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Philippines 'concerned' over China land reclamation in disputed sea
The Philippines said Wednesday it was "seriously concerned" over a report that China has started reclaiming several unoccupied land features in the disputed South China Sea.

Afghan women stopped from entering universities after Taliban ban
Hundreds of young women were stopped by armed guards on Wednesday from entering Afghan university campuses, a day after the nation's Taliban rulers banned them from higher education in another assault on human rights.

Yen holds gains, markets mixed after Bank of Japan move
The yen held onto gains Wednesday and equity markets were mixed after plunging the day before in response to the shock Bank of Japan decision to shift away from its ultra-loose monetary policy.

Ukraine's Zelensky to meet Biden, address Congress in Washington
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet US leader Joe Biden and address Congress in Washington on Wednesday, a visit the White House said will send Russia a strong message of Western unity.

Zelensky to meet Biden, address Congress in Washington
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet US leader Joe Biden and address Congress in Washington on Wednesday, during a visit the White House said will send Russia a strong message of Western unity.

Taliban ban university education for Afghan women
Afghanistan's Taliban rulers have banned university education for women nationwide, provoking condemnation from the United States and the United Nations over another assault on human rights.

Ukraine's Zelensky plans US visit in first trip abroad since war began
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky was expected to visit Washington on Wednesday for a possible meeting with Joe Biden and an address to Congress -- his first trip abroad since Russia invaded in February.

Yen holds gains, markets bounce after Bank of Japan move
The yen held onto gains Wednesday and equity markets rebounded from a plunge the day before fuelled by the shock Bank of Japan decision to shift away from its ultra-loose monetary policy.

'Shame of Apurimac': Peru region disavows homegrown president
Apurimac, a poor, Indigenous-majority region in Peru's rural south, is the birthplace of the country's brand new president, Dina Boluarte. It has also been the epicenter of violent protests against her political takeover.

N. Zealand top diplomat offers congratulations to Fiji's new PM-elect
New Zealand's foreign minister on Wednesday congratulated Sitiveni Rabuka on emerging victorious from Fiji's election, giving the troubled vote a seal of approval even before 16-year leader Frank Bainimarama has conceded.

Peru lawmakers move up general elections to April 2024
Peru's Congress on Tuesday voted to move up general elections from 2026 to April 2024 in a bid to ease political tensions and head off deadly protests sparked by the ouster and arrest of president Pedro Castillo.

Trump's tax returns to be released by US Congress
US lawmakers voted Tuesday to make public Donald Trump's tax returns, ending a years-long battle by the former president to keep the filings private as his cloudy financial past continues to stoke controversy.

Ukraine's Zelensky plans US visit -- first trip abroad since war began
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky plans to visit Washington on Wednesday for a possible meeting with Joe Biden and an address to Congress, US media reported -- his first trip abroad since Russia invaded in February.

Panama mourns US invasion 33 years ago
Panama on Tuesday observed a day of national mourning for the first time ever to mark the anniversary of the US invasion in 1989 to oust dictator Manuel Antonio Noriega.

Taliban free two Americans in 'goodwill gesture': US
The Taliban have freed two Americans in detention in Afghanistan, the State Department said Tuesday, on the same day that the militant regime faced condemnation for banning women at universities.

Brussels approves German state takeover of gas giant Uniper
The European Commission on Tuesday conditionally approved the nationalisation of troubled German gas giant Uniper after it was pushed to the brink of collapse following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

TikTok under pressure as US lawmakers push government ban
The US Congress is on the cusp of approving a nationwide ban on using TikTok on government devices because of perceived security risks -- thrusting the hugely popular video-sharing platform into a delicate position over Washington's ties to China.

Doctors urge Georgia to send jailed ex-leader abroad for care
Georgia's ailing ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili, who has launched several hunger strikes to protest his imprisonment, requires life-saving medical care abroad, doctors linked to his lawyers told AFP Tuesday.

Video shows Biden saying Iran nuclear deal is 'dead'
US President Joe Biden said last month that the multi-state deal with Iran to limit its nuclear program was "dead," but he would not announce that publicly, according to a video that surfaced Tuesday.

Germany hands back looted artefacts to Nigeria
Germany handed back more than 20 looted artefacts to Nigeria on Tuesday, saying it was to "right a wrong" more than 100 years after they were stolen by British colonial troops.

Ramaphosa vows to unite ANC, tackle graft after re-election
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa vowed Tuesday to unite the deeply-fissured African National Congress (ANC) and root out graft after the ruling party re-elected him as leader despite anger over a growing scandal.

EU cuts gas consumption by 20% over past four months
EU countries have cut the amount of natural gas they consume by 20 percent over the past four months as they adapt to an energy crunch, the bloc's statistics agency said Tuesday.

Russians conflicted on Ukraine winter offensive, US says
The Russian leadership has conflicting views on whether to launch a winter offensive in Ukraine, which has warned of a new attempt to seize Kyiv, a senior US official said Tuesday.

Let Iraq choose own path, Macron tells Middle East summit
French President Emmanuel Macron called for Iraq to be allowed to choose a path not dictated by foreign powers, in an address Tuesday to a summit aimed at helping to resolve Middle East crises.

Zelensky visits Ukraine 'fortress' city of Bakhmut
President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday visited the eastern frontline city of Bakhmut, now the epicentre of fighting in Russia's nearly 10-month invasion of Ukraine.

Ukraine's Zelensky visits frontline city of Bakhmut
President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday visited the eastern frontline city of Bakhmut, now the epicentre of fighting in Russia's nearly 10-month invasion of Ukraine.

Jordan hosts Mideast summit in bid to defuse regional tensions
Jordan was hosting a Middle East summit on Tuesday, bringing together regional and international players hoping to help resolve regional crises, particularly in neighbouring Iraq.

Endless cycle of destruction and repair for Ukraine's energy workers
It has become a daily struggle for Ukrainian technicians: mending pipes damaged by Russian airstrikes in a desperate bid to keep the energy grid working in freezing temperatures, even as attacks continue.

Putin says situation in annexed regions 'extremely difficult'
President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday the situation in four territories of Ukraine that Russia claims to have annexed but does not control militarily was "extremely difficult".

'Listen to me', says Israeli woman accusing top rabbi of rape
Through weekly protests outside Israel's parliament, Nehama Teena has demanded an investigation into a prominent rabbi she accuses of rape and sought to break the code of silence surrounding sexual assault in the Orthodox world.

Olympics chief Bach 'faces dilemma over Russian athletes'
Olympics chief Thomas Bach faces "the toughest decision of his presidency" as he weighs whether Russian and Belarus athletes should be allowed to compete in the 2024 Games, a senior former IOC executive has told AFP.

Stock markets fall, yen rallies after BoJ policy move
Markets fell Tuesday and the yen rallied after Japan announced a surprise tweak to its ultra-loose monetary policy, just as traders were fretting that central bank efforts to tame inflation will tip economies into recession.