Ukraine claims hundreds of Russians killed by missile attack
Ukraine says around 400 Russian soldiers have died in a missile attack on the occupied Donetsk region.
Russian officials contested the figure, saying only 63 of their troops were killed. Neither claim has been verified, and access to the Russian-controlled site is restricted.
The attack on New Year's Day hit a building in the city of Makiivka, where Russian forces were stationed.
It is extremely rare for Moscow to confirm any battlefield casualties.
But this was such a deadly attack, says the BBC's Russia editor Steve Rosenberg, that staying silent most probably wasn't an option.
Australia imposed Covid checks on travellers from China against advice of top health official
Prof Paul Kelly told Albanese government there was not ‘sufficient public health rationale’ for additional requirements targeting China
The Albanese government imposed pre-flight Covid checks on travellers from China against the advice of the chief medical officer, Prof Paul Kelly.
The 31 December advice, published by the health department, stated that Kelly did “not believe that there is sufficient public health rationale” for any additional requirements, labelling any restriction on travel from China “disproportionate to the risk”.
Announcing the federal government’s response on Sunday, the health minister, Mark Butler, sidestepped a question about the content of health advice, saying that it confirmed Australia was “well positioned in the fight against Covid” but the pre-flight checks were being imposed “out of an abundance of caution”.
Germany: Police and firefighters call for firework ban
Elizabeth Schumacher
After attacks on emergency workers and fatal accidents, unions are saying that the use of personal fireworks on New Year's Eve should be forbidden.
German police and firefighters' unions have called for a ban on personal fireworks on New Year's Eve, as well as increased surveillance capabilities for emergency services following dozens of attacks on personnel.
"It is unimaginable what our emergency forces had to experience on this New Year's," Lars Wieg, chairman of the police union for Berlin and Brandenberg, said late on Sunday.
At least 33 officers and firefighters were injured in the capital alone, and dozens of similar incidents were reported across Germany — not only accidents, but also "purposeful, targeted" attacks with fireworks, officials said.
Exiled Iran opposition figures predict 2023 ‘victory for nation’ after protests
A group of prominent exiled Iranian pro-opposition figures have issued a coordinated message predicting 2023 will be a year of "victory" with the regime shaken by protests.
Those sending the message include leaders from the fields of culture, human rights and sports.
The Iranian diaspora has long been seen as lacking unity, split into different political factions and strategies for dealing with the Islamic republic, that ousted the shah in 1979.
Wang Yi assumes China’s top post in foreign policy, shows his hand
By TAKASHI FUNAKOSHI/ Correspondent
January 2, 2023 at 17:09 JST
Former Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has become the country's top diplomat, replacing Yang Jiechi as director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission.
Wang, 69, served as foreign minister for nearly 10 years and was the only diplomat promoted to the 24-member politburo, the party’s top decision-making body, during the Communist Party National Congress in October.
Wang became foreign minister in 2013 after serving as ambassador to Japan. He also doubled as a member of the State Council, the equivalent of a vice premier, since 2018.
After year of ‘unprecedented crises’, what next for Haiti?
From gangs to fuel shortages to a cholera outbreak, Haiti is grappling with ongoing setbacks as new year begins.
For Haiti, 2022 began much like the previous year ended – in the grips of widespread violence and political instability.
And over the past 12 months, the situation has largely failed to improve: Haitians have faced a surge in gang attacks and kidnappings, fuel and electricity shortages, a deepening political deadlock and a deadly outbreak of cholera.
“We don’t know what will happen tomorrow,” said Judes Jonathas, senior programme manager at the Mercy Corps humanitarian group. Jonathas spoke to Al Jazeera in October, as gang violence gripped the streets of the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince where he resides.
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