Trump’s diesel deal with Putin is a shambles. Here’s why it was always destined to fail
The US president touted his diesel deal with Russia as a way to bring down energy prices ahead of the midterms. But a month on, US voters are yet to see any benefits and Europe and Kyiv are enraged, writes James C. Reyno
Burkina Faso issues arrest warrants for around 20 people, including journalists
The warrants target exiled journalists, activists, an ex-minister, and former military officers who face several terrorism-related charges.
US suggested Ukraine could give up Donbas for NATO membership, Zelenskyy says
"This was the first time this had been raised," the Ukrainian president told reporters.
What’s next for Ukraine-Russia peace talks as war approaches fifth year?
Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who is also President Donald Trump's son-in-law, brokered talks this week between delegations from Moscow and Kyiv
US floats Ukraine ceding land to Russia in exchange for NATO membership: Zelenskyy
Putin has indicated that Russia will not back down on territorial demands to control parts of Ukraine and has rejected the idea of foreign peacekeeping troops being deployed in the country.
US proposed Ukraine cedes Donbas in exchange for joining NATO, Zelensky says
President Zelensky said the US had proposed ceding Ukraine's eastern city of Donbas to Russia, in exchange for Ukrainian membership of NATO, following the latest round of peace talks in Abu Dhabi this week. He reiterated
SpaceX's Starship encounters problems during 15th test flight
Elon Musk’s SpaceX successfully launched its Starship, the world's largest spaceship, into orbit where it should release 15 satellites for its Starlink network. A few minutes after lift off however, the rocket's booster
Finland rejects reported Russian demand to leave NATO as part of peace talks
"This is absolutely outrageous to even suggest such a thing," Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen said.
Qatar and Turkiye sign a mutual defence pact: What do we know?
Analysts say the pact, agreed amid the US-Iran war, aims to deter attacks rather than build an offensive alliance.
Hundreds take to water to protest coal exports at Newcastle port as Australia faces climate scrutiny
Protestors called for coal exports from Newcastle to end by 2030 and for workers to be supported in moving to other industries
Sudan: Misery worsens amid plummeting aid for displaced people
Sudan's humanitarian crisis is exacerbated by cuts in international aid. Almost 34 million people are in need as war and drone strikes are making it difficult to deliver aid to the population.
6-year-old Gaza burn victim caught in Israeli dispute over aid
Masa Yassin needs a new mask to control the scars on her face, but Israel is preventing the plastic needed for the treatment from being imported.
UN says 25 seafarers killed in, around Hormuz since US-Israel war on Iran
'Situation cannot become new normal', says UN's Khaled Khiari, as Iran reports three more vessels hitting mines.
Russia urges IIHF to move Canada world juniors as hockey boycotts spread
Canadian authorities said Russians will be barred from the 10-nation tournament in Alberta from 26 December. Estonia, Finland and Norway plan to exclude athletes until the war in Ukraine ends.
Southeast Asian leaders to meet as Trump visit highlights trade disruption
ASEAN summit comes as US president embarks on Asia trip that will see him meet China's Xi.
Ukraine is running out of options, and Russia knows it
The Abu Dhabi talks reveal Moscow’s growing leverage over Ukraine and a shifting Western approach to peace.
Siege fuels disease fears in Yemen’s Taiz
Health officials warn that falling numbers of recorded infections may conceal a worsening disease crisis in Taiz.
