Russian cargo ship Ursa Major sinks in the Mediterranean after an engine room explosion; 14 crew rescued, 2 missing. The vessel, under sanctions, was transporting cranes and other cargo reportedly bound for Vladivostok. Cause of the explosion remains unknown; ship sank near Spain and Algeria on Tuesday morning. A Russian cargo ship, Ursa Major, has … Read more
Protests erupt in Syria after a Christmas tree burning sparks outrage over minority protection. HTS detains foreign fighters linked to the incident, pledges to safeguard religious freedoms. Syrians demand tolerance and unity as new leadership faces challenges of governing diverse communities. Protests have erupted across Syria following the burning of a Christmas tree in the … Read more
Residents of an Australian region hit by bushfires were given two hours on Tuesday to return to their homes and gather their belongings before Christmas, as emergency teams worked to control the blaze. Evacuations were ordered in communities around the Grampians in Victoria, with authorities warning that conditions in the coming days could be the … Read more
Greenland has once again reiterated that it is not for sale, responding to US President-elect Donald Trump’s recent comments about wanting to take control of the territory. “Greenland belongs to the people of Greenland,” said Prime Minister Mute Egede on Monday, following Trump’s remarks, which he had previously made several years ago. EDITOR’S PICKS PDP … Read more
Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, has publicly confirmed for the first time that Hamas’s political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, was killed in Tehran in July. Katz made the revelation during a speech in which he vowed to target the leadership of the Iran-backed Houthi movement in Yemen, responsible for launching missiles and drones at Israel. EDITOR’S … Read more
President Donald Trump has pushed back against claims that he has “ceded the presidency” to billionaire Elon Musk, who has taken an unusually prominent role in the transition to the White House. Trump made the comments during a speech in Arizona on Sunday, following Musk’s involvement in helping the president-elect derail a budget bill negotiated … Read more
Ten members of a family, including Brazilian businessman Luiz Claudio Galeazzi, have died after their private plane crashed in the city of Gramado, located in southern Brazil. Galeazzi, who was piloting the plane, was killed along with his wife, three daughters, and other relatives, according to a statement from his company. The small aircraft reportedly … Read more
President-elect Donald Trump has called on Panama to lower fees for use of the Panama Canal or return control of the waterway to the United States, accusing the Central American nation of imposing “exorbitant prices” on American shipping and naval vessels. “The fees being charged by Panama are ridiculous, highly unfair,” Trump told supporters at … Read more
A man has been arrested in New York in connection with the horrific death of a woman who was set on fire aboard a subway train in Brooklyn. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch described the crime, which occurred on Sunday, as “one of the most depraved crimes one person could possibly commit against another human being”. … Read more
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has made an unanticipated visit to Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, becoming only the third Western leader to meet Putin since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine three years ago. Fico, a vocal critic of the European Union’s support for Ukraine during the conflict, stated that … Read more
Pakistan has sentenced 25 civilians to prison for their involvement in attacks on military facilities following the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in 2023. The military’s public relations wing confirmed the sentencing on Saturday, thus revealing that a military court had handed down sentences ranging from two to 10 years of “rigorous imprisonment,” … Read more
An American fighter jet was shot down over the Red Sea in a suspected “friendly fire” incident, according to the US military. The crew of the US Navy F/A-18 Hornet successfully ejected, with one crew member sustaining only minor injuries, US Central Command reported. The incident followed a series of US airstrikes targeting missile storage … Read more
Albania’s Prime Minister, Edi Rama, has announced plans to block TikTok for one year, following the tragic killing of a schoolboy last month, which raised concerns about the impact of social media on children. The proposed ban will begin in January. TikTok responded, stating that it is seeking urgent clarification from the Albanian government about … Read more
US President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Mark Burnett, the British TV executive who produced The Apprentice, as his special envoy to the UK. Trump expressed his “great honour” in selecting Burnett for the position, which is distinct from the US ambassador role. The president-elect stated that Burnett would focus on enhancing diplomatic ties, particularly in … Read more
Lara Trump, the daughter-in-law of US President-elect Donald Trump, has announced she will no longer pursue a Senate seat. This comes after she stepped down as co-chairwoman of the Republican National Committee (RNC) earlier this month, sparking speculation she might replace Florida Senator Marco Rubio, whom Trump nominated for Secretary of State. EDITOR’S PICKS PDP … Read more
An Israeli air strike on the northern Gaza Strip has claimed the lives of 12 members of the same family, including seven children, according to the Palestinian Civil Defence rescue agency. In a video shared on the agency’s Telegram channel on Friday evening, rescue workers were seen pulling victims from the rubble of the Khallah … Read more
Elon Musk is extending his influence beyond American politics, publicly backing Germany’s far-right political party, Alternative for Germany (AfD), following the collapse of the German government earlier this week. On Friday, Musk, a billionaire and prominent ally of Donald Trump, shared his support for the AfD in a social media post. “Only the AfD can … Read more
The United States has withdrawn its $10 million (£7.9 million) bounty for the capture of Syria’s de facto leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, following high-level discussions between U.S. diplomats and representatives from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Assistant Secretary of State Barbara Leaf described the meeting with Sharaa as “very productive,” noting that he appeared “pragmatic” in his … Read more
At least two people have died, and dozens have been injured after a car drove into a crowded Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, local authorities reported. The incident left at least 68 injured, including 15 with serious injuries, according to a statement from the city of Magdeburg. Among the deceased are an adult and a … Read more
The Republican-led House of Representatives narrowly avoided a federal government shutdown by passing a budget deal just six hours before the midnight deadline. The measure, which passed by a bipartisan vote of 366-34, now heads to the Democratic-controlled Senate for approval before reaching President Joe Biden’s desk for signature. EDITOR’S PICKS PDP Declares Ethiope East … Read more