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COP host Azerbaijan jailed activists over 'critical opinions': rights body

UN climate conference host Azerbaijan has imprisoned activists and journalists merely due to their work and opposition to the authorities, the Council of Europe commissioner for human rights said in a letter published Monday.

Schools closed in Beirut after deadly Israeli strike

Schools in Beirut were closed on Monday after Israeli strikes on the Lebanese capital killed six people including Hezbollah's spokesman, the latest in a string of top militant targets slain in the war.

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Colombia police sexually abused at least 28 during protests: Amnesty

At least 28 people were sexually abused by police during Colombia's mass anti-government protests last year, Amnesty International said Thursday.

'Rogue wave' kills person on Antarctic cruise

One person died and four were injured when a massive wave smashed into an Antarctic cruise ship during a storm as it sailed off the southernmost tip of South America, the company said Thursday.

UEFA starts further investigation into Juventus finances

UEFA on Thursday said it was starting its own investigation into the finances of Serie A club Juventus.

Release of S.Africa's anti-apartheid hero killer delayed

The scheduled release from prison of the killer of South African anti-apartheid hero Chris Hani has been postponed until he has recovered from stab wounds he received this week, the authorities said Thursday.

Pope to visit DR Congo, S. Sudan in early 2023

Pope Francis will visit the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan early next year, a trip previously postponed due to problems with his knee, the Vatican said Thursday.

Engineering giant to repay S.Africa over 'criminal conduct' at utility

Swedish-Swiss engineering giant ABB, which helped construct a huge power plant near Johannesburg, will pay reparations to South Africa over "criminal conduct" at the struggling power utility Eskom, prosecutors said Thursday.

Coup allegations a bid to eliminate me, says Sao Tome opponent

One of Sao Tome's leading opposition figures says accusations that he sought to mount a coup in the tiny African state were a "sham" and a bid to destroy him.

Sudan's Rastas fear new crackdown but vow to fight on

With his distinctive long dreadlocks and slouchy beanie, Abdallah Ahmed has always known his choice of lifestyle means trouble in Sudan, where long-oppressed Rastafarians say they are being targeted anew.

Hong Kong court delays trial of pro-democracy tycoon

Jailed pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai's trial under Hong Kong's national security law was delayed Thursday as the government asked Beijing to bar Lai from being represented by a British lawyer.

Chile-Bolivia river row set for UN court ruling

The International Court of Justice will give its judgement on Thursday on a climate change-fuelled row between Chile and Bolivia over the use of a crucial cross-border river.

Two dead, dozens missing as landslide wipes out Brazil highway

At least two people were killed and dozens more are missing after a landslide ravaged a section of highway in southern Brazil, sweeping some 20 cars and trucks along with it, authorities said Wednesday.

Ukraine embassy guard in Madrid 'lightly' injured by letter bomb

A security guard at Ukraine's embassy in Madrid was lightly injured Wednesday while opening a letter bomb addressed to the Ukrainian ambassador, prompting Kyiv to boost security at its embassies.

S.Africa's Ramaphosa under pressure over 'cash and cushions' scandal

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa is facing renewed pressure after a panel probing a burglary scandal at his farm said Wednesday it found enough evidence to warrant a parliamentary debate on whether he should be impeached.

Former cycling star Rebellin killed in 'hit-and-run' collision

Former Italian cycling champion and one-time Olympic silver medallist Davide Rebellin has died after a hit-and-run collision involving him and a truck near his home in the Venice region, local media reported on Wednesday.

Details leak in South Africa's 'cash and cushions' scandal

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has told a probe into a burglary scandal enmeshing him that $580,000 in cash stolen from beneath sofa cushions at his ranch came from a cattle buyer, according to leaked documents on Wednesday.

German gas giant takes Gazprom to court over supply halts

German energy giant Uniper said Wednesday it was taking Gazprom to an international tribunal over the Russian company's failure to deliver gas, saying it has so far cost them 11.6 billion euros ($12 billion).

Ukraine embassy employee in Madrid 'lightly' injured by letter bomb

A security guard at Ukraine's embassy in Madrid was lightly injured Wednesday while opening a letter bomb addressed to the Ukrainian ambassador, prompting Kyiv to boost security at its embassies.

EU commission recommends funding freeze for Hungary

The European Commission recommended on Wednesday that 13 billion euros ($13 billion) in EU funds for Hungary be frozen because Budapest is falling short on its commitments to meet European rule of law.

