*) US rejects Russia demand on Ukraine, offers ‘diplomatic path’ out of crisis

The United States has rejected Russia's key demand to bar Ukraine from NATO, reiterating its belief that Moscow is ready to invade, but it set out a diplomatic path to address the crisis in eastern Europe.

“NATO's door is open, remains open, and that is our commitment," said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, adding that allied military deployments in Eastern Europe are nonnegotiable.

There was no immediate response from Russia but Russian officials have warned that Moscow would quickly take “retaliatory measures” if the US and its allies reject its demands.

*) UN urges nations to release frozen assets, increase aid to Afghanistan

The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged nations to urgently boost humanitarian aid for millions of Afghans living in “a frozen hell” and release nearly $9 billion in frozen assets.

“Time is of the essence,” and liquidity must be immediately restored to the Afghan economy to pull it back from the brink of collapse, the UN chief added.

He said that possible solutions are freeing up the country’s frozen currency reserves, re-engaging with its Central Bank and finding other ways to inject money, including allowing international funds.

*) North Korea fires two more missiles in latest testing blitz

North Korea has fired two suspected ballistic missiles, marking its sixth weapons test this month in one of the most intense spates of launches on record.

The short-range ballistic missiles were reportedly fired from the Hamhung city area towards the East Sea from around 2300 GMT, flying 190 kilometres at an altitude of 20km.

North Korea has not fired this many missiles in a month in decades, and some suggest this marks the most recorded missile launches by Pyongyang in a month.

The barrage could be part of North Korea's regular military training, or linked to ongoing celebrations of Kim's decade in power or upcoming domestic anniversaries.

*) Erdogan sees warming of Turkiye-Israel ties with Israeli President Herzog's visit

Israeli President Isaac Herzog will pay an official visit to Turkiye in February in a major step towards repairing fragile relations between both countries.

"The visit could pave the way for a new era in Israel-Turkiye relations," President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, adding that Ankara is ready to work with Tel Aviv in all fields, including natural gas.

Ties between Ankara and Tel Aviv had nosedived during ex-Israel prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's rule, who Erdogan called "unfriendly" towards Turkiye.

And finally …

*) Object found in the Milky Way surprises astronomers

Australian researchers have discovered a strange spinning object in the Milky Way that is unlike anything astronomers have ever seen.

The object, first spotted by a university student, releases a huge burst of radio energy three times each hour, pulsing every 18.18 minutes.

While there are other objects in the universe that switch on and off, 18.18 minutes is a frequency that has never been observed before.

Researchers are now working to understand what the object is. So far, they have been able to establish that the object is about 4,000 light-years from Earth, is incredibly bright and has an extremely strong magnetic field.

*) Ukraine tells citizens 'sleep well' as US warns Russia ally Belarus

Ukraine has sought to reassure the nation that an invasion from neighbouring Russia is not imminent even as its leaders acknowledged the threat is real.

Speaking in the second televised speech to the nation in as many days, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged Ukrainians not to panic.

He said "we are strong enough to keep everything under control and derail any attempts at destabilisation".

*) Taliban praises meeting with Western diplomats in Norway

The Taliban has said three days of discussions by its delegates with Western diplomats in Norway went "very well", while the latter said they linked humanitarian aid to Afghanistan to an improvement in human rights.

Acting Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said the Taliban government will do "its best to protect Afghanistan from any sorts of problems, attract more assistance".

The final day of the Taliban's first official trip to Europe since returning to power in August, the group held talks behind closed doors with several Western diplomats.

*) Thousands march for aboriginal rights as Australia marks national day

Thousands have rallied against the mistreatment of Indigenous people across Australia as citizenship ceremonies take place to mark the country's national day.

Many protesters at rallies across cities dressed in black to mourn the day, with some carrying the Aboriginal flag and "change the date" signs.

Some protests were organised online amid concerns of surging Covid-19 cases.

*) Houthi rebels 'lose' Harib district to UAE-backed militia

Yemen's Houthi rebels have been expelled from a key battleground district by UAE-trained Giants Brigade fighters, the militia claimed.

