Reuters

• Iran protests: 10 dead as thousands join fifth day of anti-government demonstrations

  Anti-government demonstrations continued for a fifth day in Iran on Monday, after 10 people were killed during the biggest protests since the pro-reform unrest of 2009.

• Pope Francis in passionate New Year plea for refugees: 'Do not extinguish hope'

  Pope Francis described migrants and refugees as the world's 'weakest and most needy' on Monday, using his traditional New Year's address to 'give voice' to people he has urged leaders to do more to help.

• Christian brothers shot dead in Egypt days after Church attack

  A masked gunman shot dead two Christian brothers at their alcohol shop south of Cairo on Monday, security sources said.

• Iran: Why are thousands protesting?

  Iran warned of a tough crackdown on Sunday against demonstrators posing one of the boldest challenges to its clerical leaders since nationwide unrest shook the Islamist theocracy in 2009.

• Iran protests: Two shot dead as demonstrations continue

  Two people were shot dead in protests in Iran bringing to four the number of fatalities in the country's most serious unrest since 2009 and messages on social media called for more anti-government demonstrations on Monday.

• Kim Jong Un: Nuclear button is on my desk and ready

  Kim Jong Un on Monday warned the United States that he has a 'nuclear button' on his desk ready for use if North Korea is threatened, but offered an olive branch to South Korea, saying he was 'open to dialogue' with Seoul.

• Nine shot dead in Coptic church attack near Cairo

  Gunmen killed at least nine people including three police in an attack on a Coptic Christian church south of Cairo on Friday, medical and security sources said.

• 'Unspeakable tragedy': Fire in New York City apartment block kills 12 including an infant

  Investigators in New York City searched early on Friday for the cause of a blaze that ripped through an apartment building in the borough of the Bronx, killing 12 people including an infant, in the city's deadliest fire in at least a quarter of a century.

• Handful of critically ill patients allowed to leave besieged Syrian enclave

  Months of deadlock over medical evacuations from Syria's biggest remaining siege broke late on Tuesday when a deal between Damascus and a rebel faction allowed the Red Crescent to evacuate a handful of critically ill patients.

• Dozens dead in suicide attack on Afghanistan news agency

  A suicide attack on an office of the Afghan Voice news agency and a neighbouring Shi'ite cultural centre in the capital Kabul killed dozens on Thursday.

• Islamic State has fewer than 1,000 fighters left, says US-led coalition

  Fewer than 1,000 Islamic State fighters remain in Iraq and Syria, a third of the estimated figure only three weeks ago.

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  Topless Femen activist tries to steal baby Jesus from Vatican Nativity scene

  A topless activist from the feminist group Femen tried to snatch the statue of the baby Jesus from the Nativity scene in St. Peter's Square on Monday but was stopped by police as she grabbed it.