Germany: Iranian arrested on suspicion of plotting chemical attack
Police say the man is suspected to have planned a serious attack motivated by Islamic extremism, for which he allegedly obtained the potent toxins cyanide and ricin.
Europe
Putin orders 36-hour ceasefire in Ukraine ahead of Orthodox Christmas
"Taking into account the appeal of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, I instruct the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation to introduce a ceasefire regime along the entire line of contact of the parties in Ukraine from 12.00 on January 6, 2023 to 24.00 on January 7, 2023," Putin says in the order, calling on Ukraine to reciprocate.
Russia blames its soldiers' mobile phone use for Kyiv's deadly missile strike
The Russian military is taking unspecified measures to “prevent similar tragic incidents in the future,” the Defense Ministry said, promising to punish officials responsible for the blunder.
Ukraine rocked by explosions as Russia launches 'over 100 missiles' in waves
The attack is the the latest in a series of Russian strikes targeting vital infrastructure across Ukraine that began in October, causing widespread blackouts and power rationing.
Belarus sentences Olympian to prison for speaking out against president
Aliaksandra Herasimenia is sentenced in absentia to 12 years behind bars for calling for sanctions against Belarus due to the 2020 presidential election widely regarded as fraudulent.
Ukraine hits deep inside Russia, Putin calls for talks
"A Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle was shot down at low altitude while approaching the Engels military airfield in the Saratov region," news agencies reported the Russian Defense Ministry as saying.
Christmas will feel very different without Queen Elizabeth, says Britain's Kate
The family presents a united front against the backdrop of Prince Harry and wife Meghan Markle's Netflix documentary series criticizing the royal family.
Kurdish protest over Paris shooting turns violent
Cars are overturned and burned, shop windows are damaged and small fires set alight near Republic Square, a traditional venue for demonstrations where Kurds earlier held a peaceful protest.
Mossad chief warns of Iran's plans to supply Russia with 'advanced weapons'
David Barnea also cautions Iran is intending to "expand its uranium enrichment project" and vows that the Islamic Republic "will not have nuclear weapons, not in the coming years, never, this is my commitment, this is the Mossad's commitment."
Addressing Congress, Zelenskyy thanks 'every American,' sees 'turning point'
The Ukrainian president calls the tens of billions of dollars in US military and economic assistance provided over the past year vital to efforts to beat back Russia and appealed for even more in the future.