US Coast Guard pursues suspected sanctions evasion ship near Venezuela
New York [US], December 25: The US Coast Guard is in "active pursuit" of another vessel in international waters near Venezuela, an official has told...
Ecuador soldiers sentenced to decades in prison over disappearance of murdered boys
Quito [Ecuador], December 25: An Ecuadorean court has sentenced 11 of 17 soldiers to more than 34 years in prison over the forced disappearance of...
Three killed as Russia strikes Ukrainian cities overnight
Moscow [Russia], December 25: Russia carried out a "massive" overnight attack on several Ukrainian cities, President Volodymyr Zelensky has said, a day after he warned...
Russell Brand faces two further charges including rape
New York [US], December 25: Broadcaster, comedian and actor Russell Brand has been charged with two further offences including one count of rape, the Metropolitan...
Australia cancels British man's visa after charges of displaying Nazi symbol
Sydney [Australia], December 25: Australia cancelled the visa of a British national after he was charged with displaying a banned Nazi symbol, the immigration minister...
Algeria declares colonisation by France a crime
Algiers [Algeria], December 25: Algeria's parliament has unanimously passed a law declaring France's colonisation of the North African state a crime, and demanding an apology...
Pope calls for 24-hour worldwide ceasefire over Christmas
Rome [Italy], December 25: Pope Leo XIV has urged "people of goodwill" to implement a 24-hour ceasefire in all wars around the world over Christmas....
Russian court sets trial date for German artist over satirical Putin floats
Moscow [Russia], December 25: A Russian court has scheduled the first public hearing in a criminal case against German sculptor Jacques Tilly, accused of discrediting...
UK rail services disruption affects Christmas Eve trips to major airport
London [UK], December 25: UK passengers travelling home on Christmas Eve have faced travel difficulties after railway services from a major airport were disrupted because...
Zelensky unveils 20-point peace plan
Kiev [Ukraine], December 25: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has unveiled a 20-point plan to end Russia's war against his country, as Moscow signalled it would...
Russia won't comment publicly on the latest peace proposal
Moscow [Russia], December 25: Russia plans to relay its response to the latest draft of a Ukraine peace plan to Washington in the near future,...
Merz stresses responsibility towards Europe in Christmas address
Berlin [Germany], December 25: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz underscored his government's commitment to ensure peace and security prevail in Europe, in his Christmas video message...
Australia's NSW passes tough anti-protest, gun laws after Bondi attack
Canberra [Australia], December 25: The state of New South Wales (NSW) will have the toughest gun laws in Australia as well as wide-reaching new restrictions...
Syria-Russia ties entering 'new stage' as foreign ministers meet in Moscow
Moscow [Russia], December 25: Syria-Russia relations are entering a new era based on mutual respect after Syria's foreign and defence ministers met Russian President Vladimir...
Thailand, Cambodia hold talks on ceasefire in border conflict
Bangkok [Thailand], December 25: Thailand and Cambodia resumed talks on Wednesday on a durable ceasefire in their border conflict that erupted again earlier this month,...
Burkina Faso leader vows AES alliance crackdown on armed groups
Ouagadougou [Burkina Faso], December 25: Burkina Faso's interim leader, who is part of a regional alliance of military-led countries that includes Mali and Niger, has...
European powers decry US travel bans
Washington DC [US], December 25: European powers on Wednesday sharply criticized entry bans imposed by the United States on five Europeans accused of censoring online...
Turkiye recovers black box after Libyan general killed in crash
Istanbul [Turkey], December 25: Turkish authorities have recovered cockpit voice and flight data recorders after a private jet crashed near Ankara, killing Libya's top military...
Jerusalem churches warn against false peace in Christmas message
Tel Aviv [Israel], December 25: Despite ongoing tensions in the Middle East, the heads of the churches in Jerusalem have emphasized the Christian message of...
Iran rejects bombed nuclear sites inspections sans IAEA framework
Tehran [Iran], December 25: Iran has rejected calls to allow inspections of nuclear facilities bombed during attacks by the United States in June, saying the...
Ukraine nuclear plants reduce power after military activities damage grid: IAEA
Vienna [Austria], December 24: Ukraine's Khmelnytsky and Rivne nuclear power plants reduced power output on Tuesday morning after extensive military activities affected energy infrastructure critical...
French parliament passes special law to ensure state funding pending 2026 budget
Paris [France], December 24: Lawmakers in France's National Assembly and Senate on Tuesday adopted a "special law" proposed by the government to extend the 2025...
North Macedonia declares 7-day electricity supply crisis
Skopje [Macedonia], December 24: The North Macedonian government on Tuesday declared a nationwide electricity supply crisis, citing difficulties in procuring heavy fuel oil needed for...
Slovenia plans 1 bln Euros investment in public rental housing
Ljubljana [Slovenia], December 24: Slovenia plans to invest 1 billion euros (about 1.18 billion U.S. dollars) in the construction of public rental housing over the...
Germany resumes deportation of people to Syria after nearly 15 years
Berlin [German], December 24: Germany has deported a convicted criminal to Syria for the first time since civil war broke out in the country nearly...
Five people dead, one missing as Mexican Navy plane crashes off Texas
Mexico City [Mexico], December 24: Five people have died and one person is missing after a Mexican Navy plane carrying out a medical mission crashed...
Trump says US to keep oil and ships seized off Venezuelan coast
Washington DC [US], December 24: President Donald Trump on Monday said oil tankers seized by the United States off the coast of Venezuela would remain...