Dec 2 (Reuters) - Democratic Republic of Congo's army and Rwanda-backed M23 rebels traded accusations of ceasefire violations on Tuesday, two days before the White House is set to host the signing of an accord to end fighting in the country's east.

The United States and Qatar have been mediating talks aimed at restoring peace in North and South Kivu provinces where clashes have displaced hundreds of thousands of people. Rwanda has denied backing M23, which says it is fighting to protect Tutsi communities in eastern Congo.

ALMATY, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Tajikistan is in talks with Russia and a Moscow-led regional security grouping about the possibility of Russia deploying troops to jointly patrol the volatile border with Afghanistan, three Tajik security sources told Reuters on Tuesday.

Five Chinese citizens have been killed and five wounded near the border in the past week as a result of attacks launched from Afghanistan.

By Olivia Le Poidevin

GENEVA, Dec 2 (Reuters) - The Eurovision Song Contest faces a "watershed moment" on Thursday when members of the body that organises the contest may vote on whether Israel can compete in 2026, as some nations threaten to withdraw if it is not excluded due to the Gaza war.

European Broadcasting Union members will convene to discuss new rules designed to prevent governments and third parties from disproportionately promoting songs to influence voters after controversy this year over Israel's second-place win.

Dec 2 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday a deal with Syria is possible and he expects Syrian authorities to establish a demilitarised buffer zone from Damascus to Mount Hermon and other areas.

Netanyahu spoke a day after U.S. President Donald Trump, whose administration has been trying to broker a non-aggression pact between the two countries, said it was very important that Israel maintained a "strong and true dialogue" with Damascus.

By Emilie Madi

BEIRUT, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Five years after losing her daughter in a devastating chemical explosion at Beirut's port, Nelly El Helou said Pope Leo's silent prayer at the site on Tuesday was enough to renew hopes that those responsible for the blast would be held to account.

The blast, on August 4, 2020, killed more than 220 people and shredded swathes of the Lebanese capital, but a probe into which officials knew about hundreds of tonnes of explosive ammonium nitrate at the port has been stymied by political interference.

ISTANBUL, Dec 2 (Reuters) - A Russian-flagged tanker loaded with sunflower oil reported a drone attack off the Turkish coast on Tuesday, but its 13 crew members were unharmed, Turkey's maritime authority and the Tribeca shipping agency said.

The vessel, MIDVOLGA-2, reported coming under attack 80 miles (130 km) off the Turkish coast but did not make a request for assistance and was proceeding towards Turkey's Sinop port, Turkey's Maritime Affairs Directorate said on X.

JERUSALEM, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Israel said on Tuesday it was preparing to receive more possible hostage remains from Gaza via the Red Cross and would send them for forensic tests.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office did not specify whether they were remains of the final two deceased hostages still held in the Palestinian enclave.

Those two are Israeli police officer Ran Gvili and Thai national Sudthisak Rinthalak, both kidnapped during militant group Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

CAIRO, Dec 1 (Reuters) - Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) said on Monday that it seized full control of Babanusa, a transport junction in the country's oil-producing south, though its rival, the Sudanese army, disputed the claim.

In a statement on Monday, the RSF said its "liberation" of Babanusa in West Kordofan state — the latest frontline in the war in Sudan — came as it repelled "a surprise attack" by the Sudanese army in what it called "a clear violation of the humanitarian truce."

KABUL, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Afghanistan's Taliban administration said it assured neighbouring Tajikistan on Tuesday it was ready to tighten border security and conduct joint investigations, after attacks which Dushanbe said were launched from Afghan territory killed five Chinese nationals over the past week.

In a call with his Tajik counterpart, Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi expressed regret and said Kabul was prepared to boost coordination between border forces, adding that "joint measures against malicious elements are a pressing necessity."

Pope Leo XIV called for an end to hostilities in Lebanon and new approaches for peace in the Middle East before returning to Rome on Tuesday, ending his inaugural visit abroad as pontiff.

A 150,000-strong mass at Beirut's waterfront was the highlight of the trip by the head of the world's Catholics, who arrived in Lebanon on Sunday after visiting Turkey, the start of his six-day trip.