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Tel Aviv (AFP) – Pro and anti-Netanyahu protesters rally outside a court in Tel Aviv as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu testifies in his corruption case for the first time. Netanyahu, who has repeatedly sought to delay his court appearance, dismissed the accusations as he spoke in court. He is the first sitting prime minister of Israel to face a criminal trial and faces charges of bribery, fraud and breach of public trust in three separate cases. The trial is scheduled to last for several months, with an appeals process that could further prolong matters.

Tiflis (AFP) – Irakli Pipia is one of many protesters who say they have been beaten in Georgia’s massive pro-EU demonstrations, in a political crisis that shows no sign of abating. Police have arrested more than 400 people, with most reporting physical abuse, according to the Social Justice Centre NGO, which provides legal counselling to those affected. Tens of thousands have rallied for over a week in Tbilisi, infuriated by the government’s decision to shelve EU accession talks and accusing it of steering Georgia towards the Kremlin.

Reykjavik (AFP) – In Iceland’s parliament, six cleaners take a break from their duties to spend time learning Icelandic, seen as one of the principal barriers to integration in the country. Of the Nordic country’s roughly 400,000 residents, about one in five have an immigrant background, and few of them speak Icelandic, which experts say could affect social cohesion.

Genf (AFP) – Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and the other armed groups that have swept Syrian president Bashar al-Assad from power are “sending good messages” of “unity, of inclusiveness” to Syrians, says Geir Pedersen, the UN special envoy for Syria. At a press conference in Geneva, he also adds that Israeli bombardments into Syrian territory need “to stop”.

Brüssel (AFP) – According to the annual tally conducted by the International Federation of Journalists, 104 journalists or media contributors were killed in 2024, with over half of them in Gaza. The number is down slightly from 2023 but is still “one of the worst years” on record, says Anthony Bellanger, the organisation’s general secretary.

Damascus (AFP) – Drone footage shows a column of smoke rising above Damascus following a strike. AFP journalists heard loud explosions in Damascus early Tuesday, hours after the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported around 250 Israeli air strikes on Syrian territory since the fall of president Bashar al-Assad. IMAGES

Tokyo (AFP) – Survivors of the US atomic bombings of Japan are set to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, but after years of anti-nuclear campaigning and showing the world their scars, they still retain the painful memories of the discrimination they have faced.

Damascus (AFP) – AFP journalists heard loud explosions in Damascus early Tuesday, as the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports that Israel has carried out a flurry of air strikes on Syria since the fall of president Bashar al-Assad’s government. According to the Britain-based war monitor, Israel has been targeting key military installations across the country since Sunday, with the aim of destroying them. IMAGES

Damaskus (AFP) – Syrians celebrate the end of ousted president Bashar al-Assad’s rule. Assad fled Syria as Islamist-led rebels swept into the capital, bringing a spectacular end to five decades of brutal rule by his clan over a country ravaged by one of the deadliest wars of the century. While Syria has been at war for over 13 years, the government’s collapse ended up coming in a matter of days, with a lightning offensive launched by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).

Seoul (AFP) – The writer and director of the South Korean hit series ‘Squid Game’ says watching the series “will not be that far from looking at the world” as the country is facing a political crisis after President Yoon Suk Yeol briefly declared martial law. ‘Squid Game’, an ultra-violent tale exploring themes of division and inequality, is considered to be one of the most significant works in solidifying South Korea’s status as a global cultural powerhouse, alongside the Oscar-winning film ‘Parasite’ and K-pop megastars BTS.

Newry (AFP) – Hundreds of people dressed as Santa Claus ski together at the Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry, Maine, to raise money for a local non-profit organisation. The Sunday River Resort’s 24th annual Santa Sunday attracted over 300 skiers and riders dressed as Santa and raised $9,000 for The River Fund Maine.

Negros Island (AFP) – A timelapse video shows a volcano in the central Philippines sending a huge column of ash into the air as it erupts. Rising more than 2,400 metres (8,000 feet) above sea level on the central island of Negros, Kanlaon is one of 24 active volcanoes in the Philippines. According to the seismology office, Kanlaon has erupted more than 40 times since 1866.