The Iran-backed Houthis lost Harib district south of Marib, the government's last northern stronghold, which they have been fighting to seize for months.

The Giants Brigade said "hundreds were killed and wounded on both sides" in battles that lasted for more than two weeks.

*) 'Resurrection: Ertugrul' star dies from lung cancer

Prominent Turkish actor Ayberk Pekcan, also known as Artuk Bey in the popular Turkish series 'Resurrection: Ertugrul', has passed away due to lung cancer.

Pekcan had been struggling with cancer for a while.

Ayberk Pekcan, who took part in movies, theatres and TV series, had been receiving treatment in Mersin, a province in the south of Turkiye.

*) NATO deploys ships, jets to eastern Europe in Ukraine crisis

Tensions over the threat of Russia invading Ukraine are rising as NATO allies put forces on standby and sent ships and jets to bolster Europe's eastern defences.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance is ready to respond to any security threat and is reinforcing its eastern front.

Stoltenberg pointed to Denmark sending a frigate and warplanes to the Baltic states, Spain bolstering naval deployments and the Netherlands putting "ship and land-based units on standby".

*) Military seizes power in Burkina Faso

Mutinous soldiers have announced they are in control of Burkina Faso after taking the president hostage following a day of gunbattles in the capital.

The soldiers declared on state television that the government and parliament were dissolved and the constitution suspended.

Burkina Faso's military, with support from the public, has been unhappy with how the government has handled a spike in militancy in the country.

*) Syria's displaced hit by brutal snowstorm

Many of Syria's nearly three million internally displaced people face dire winter conditions with a brutal snowstorm hammering the region, the United Nations has warned.

The UN is urging the international community to do more to protect the Syrian IDPs before it's too late.

Mark Cutts, the UN deputy regional humanitarian coordinator for Syria, says the conditions are "absolutely unacceptable."

*) Colombia kills top commander in 'blow' to FARC rebels

The commander of a rebel splinter group in Colombia, that rejected a 2016 peace deal, has been killed in a clash with the military.

President Ivan Duque announced in a statement that Euclides Espana –– also known as Jhonier –– had been "neutralised."

"This is one of the greatest blows that has been dealt [to] FARC dissidents," the president said in a public statement.

*) Deadly stampede hits African Cup football game in Cameroon

Cameroon's progress at the African Cup of Nations was overshadowed by a stampede outside the stadium that killed at least six people and wounded 40 others.

The crush happened as crowds attempted to reach Olembe Stadium in Yaounde as Cameroon beat Comoros 2-1 to reach the quarterfinals.

Naseri Paul Biya, governor of the central region of Cameroon, said there could be more casualties.

*) UAE intercepts 'Houthi ballistic missiles' over Abu Dhabi

The United Arab Emirates has intercepted two ballistic missiles that it said were fired by Yemen's Houthi rebels targeting the capital Abu Dhabi, state-run news agency reported.

"The remnants of the intercepted ballistic missiles fell in separate areas around Abu Dhabi," the WAM news agency reported.

The Emirates "is ready to deal with any threats and takes all necessary measures to protect the state from all attacks", WAM quoted UAE Defence Ministry as saying.

*) US asks diplomats' families to depart Ukraine over Russia threats

The United States has ordered the families of its diplomats in the Ukrainian capital Kiev to leave the country "due to the continued threat of Russian military action".

Washington also authorised the "voluntary" departure of its embassy employees and urged US citizens in the Eastern European country to "consider departing now using commercial or other privately available transportation options".

The security situation around Ukraine''s borders, in Russia-occupied Crimea and in Russia-controlled eastern Ukraine, are unpredictable and can deteriorate with little notice, said the statement.

*) Taliban and Afghan civil society 'break the ice' in Norway

A meeting between the Taliban and Afghan civil society members has served as an "icebreaker" in Norway on the eve of talks between Taliban members and Western diplomats.

"It was a positive icebreaking meeting," feminist activist Jamila Afghani said.

“The Taliban displayed goodwill. They listened patiently and responded to most of our concerns. Let's see what their actions will be, based on their words," Afghani said.