Preschool, father in war of words after police close probe into son’s head bump
A war of words has erupted between a popular preschool in Hong Kong and a parent who alleges that his two-year-old son suffered a large bump on his head on campus, though police closed their investigation after finding n
Ukraine-Russia war latest: Moscow strikes hospital in central Kyiv as Zelensky says Starshield restrictions continue
Volodymyr Zelensky said speed restrictions on Starshield ‘limit our ability to intercept jet-powered Shaheds and counter other drones’
Musk ordered to preserve records on Ukraine’s Starlink access by Democratic US senators
Democratic US senators have told Elon Musk to preserve all records related to his company SpaceX’s restrictions on Ukraine’s use of its Starlink and Starshield satellite services. Ukrainian forces say Starshield, the mil
China to host first-ever trilateral meeting between Trump, Xi and Putin next week
The three leaders are scheduled to meet on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen on Thursday, the White House confirmed. Likely discussions will include nuclear weapons and the war in
China to host first-ever trilateral meeting between Trump, Xi and Putin next week
The three leaders are scheduled to meet on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen on Thursday, the White House confirmed. US officials said discussions will include nuclear weapons and
Ukraine-Russia war latest: Moscow strikes hospital in central Kyiv as Zelensky says Starshield restrictions continue
President Volodymyr Zelensky said speed restrictions on Starshield ‘limit our ability to intercept jet-powered Shaheds and counter other drones’
UN says Israeli policies worsened deadly impact of Gaza winter storm
The UN says Israel could have prevented death and destruction caused by the storm in Gaza had it allowed sufficient aid.
ICC stops probe into alleged crimes by US troops in Afghanistan
The decision follows feuds between the United States and the Hague-based International Criminal Court.
Cleaner, smarter, big data: the PLA’s bet on ‘sunshine’ military recruitment
The Chinese military is mining big data to get better recruits and stamp out corruption in the march towards its centenary next year. As part of an overhaul called “end-to-end sunshine” recruitment, the People’s Liberati
Russia sets cull of up to 30 per cent of brown bears after 36 people killed in attacks
The Russian government has established a cull of up to 30 per cent of brown bear populations to keep numbers in check after bear attacks killed 36 people this year, the Ministry of Natural Resources was quoted as sayi
White House confirms US-China-Russia trilateral talks on Apec sidelines
The White House on Friday confirmed an unprecedented meeting between leaders of the US, China and Russia on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in Shenzhen next week. “President [Donald]
White House demanding Japan triple host-nation support for U.S. troops
The United States is demanding that Japan provide a total of ¥3 trillion over the five years starting in fiscal 2027 for U.S. forces stationed in the country under its Host Nation Support program, about three times the c
Iran war live: Tehran says tanker hit naval mine, caught fire
Tehran has said that a tanker hit a naval mine and caught fire, accusing the vessel of operating in a prohibited area.
US Air Force responds to suspected drone activity over UK airbase
US Air Force personnel at the RAF Lakenheath base in Britain responded to “suspected unauthorised drone activity” on Friday evening, although no personnel, aircraft or infrastructure were affected, a US Air Force spokesm
Police seeking witnesses after violent home invasion in Canberra
Three men armed with a firearm, knife, sword and baseball bat, broke into the home, allegedly assaulting a woman while a child was present.
France among five major powers to represent EU in Ukraine talks
European Council President Antonio Costa on Friday said that Brussels will send diplomats from the bloc and five countries, including the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Poland, to upcoming Ukraine talks.
Russia is ‘setting traps’ in Ukraine talks, EU foreign policy chief warns
Kaja Kallas says Moscow is trying to divert attention from its aggression by raising issue of European security The EU’s foreign policy chief has warned against “walking into the traps that Russia is setting” as she said
The Downfall of AI’s ‘Rock Star’ Boss, Ukraine: Who speaks for Europe? Protests & Presidents
On The World This Week with Gavin Lee, our panel distills the breaking news and global stories of the past 7 days into 45 minutes. Ukraine: Who will speak for Europe? In a week thats seen the first direct talks between U
EU deal on Ukraine talks overshadows AI-focused summit in Dublin
EU leaders have agreed that the E5 format — Germany, France, U.K, Italy and Poland — plus the European Commission and Council will represent the bloc at any future peace negotiations.
