Israel, Palestinians explore Gaza truce
JERUSALEM, Dec 12 (Reuters/AFP): Israelis and Palestinians are signalling new efforts to forge a ceasefire deal, even a limited one, for the first time in a year that would pause the fighting in Gaza and return to Israel some of the hostages still held in the Palestinian enclave.Israel Defence Minister...
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Syria's new govt to suspend constitution, parliament
DAMASCUS, Dec 12 (AFP/BBC): Syria's new government spokesman told AFP on Thursday the country's constitution and parliament would be suspended for the duration of the three-month transition period following president Bashar al-Assad's ouster."A judicial and human rights committee will be established to examine the constitution and then introduce amendments," Obaida...
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Trump invites Xi to join his inauguration
NEW YORK, Dec 12 (Reuters): US President-elect Donald Trump has invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend his inauguration next month, CBS News reported on Wednesday, citing multiple sources.The invitation to the Jan. 20 inauguration in Washington occurred in early November, shortly after the Nov 05 presidential election, and it...
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Yoon vows to fight 'until the very last minute'
SEOUL, Dec 12 (AFP): South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol vowed on Thursday to fight "until the very last minute" in a defiant address defending his shock decision to declare martial law and deploy troops to the country's parliament last week.The South Korean leader is barred from foreign travel as...
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Drug deaths among young Finns soar
HELSINKI, Dec 12 (AFP): At a popular meeting spot for substance abusers near central Helsinki, even the addicts warn that Finland has a spiralling drug problem, particularly among young people.The situation had reached "a whole new level", one man in his early 30s, who introduced himself only as Stefano, told...
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54 journalists killed in 2024, a third by Israel
PARIS, Dec 12 (AFP): Fifty-four journalists were killed worldwide while carrying out their work or because of their profession in 2024, a third of them by the Israeli army, according to an annual report by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) published ThursdayAccording to the press freedom NGO, Israeli armed forces were...
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