*) Burkina Faso denies military takeover after heavy gunfire heard at bases

Burkina Faso's government has denied that the army had seized control of the country after exchanges of gunfire took place at multiple army barracks, including two in the capital.

"Information on social media would have people believe there was an army takeover," a government spokesperson said in a statement.

"The government, while recognising the validity of shootings in some barracks, denies this information and calls on the population to remain calm" the statement said.

*) ‘Spider-Man’ becomes sixth highest grossing film of all time globally

After spending one weekend in second place, “Spider-Man: No Way Home” has proved it still has some fight left.

Sony's superhero juggernaut swung back to first place in its sixth weekend in theatres and became the sixth highest grossing film of all time.

The film topped the North American charts with $14.1 million, according to studio estimates.

Globally, it's now grossed nearly $1.7 billion, passing the total earnings of both “Jurassic World" and “The Lion King”.

*) ‘No minor incursion’: Biden clarifies comments on Russia, Ukraine tensions

US President Joe Biden said any Russian troop movements across Ukraine’s border would constitute an invasion, and that Moscow would “pay a heavy price” for such an action.

The statement was the latest US effort to clear up confusion over an earlier suggestion by the US president that a "minor incursion" could invite a lesser response.

“I’ve been absolutely clear with President Putin, he has no misunderstanding. Any, any assembled Russian units move across the Ukrainian border, that is an invasion,” Biden said.

"Let there be no doubt at all, that if Putin makes this choice, Russia will pay a heavy price," the US president added.

*) China, Russia block US bid to impose UN sanctions on North Koreans

China and Russia blocked a US push to impose United Nations sanctions on five North Koreans in response to recent missile launches by Pyongyang.

The six-month block will hold off sanctions levied against North Koreans linked to the country's ballistic missile program.

The United States quickly expressed its displeasure at the block, with ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield saying any opposition to sanctions gives Pyongyang “a blank check".

*) Internet down in Yemen after Saudi-led air strike on telecom building

Yemen has lost its connection to the internet nationwide after Saudi-led air strikes targeted a site in the contested city of Hudaida, plunging the war-torn nation offline.

The air strike was reportedly on the TeleYemen site in Hudaida, which has a monopoly on the country's internet, and caused several injuries and deaths.

The Saudi-led coalition battling Houthi rebels acknowledged carrying out air strikes around Hudaida's port, but did not immediately acknowledge striking a telecommunication target.

*) Ghana explosion kills more than dozen, destroys 500 buildings

At least 17 people have been killed and nearly 60 injured in an explosion that devastated part of a town in western Ghana after a truck carrying explosives collided with a motorcycle.

Officials said the blast in the southwestern Apiate area between the towns of Bogoso and Bawdie levelled 500 buildings.

Francis Abeiku Yankah, the coordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation for Prestea Huni-Valley district, reported the complete devastation of the Apiate community.

And finally …

*) Turkiye to help build El Salvador its first satellite

El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele has said Turkiye will help the Latin American country build its first satellite while both sides signed six deals during his first visit to Turkiye.

Bukele is meeting various Turkish defence and technology companies and is keen to send his country's first satellite into space with Turkish technology.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the six agreements covered defence, trade, tech, economy, education and diplomacy, while President Bukele said the agreements are "only for starters".

Turkiye will also help El Salvador build a dry canal, ports and a power plant.

*) US warns of Russia's incursion into Ukraine as tensions soar

US President Joe Biden has predicted that Russian President Vladimir Putin will make a move into Ukraine, but he thinks the Kremlin does not want a full-scale war with Kiev.

Biden warned a full-scale invasion would trigger a massive response. He suggested that the US would limit Russia's access to the international banking system in case of a full-scale war with Ukraine, which would "be a disaster for Russia."

Russians might ultimately prevail, but their losses are "going to be heavy," Biden added.

*) North Korea hints at resuming nuclear, long-range missile tests

North Korea has hinted it could resume nuclear and long-range weapons tests as it prepares for "a long-term confrontation" with Washington.

