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Freeze, please! China's winter swimmers take the plunge
As the temperature in Beijing hit -7C on Tuesday, 62-year-old Yang Zi stripped down to his swimming briefs and plunged into a frozen lake, as dozens of residents do every winter.
Spain mourns as train disaster toll rises to 41
Spain began three days of national mourning on Tuesday for 41 people killed after two high-speed trains collided in the country's deadliest train accident in over a decade.
South Koreans go cuckoo for 'Dubai-style' cookies
Chewy, crunchy and not-too-sweet, round, chocolatey "Dubai-style" cookies have become the must-have dessert in South Korea -- with the rush for the snacks even prompting the Red Cross to offer them as a draw for blood donors.
Guatemalans enter state of siege over surge in gang violence
Streets were half-empty Monday in the capital city of Guatemala, where outrage and fear lingered during the first day of the 30-day state of emergency decreed by the government in response to the murder of nine police officers and riots in several prisons.
Belgian court weighs trial for ex-diplomat over Lumumba killing
A Belgian court will hold a hearing Tuesday on whether a former senior diplomat should go on trial over the 1961 killing of Congolese leader Patrice Lumumba.
Spain mourns as train crash toll rises to 40
Spain begins three days of national mourning on Tuesday for the 40 people killed in a high-speed train crash that the prime minister has vowed to investigate.
Allies tepid on Trump 'Board of Peace' with $1bn permanent member fee
Key allies reacted coolly Monday to US President Donald Trump's invite to pay $1 billion for a permanent spot on his "Board of Peace" for resolving international conflicts, with analysts likening it to a pay-to-play version of the UN Security Council.
Ninth policeman dies in Guatemala gang riots, attacks
Authorities in Guatemala said Monday a ninth police officer died of his injuries following an outbreak of gang violence, over which the government declared a state of emergency.
Spain seeks answers as high-speed train crash toll rises to 40
The death toll from a high-speed train collision in southern Spain rose to 40 on Monday as the government vowed a full investigation into its causes.
Allies tepid on Trump 'peace board' with $1bln permanent member fee
Key allies reacted coolly Monday to US President Donald Trump's invite to pay $1.0 billion for a permanent spot on his "Board of Peace" for resolving international conflicts, with analysts likening it to a pay-to-play version of the UN Security Council.
Ex-OPEC president in UK court ahead of corruption trial
Former OPEC president Diezani Alison-Madueke appeared in a London court on Monday, ahead of her full trial on bribery charges relating to her time as Nigeria's oil minister.
Prince Harry, Elton John 'violated' by UK media's alleged intrusion
Alleged unlawful information gathering by two UK newspapers made Prince Harry "paranoid beyond belief" and left Elton John feeling "violated", the pair have testified as a joint lawsuit opened Monday in the High Court.
New charges against son of Norway princess
The son of Norway's crown princess, who goes on trial in February accused of raping four women, has been charged with new crimes including a "serious narcotics offence", the prosecutor said on Monday.
Trump to charge $1bn for permanent 'peace board' membership
US President Donald Trump's government has asked countries to pay $1.0 billion for a permanent spot on his "Board of Peace" aimed at resolving conflicts, according to its charter, seen Monday by AFP.
Over 400 Indonesians 'released' by Cambodian scam networks: ambassador
More than 400 Indonesians were freed by cyberscam networks in Cambodia this month, Jakarta said on Monday, after Phnom Penh announced a fresh crackdown following the arrest of an alleged boss of the illicit industry.
High-speed train collision in Spain kills 39, injures dozens
A high-speed train derailed and was hit by another in southern Spain killing 39 people and injuring more than 120, authorities said Monday, saying the country's worst train in over a decade was "extremely strange".
Gang members in Guatemala kill eight police after prison crackdown
Authorities in Guatemala accused gangs of killing eight police on Sunday in retaliation for the government's refusal to transfer gang leaders to a lower-security prison.
Train collision in Spain kills 21, injures dozens
A collision between two high-speed trains carrying hundreds of passengers in southern Spain killed at least 21 people and injured more than 70 on Sunday, the emergency services said.
Chile declares emergency as wildfires kill at least 15
Wildfires raging in southern Chile have killed at least 15 people and forced more than 50,000 to evacuate, the government said Sunday.
Indonesia rescuers find body from plane crash
Rescuers found debris and one body on Sunday from a small plane that crashed in eastern Indonesia with 10 people on board, officials said.
Indonesian rescuers find debris from missing plane
Rescuers on Sunday found the debris from a small plane that went missing in eastern Indonesia, but have yet to locate the 10 passengers who were on board, officials said.
Haiti security forces commence major anti-gang operation
Haitian security forces are conducting a large-scale operation in gang-controlled areas, with a strike targeting the home of a major gang kingpin, the Haitian National Police told AFP on Saturday.
'We can hunt': Greenlanders weigh drastic options as US threatens
Ulrikke Andersen has already made a plan. If the United States invades Greenland, she will flee her home with her daughter.
Uganda's Museveni wins seventh term as observers denounce intimidation
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni won a seventh term in office on Saturday after an election marred by violence and an internet shutdown, with African observers saying arrests and abductions had "instilled fear".
Louvre heist probe still aims to 'recover jewellery', top prosecutor says
French investigators remain determined to find the imperial jewels stolen from the Louvre in October, a prosecutor has told AFP.
Uganda opposition leader cut off from communications after polls
Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine was cut off from communications on Saturday after a police raid on his home, his party said, with the security forces determined to prevent unrest ahead of imminent election results.
Uganda army denies seizing opposition leader as vote result looms
Uganda's army denied claims on Saturday that opposition leader Bobi Wine had been abducted from his home, as counting continued in an election marred by reports of at least 10 deaths amid an internet blackout.
Ugandan opposition leader seized by army helicopter after election
Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine was forcibly taken away in an army helicopter from his home on Friday, his party said, a day after elections marred by reports of violence.
Trump threatens tariffs as US lawmakers back Denmark, Greenland
Donald Trump on Friday warned that he could slap tariffs on countries that do not support his Greenland takeover plans, as US Congress members visited Copenhagen to give their backing for Denmark and its autonomous Arctic island.
Swiss fire fatalities not given routine autopsies: lawyers
The victims of the Swiss New Year fire disaster have not undergone routine autopsies to determine how they died, lawyers representing their families said Friday.
Local UK police chief retires amid Maccabi Tel Aviv fan ban row
A top UK police chief who oversaw a decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv football fans from a Birmingham match stepped down by retiring on Friday after growing calls for him to go.
French court's 'cold case' ruling casts doubt on other investigations
France's top court ruled Friday it was too late to try a man who confessed to a murder decades after his victim disappeared, a judgment that could affect other "cold case" investigations.