PHILIPPINES
Evacuees flee possible major volcano eruption
The Philippines' most active volcano shot ash into the sky on Wednesday, as officials tried to bring Christmas cheer to tens of thousands of evacuees fleeing a possible major eruption.
AFP
Four killed in Pakistan suicide blast: officials
A suicide bomber targeted a security checkpoint in Pakistan's Peshawar on Thursday, killing four people in the second such attack in as many days in the flashpoint northwestern city.Attacks are escalating in the city of 2.5 million people on the ...
AFP
Suicide bomber in southern Afghanistan kills eight: police
A suicide bomber with a horse and cart detonated himself Thursday in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar, killing eight people and wounding five, a senior police officer said.The explosion happened around 7.15 pm (1445 GMT) outside the Kandahar ...
CHINA
Leading dissident tried for 'subversion'
Leading Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo went on trial on subversion charges Wednesday, in a case criticised by Western democracies and rights groups as politically motivated. A verdict is expected on Friday.
IRAN
Montazeri mourners 'clash' with police in major cities
At least 50 people were arrested after Iranian security forces clashed with opposition supporters gathered to mourn the late Iranian dissident cleric Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, according to reports by opposition websites.
AFP
Cambodia deports 20 Uighurs back to China
A group of 20 Muslim Uighurs who were seeking refuge in Cambodia after unrest in the Chinese region of Xinjiang were deported back to China late Saturday, an interior ministry spokesman said."The 20 Uighurs have been sent back to China on a Chinese ...
AFGHANISTAN
Karzai presents new cabinet in attempt to please both warlords and West
After months of political paralysis following a controversial August election, Afghan President Hamid Karzai has unveiled his choice of cabinet, which tries to please both domestic warlords and the West, notably Washington.
AFP
China 'positive' on Copenhagen summit
China on Sunday welcomed the outcome of climate change talks in Copenhagen, the day after a deal reached to fight global warming came in for heavy criticism."With the efforts of all parties, the summit yielded significant and positive results," ...
PAKISTAN
Government dismisses rumours of coup
Pakistani authorities have dismissed rumours of a possible coup after Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar (pictured) was barred from leaving the country on Thursday, underscoring mounting political tension in the country.
AFP
Four killed in NW Pakistan bomb blast: police
At least four people were killed and 18 others injured Friday in a "huge" bomb blast inside a mosque in a police compound in northwest Pakistan, officials said.The blast struck in a town in Lower Dir district, the focus of a fierce military ...
AFP
Genocide charge for Cambodia's KRouge ex-head of state
Cambodia's UN-backed war crimes court Friday charged Khmer Rouge former head of state Khieu Samphan with genocide, a tribunal spokesman told AFP.The 78-year-old former leader was charged over the hardline communist regime's slaughter of Vietnamese ...
AFGHANISTAN
French, US troops launch major operation on Taliban stronghold
More than 1,100 French, US and Afghan soldiers have attacked the Taliban stronghold of Uzbeen Valley, where 10 French soldiers were killed in an ambush in August 2008. Five members of the US special forces were wounded during the operation.
UNITED STATES
House passes $636 billion military bill
The US House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a massive military spending bill to defray annual expenses, fund operations in Afghanistan and pay for the troop withdrawal from Iraq.
IRAN
Western countries rebuke new missile test
Iran's successful test of an improved version of its Sejil 2 medium-range missile has drawn condemnation from US and British leaders. Tehran claims the revamped missile puts Israel and parts of Europe within range.
Syndicate contentThe "Duch" trial
BURMA
Suu Kyi granted brief outing to meet with party elders
Burma's military government briefly allowed detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi out of her home on Wednesday for a rare meeting with senior members of her party.
FRANCE
Afghan migrants flown back to war-torn country
France has proceeded with the expulsion of nine Afghan migrants, Immigration Minister Eric Besson confirmed, despite protests from rights groups. The migrants were flown back to their war-torn country in a special charter flight.
Syndicate contentIRANIAN NUCLEAR CRISIS
PAKISTAN
Deadly car bomb blast hits busy market town
A car bomb exploded in a busy market in the central Pakistani town of Dera Ghazi Khan, killing at least 27 people and injuring dozens.
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AFGHANISTAN
Red Cross pays first visit to prisoners held by Taliban
Members of the International Committee of the Red Cross have been allowed to visit prisoners held by Taliban militants in Afghanistan for the first time since a US-led invasion in 2001, the organisation said in a statement.
Syndicate contentWith French troops in Afghanistan
Syndicate contentnews briefs
01:00
Brittany Murphy to be buried Christmas Eve: report - AFP
00:53
Japan's jobless rate rises to 5.2 percent in November: govt - AFP
23:51
Blood feud kills Pacquiao-Mayweather fight - AFP
22:55
Pilgrim causes pope to fall at start of Christmas mass - AFP
22:41
Swedish press sceptical on Chinese takeover of Volvo - AFP
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