Mozambique court starts ruling on 'hidden debt' graft scandal

A court Wednesday begun handing down verdicts in Mozambique's biggest corruption scandal, in which the government unleashed a financial earthquake by trying to conceal huge debts.

Angola's Isabel dos Santos says victim of 'political persecution'

Angolan tycoon Isabel dos Santos says she is the victim of "political persecution" engineered by President Joao Lourenco, her father's successor at the helm of the oil-rich southern African country.

Belgium starts trial over 2016 suicide bombings

Belgium launched its biggest-ever criminal trial on Wednesday, the landmark prosecution of alleged jihadists accused of directing or aiding 2016 suicide bombings in Brussels' metro and airport that killed 32 people.

Meghan faced death threats as a royal: senior UK police officer

The UK's most senior police officer of colour has said the duchess of Sussex faced "disgusting" threats to her life during her time in the royal family.

Belgian port city terrorised by drug violence

In Belgium's port city of Antwerp, residents live in fear of eruptions of violence between the gangs that control Europe's vast cocaine trade.

Disappointment in Tehran after World Cup loss to US

Iranians had been hoping for a repeat of their 1998 World Cup victory over the United States but their 1-0 defeat in Qatar on Tuesday plunged Tehran into disappointed silence as they exited the tournament.

Suitcase murder suspect appears in New Zealand court

A 42-year-old mother extradited from South Korea appeared in a New Zealand court for the first time on Wednesday, facing murder charges after the remains of her two children were found in suitcases in Auckland.

Moscow blasts Pope over 'cruel' Russian minorities jab

Russia has expressed "indignation" at comments by Pope Francis singling out the alleged role of Russian ethnic minorities in Moscow's military intervention in Ukraine, news agencies reported Tuesday.

Hawaii volcano shoots lava fountains 200 feet high: USGS

Fountains of lava up to 200 feet (60 meters) high have been fired into the air from Hawaii's Mauna Loa, geologists say, generating rivers of molten rock from the world's largest active volcano.

Jailed Belarus activist Kolesnikova in intensive care: allies

Jailed Belarusian opposition leader Maria Kolesnikova, who is serving a long prison term, has been admitted to intensive care in hospital, her allies said on Tuesday.

Iran general says more than 300 dead in Amini unrest

Iran has for the first time reported that more than 300 people have died in over two months of protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody.

World Cup pitch invader defends 'breaking rules' despite ban

The Italian who ran onto the World Cup pitch wearing a T-shirt in support of Ukraine and Iranian women defended his protest Tuesday, despite being served a tournament ban.

Christians now a minority in England and Wales

Fewer than half of people in England and Wales identify as Christian, according to census data released on Tuesday, underlining a landmark shift towards secularism in multicultural Britain.

World Cup pitch invader defends 'breaking the rules'

The Italian who ran on to the World Cup pitch wearing a T-shirt in support of Ukraine and Iranian women is a football player with a history of similar stunts.

S.African anti-apartheid hero Hani's tomb vandalised

The grave of anti-apartheid hero Chris Hani has been vandalised, days after a South African court ordered the far-right gunman who killed him to be released on parole, city officials said on Tuesday.

Bad abbot: Thai temple left empty after monks fail drug tests

A Buddhist temple in central Thailand has been left without monks after all its holy men failed drug tests and were defrocked, a local official said Tuesday.

'The dead keep coming': violence overwhelms Mexico's morgues

In a dark, windowless room with no air conditioning in southern Mexico, thousands of bones of unidentified people encapsulate the crisis of a forensic system overwhelmed by violent crime.

Six years after bombings, Belgium readies for biggest trial

Belgium's worst peacetime massacre left 32 dead and hundreds marked for life. Now, six and a half years later, Brussels will host its biggest ever criminal trial.

US teen pleads guilty to racism-driven supermarket massacre

A self-declared white supremacist pleaded guilty Monday to shooting dead 10 Black people during a racist, live-streamed, rampage at a supermarket in the US state of New York earlier this year.

Newspapers urge US to drop hunt for Assange

Five of the Western world's leading newspapers issued a joint call Monday for the United States to drop its prosecution of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

Cocaine 'super-cartel' busted in Europe, Dubai: Europol

Police have smashed a huge drugs "super-cartel" that controlled around a third of Europe's cocaine trade, arresting 49 people in various countries, including six chief suspects in Dubai, Europol said on Monday.

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