The Turkish military operation launched on Wednesday against Kurdish militia fighters in Syria is Ankara's third offensive in the war-torn country.

Donald Trump won the presidency with vows to take a new approach on the world stage and end America's "endless wars."

Here is a chronology of events in the Ukraine scandal, which has prompted the opening of an impeachment inquiry by the Democratic-led US House of Representatives into President Donald Trump:

- July 25 -

Mass protests have rocked several Arab countries this year in an echo of the 2011 revolts that toppled long-time dictators in countries including Egypt, Libya and Tunisia.

Jacques Chirac, who died on Thursday at the age of 86, was a charismatic giant of French post-war politics whose popular touch gave him enduring appeal to voters, even after a conviction for graft.

Key dates in the history of communist China, founded 70 years ago.

- 1949: communist republic declared - 

The announcement Tuesday of a formal impeachment inquiry by the Democrats in the House of Representatives into President Donald Trump for abuse of power is a high-stakes gambit with uncertain consequences.

The fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989 paved the way for the reunification less than a year later of Germany, split into East and West for 45 years.

Impoverished Yemen has been mired in a devastating conflict since Iran-backed fighters overran the capital Sanaa five years ago prompting Saudi Arabia and its allies to launch a military intervention the following year.

Tensions between Tehran and Washington have spiralled since US President Donald Trump came to power, quit the multilateral deal on Iran's nuclear programme and reimposed sweeping sanctions.