Evacuations begin from Syrian town

DOUMA, Syria - Aid workers have begun evacuating emergency medical cases from Syria's besieged rebel bastion of Eastern Ghouta, the Red Cross said on Wednesday, after months of waiting during which the United Nations said at least 16 people died.

Obama to Prince Harry: 'Serenity' on leaving the White House

LONDON - Former United States president Barack Obama told Prince Harry in an interview broadcast on Wednesday that he felt serene the day he left the White House despite the sense that much important work remained unfinished.

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Probe to haunt relations between Russia, US in 2018

Despite the personal chemistry between Russian and US presidents and their pledges to revive ties, Russia-US relations have hardly advanced in 2017 thanks to the ongoing probe of Russian interference in the US presidential election last year, in combination with other factors.

'Lack of communications' over sex slavery deal with Japan

SEOUL - South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said on Tuesday that the agreement with Japan in December 2015 lacked communications with South Korean victims who were forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese army during World War II.

British navy escorts Russian warship

LONDON - The British Royal Navy has escorted one of Russia's warships through the North Sea near UK waters, officials said on Tuesday, amid increasing tensions between the two countries.

Building owner, manager arrested in South Korean fire that claimed 29 lives

SEOUL - South Korean police have arrested the owner and the manager of a building where 29 people died in a fire last week, accusing the pair of multiple safety lapses, including blocked exits and malfunctioning sprinkler systems.

Nigerian army thwarts Boko Haram attack

KANO, Nigeria - Boko Haram extremists made a failed Christmas Day attempt to attack Nigeria's major northeast city of Maiduguri as they were pushed out by Nigerian soldiers after a prolonged gunbattle, military and militia sources said.

Xi sends condolences over storm

President Xi Jinping has extended condolences to his Philippine counterpart Rodrigo Duterte after a severe tropical storm ravaged the southern Philippines, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Tuesday.

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Where's Santa? Defense agency command tracks his journey

WASHINGTON - It's the question every good little girl and boy asks on Christmas Eve: When is Santa coming?

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