Trump says Ukraine deal closer but no talks breakthrough

Myanmar pro-junta party claims huge win in poll

Netanyahu to meet Trump in Florida with focus on Gaza deal

EU chiefs vow Ukraine support will not falter

Thailand and Cambodia declare ceasefire

Myanmar junta stages election after five years of civil war

Israel faces global fury over Somaliland move

Somalia and the African Union reacted angrily Friday after Israel formally recognised the northern region of Somaliland as an "independent and sovereign state" — the first country to do so.

Chilly Gaza braces for more winter rain and word of any progress in ceasefire talks

Barefoot children played on chilly sand as Gaza ’s thousands of displaced people prepared threadbare tents on Saturday for another round of winter rain.

Trump says Zelensky and Putin 'serious' in war talks sprint

U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday he believed the leaders of Ukraine and Russia were serious about peace as he spoke with them both in what he called the final stages of his efforts to end the war.

Thailand and Cambodia agree to 'immediate' ceasefire: joint statement

Thailand and Cambodia agreed to an "immediate" ceasefire on Saturday, the two countries said in a joint statement, pledging to end weeks of deadly border clashes.

Russia lashes out at Zelensky ahead of new Trump talks on Ukraine plan

Volodymyr Zelensky is due to meet President Donald Trump in Florida this weekend, but Russia accused the Ukrainian president and his EU backers Friday of seeking to "torpedo" a U.S.-brokered plan to stop the fighting.

Deadly blast hits mosque in Alawite area of Syria's Homs

An explosion killed at least eight worshippers at a mosque in a predominantly Alawite area of Syria's Homs on Friday, state media said, with an extremist group claiming responsibility.

Japan mulls coastal defense collaboration with Türkiye

The Japanese government has indicated that it could collaborate with Türkiye to utilize the $640 million allocated for coastal defense from its newly approved $58 billion defense budget.

Damascus halts talks with SDF, denies progress on integration deal

The Syrian government has denied reports claiming progress in talks on integrating the YPG-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into state institutions in Damascus, announcing that the negotiations have in fact been suspended.

Venezuela releases 99 post-election prisoners

Venezuela released 99 prisoners on Christmas, with the government calling it a goodwill gesture as it assesses arrests made after President Nicolas Maduro's reelection.

Kosovo snap poll unlikely to end damaging deadlock

Before the first vote is even cast in Kosovo's snap election on Dec. 28, experts predict it is unlikely to end the political crisis that has been gripping Europe's youngest country for almost a year.

Pope Leo hopes for peace in Gaza and Ukraine

Pope Leo XIV on Thursday urged Russia and Ukraine to find the "courage" to hold direct talks and spoke of the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza in his first Christmas message.

US launches strikes on ISIL targets in Nigeria

President Donald Trump said U.S. forces conducted "powerful and deadly" strikes on Dec. 15 against ISIL militants in northwestern Nigeria, weeks after he warned against any systemic assault on Christians in the country.