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Xi tells Biden ready for 'smooth transition' to Trump

Chinese President Xi Jinping said Saturday he was ready to work with Donald Trump's new administration for a "smooth transition" in bilateral ties, as he met outgoing President Joe Biden for the last time.

$Trump nominates fracking magnate and climate skeptic as energy secretary$

Trump nominates fracking magnate and climate skeptic as energy secretary

US President-elect Donald Trump nominated fracking magnate and climate change skeptic Chris Wright as energy secretary on Saturday, tasking him with "cutting red tape" which the new administration hopes will drive investment in fossil fuels.

Xi tells Biden will seek 'smooth transition' in US-China ties

China is ready to work with the new US administration to ensure a "smooth transition" in bilateral ties, President Xi Jinping told counterpart Joe Biden Saturday as they met for the last time before Donald Trump returns to the White House.

Venezuela to free 225 detained in post-election unrest: source

Venezuelan authorities will free 225 people this weekend who were detained in protests against the disputed reelection of President Nicolas Maduro in July, a source in the prosecutor's office told AFP Saturday.

Israel pummels south Beirut as Hezbollah targets Haifa area

Israel launched a wave of air strikes on Hezbollah bastions in Beirut and south Lebanon on Saturday, as the Iran-backed militants said they fired on several Israeli military bases around the coastal city of Haifa.

Biden arrives for final talks with Xi as Trump return looms

US President Joe Biden arrived at a Lima hotel Saturday for his final encounter with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, a day after both leaders warned of turbulent times ahead as Donald Trump returns to the White House.

Protesters hold pro-Palestinian march in Rio ahead of G20

Hundreds of protesters marched in support of Palestinians in Rio on Saturday, in a demonstration aimed at world leaders about to converge on the city for a G20 summit.

Xi, Biden to meet as Trump return looms

US President Joe Biden and Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping will hold their last meeting Saturday, a day after both leaders warned of turbulent times ahead as Donald Trump returns to the White House.

Ukraine's Zelensky says wants to end war by diplomacy next year

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday that Kyiv would like to end the war with Russia next year through "diplomatic means", as both countries prepare for Donald Trump's return to the White House.

Israel pummels south Beirut as Lebanon mulls truce plan

Israel launched a wave of air strikes on Hezbollah bastions in Beirut and south Lebanon on Saturday, a day after Lebanese government officials said they were studying a US truce proposal.

Religious Jews comfort hostages' families in Tel Aviv

Singing together in harmony, hundreds of religious Jews gather in a Tel Aviv square to listen to the devastated families of Israeli hostages held in Gaza for 13 months.

Zelensky says wants to end war by diplomacy next year

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday that Kyiv would like to end the war with Russia next year through "diplomatic means", as both countries prepare for Donald Trump's return to the White House.

Japan PM expresses concern to Xi over South China Sea situation

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba expressed "serious concerns" over the situation in the South China Sea to Chinese President Xi Jinping in their first in-person talks, Tokyo's foreign ministry said Saturday.

Mushroom houses for Gaza? Arab designers offer home-grown innovations

As winter descends on Gaza's tent cities, emergency housing made from mushrooms could keep out the cold -- just one of several sustainable, home-grown innovations put forward by Arab designers at an expo in Dubai.

Young Libyans gear up for their first ever election

Young Libyans have mobilised for Saturday's municipal elections, the first time many will vote in the fractured North African country where polls have been rare since Moamer Kadhafi's 2011 overthrow.

Vice tightens around remaining civilians in eastern Ukraine

Along the road to Kurakhove in eastern Ukraine, ghost houses line the streets, their frames shattered by bombs, with peppers rotting on the vine and flower beds strewn with debris.

Dutch coalition survives political turmoil after minister's resignation

The Netherlands' right-wing government averted collapse on Friday after a junior minister resigned over alleged racist comments by cabinet colleagues related to last week's attacks on Israeli football fans.

Big Bang: Trump and Musk could redefine US space strategy

Should NASA return to the Moon, or go straight to Mars? Maintain its focus on climate science, or pivot away?

Revolution over but more protests than ever in Bangladesh

The solo protest of Bangladeshi hunger striker Mahbubul Haque Shipon is hard to spot among the six other demonstrations under way on the same busy thoroughfare.

Minister resigns but Dutch coalition remains in place

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof's right-wing government averted a crisis Friday when a junior minister resigned over alleged racist comments by cabinet colleagues, but the coalition government will remain in place.

Stirring 'haka' dance disrupts New Zealand's parliament

Indigenous Maori lawmakers disrupted New Zealand's parliament with a stirring "haka" dance, voicing opposition to a race relations bill that has ignited protests across the country.

Lame-duck Biden tries to reassure allies as Trump looms

Joe Biden cut a diminished figure on one of his last outings on the world stage Friday, as he admitted that the times are changing with Donald Trump's impending return to power.

Lebanon said studying US truce plan for Israel-Hezbollah war

Lebanese officials were reviewing on Friday a US truce proposal in the Israel-Hezbollah war as Hamas said it was ready for a ceasefire on Israel's other front, in Gaza.

Nigerian UN nurse escapes jihadist kidnappers after six years

A Nigerian nurse who was kidnapped by Islamic State-affiliated jihadists has escaped after six years in which she was forced into two marriages, it was announced Friday.

Ukraine slams Scholz after first call with Putin in two years

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Friday accused Germany's Olaf Scholz of playing into the hands of Russian President Vladimir Putin after the chancellor spoke by phone to the Kremlin chief for the first time in almost two years.

Trump pressures US Senate with divisive cabinet picks

Questions -- and, for some, outrage -- intensified over several of President-elect Donald Trump's cabinet picks Friday, as Washington awaits announcements for more major positions including head of the FBI and Treasury.

US finalizes up to $6.6 bn funding for chip giant TSMC

The United States will award Taiwanese chip giant TSMC up to $6.6 billion in direct funding to help build several plants on US soil, officials said Friday, finalizing the deal before a new administration enters the White House.

Scholz urges Ukraine talks in first call with Putin since 2022

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Friday urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to engage in peace talks with Ukraine, in the first call between the leaders in almost two years.

Lebanon rescuer picks up 'pieces' of father after Israel strike

Suzanne Karkaba and her father Ali were both civil defence rescuers whose job was to save the injured and recover the dead in Lebanon's war.

Mourners bid farewell to medic killed in east Ukraine

Dozens of mourners filled a golden-domed Orthodox cathedral in Kyiv Friday to pay their respects to a beloved combat medic killed this week on the front.

Hamas says 'ready for ceasefire' as Israel presses Gaza campaign

A senior Hamas official on Friday said the group is "ready for a ceasefire" in Gaza, urging US President-elect Donald Trump to "pressure" Israel as it continued to pound the Palestinian territory.

IAEA chief tours sensitive Iran nuclear plants

The UN nuclear chief toured two Iranian uranium enrichment plants that have been the focus of Western concern on Friday after Tehran said it was ready to address "doubts" about its ambitions.

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