroad.
Ukraine, US to meet for third day, agree 'real progress' depends on Russia
Ukrainian and US officials will hold a third straight day of talks in Miami on Saturday, with Washington saying the two sides agreed that "real progress" would depend on Russia's willingness to end the war.
Peace medal and YMCA: Trump steals the show at World Cup draw
He got a gold medal. He made a game show-style appearance with foreign leaders. And he danced to YMCA.
Trump takes aim at Europe in new security strategy
President Donald Trump has had Europe in his crosshairs since beginning a second White House term earlier this year.
Russian ambassador slams EU frozen assets plan for Ukraine
A European Union plan to use frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine's fight against Russia would have "far-reaching consequences" for the EU, Moscow's ambassador to Germany warned on Friday.
Mixed day for global stocks as market digest huge Netflix deal
World stock markets gave a mixed picture on Friday, with sentiment underpinned by hopes for sustained US central bank rate cuts, but nagging inflationary worries limiting the gains in bourses that advanced.
Fighting erupts in DR Congo a day after peace deal signed
Fresh fighting in eastern DR Congo on Friday forced hundreds to flee across the border into Rwanda, a day after a peace deal was signed in Washington.