When the US imposed fresh sanctions last week, Pyongyang said it was a "provocation" and ramped up conventional weapons tests, vowing a "stronger and certain" response to efforts to rein it in.

"The hostile policy and military threat by the US have reached a danger line that cannot be overlooked anymore," a report on a meeting of the country's Politburo in state media said.

*) Pentagon releases first video of Kabul air strike that killed civilians

The Pentagon has released video footage of a US drone strike in Kabul that killed 10 civilians in the final hours of the chaotic American withdrawal from Afghanistan.

It marks the first public release of video footage of the August 29 strike, which the Pentagon initially defended but later called a tragic mistake.

The footage shows the scene of the strike prior to, during and after a missile struck a civilian car in a courtyard on a residential street.

The botched strike killed 10 civilians, including aid worker Zemari Ahmadi, his relatives and children.

*) Turkiye to run 'charity train' to Afghanistan as hunger worsens

Turkiye will send a "charity train" to Afghanistan carrying emergency goods, as the country faces a harsh winter with a deteriorating economy that has plunged millions into poverty.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the train, carrying 700 tonnes of food, clothing, and health and emergency goods, will be sent with the support of 10 NGOs coordinated by Turkiye's disaster agency AFAD.

The move comes in contrast to Western nations, led by the United States, that have frozen billions of dollars worth of Afghan banking assets and cut off development funding.

*) Aid begins to arrive in tsunami-hit Tonga as main airport opens

Aircraft carrying much-needed humanitarian supplies have begun arriving in tsunami-affected Tonga, as the South Pacific island finally made contact with the rest of the world after being hit.

The first flight carrying aid to Tonga was able to make it to the Pacific nation's main airport, once the runway was cleared of volcanic ash after five days.

Australia and New Zealand have sent humanitarian supplies including temporary shelters, generators, hygiene kits, and communications equipment to the tsunami-hit pacific nation.

*) Russia amasses 127,000 troops in 'almost complete' build-up

Russia has reportedly deployed more than 127,000 troops and "almost completed" its build-up, Ukraine has said, raising fears of an imminent invasion of the eastern European country.

The assessment said the current situation in the region is "difficult" and added that it believes Moscow is "trying to split and weaken the European Union and NATO".

Ukraine's assessment also said that Russia was using its ally Belarus to "expand aggression" against Kiev.

*) Israel demolishes Palestinian home in Sheikh Jarrah

Israeli police have destroyed the home of a Palestinian family in the sensitive occupied East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah.

Before dawn, Israeli officers went to the home of the Salhiya family, according to a video posted online by the police on Wednesday.

Israeli police had created a barrier around the Salhiya home, blockading dozens of Palestinians on the inside before the demolition, according to local sources.

*) EU condemns violence against anti-coup protesters in Sudan

The European Union’s foreign policy chief has said Sudan’s military rulers have shown an unwillingness to negotiate a peaceful settlement to the country's ongoing crisis.

EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said on Tuesday that repeated calls for Sudanese authorities to refrain from violence against protesters “have fallen on deaf ears”.

His statement comes a day after security forces opened fire on anti-coup protesters in the capital, killing at least seven people.

*) Houthi general among civilians killed in Saudi-led strikes in Yemen

The Saudi-led coalition has killed nearly two dozen people in air strikes on Yemen's rebel-held capital after an attack by Houthi rebels on the United Arab Emirates sent regional tensions soaring.

Coalition strikes around the city killed a total of about 20 people, said the deputy foreign minister for the Houthi administration, which holds much of northern Yemen.

Among those killed in coalition air strikes was a high-ranking Houthi military official, including his wife and son.

And finally …

*) Arabic oud icon seeks to 'change soul' of Iraq with music

Long uprooted from his native Iraq, Naseer Shamma, an icon of the Arabic oud, returned home to help rekindle the flame of Iraqi music, snuffed out by decades of conflict.

"When you are in your own country, you feel very high emotions with the audience," the master string player said.

"Now we're playing to help education. My new project is called 'education first'. We need to help Iraqi schools," Shamma added.