Hurry up and wait: Europe wants a place at the table, ‘must make up its mind’ over Ukraine
Gavin Lee is pleased to welcome Alexander Titov, Lecturer in Modern European History at Queen's University Belfast and a specialist on Russia. He's joined us to discuss high-level meetings in Abu Dhabi, Dublin and the pr
EU leaders bring Italy and Poland into Ukraine peace talks team as Kallas fights for spot
Europe has decided on a joint team for the peace talks led by France, Germany, the UK, Italy, Poland, the EU institutions and NATO. Despite mounting pressure, leaders declined to appoint a single envoy.
Israel bars supplies needed to treat six-year-old Gaza burn victim
Six-year-old burns victim Masa is one of the patients in Gaza whose recovery is under threat due to Israeli restrictions
What we know about China's military exercises around Taiwan
China has been carrying out major military drills around Taiwan since early November. But contrary to some claims on social media, Beijing's armed forces have not actually implemented a blockade on the island; they just
Why Europe failed to find a superhero to take on Putin
Europe’s seven-part team of Ukraine peace envoys must now agree their strategy for handling Russia.
Iran honours fallen soldiers in Iran-Iraq war with missile display
Thousands gathered in Tehran for a mass funeral honouring 110 unidentified soldiers killed in the Iran-Iraq war.
Le Pen offers to meet Zelenskyy in Brussels
The Ukrainian leader wants to persuade the far-right leader to continue supporting Ukraine if she becomes president of France.
EU leaders choose team for Ukraine peace talks after months of wavering
British representatives will be part of a team representing Europe in Ukraine peace talks.
Cut off from Europe, Russia will have to rewire its Arctic gas trade
From 2027, Europe will no longer buy Russian LNG from Yamal. Getting the gas to Asia means longer trips, costlier ships and contractual workarounds.
Estonia bans Russian athletes as backlash intensifies
Estonia is the latest country to say it will not allow Russian or Belarusian athletes to compete on its territory as a result of the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Russia sends major business delegation to Kabul for business talks with the Taliban
A Russian deputy prime minister led a 70-strong Russian delegation to Afghanistan, pursuing deals on transport, logistics, agriculture, and health products with the Taliban.
As EU grapples with fierce AI competition, summit overshadowed by elusive Ukraine-Russia peace deal
As EU leaders meet for an AI summit in Dublin, largely overshadowed by Russia's war on Ukraine, William Hilderbrandt is pleased to welcome Fabrice Pothier, CEO of Rasmussen Global. On AI, Pothier points to Europe's limit
NHL indicates Finland's block on Russian athletes could affect future games there
The NHL will consider Finland's plans to prevent Russian athletes entering the country when deciding whether to stage more regular-season games there in future, the league told The Associated Press.
Former Hamas bodyguard convicted of Birmingham knife crime also wanted in Germany
Mohammed Alfatih rearrested over alleged plot to target Israelis in Europe while detained for attack on bailiff A former Hamas bodyguard convicted of knife crime in the UK is wanted in Germany for allegedly plotting to m
Crossing Afghanistan along the 'highway of death'
Highway 1, or the Ring Road, connects Afghanistan's major cities. After September 11, 2001, it became a hotspot for crime and fighting, particularly between the capital Kabul and Kandahar, the Taliban's birthplace. Peopl
Car bombings in Russia kill military officer, injure ex-Ukraine PM adviser
Moscow blames Kyiv for a series of car bombings that have targeted people linked to the war with Ukraine.
Myanmar: Junta carries out double-tap airstrikes targeting civilians
Numerous civilian casualties have been documented in Rakhine State amid a renewed military offensive by the junta to regain control of the area. Available evidence suggests that military aircraft are deliberately targeti
Rosenberg: Uncompromising Putin ups demands for peace with Ukraine
The fact the question of European security now features in discussions is viewed in Moscow as a victory, BBC Russia Editor Steve Rosenberg says.
Europe should not walk into Russia’s ‘traps’ on Ukraine talks, EU’s foreign policy chief Kallas says – as it happened
This blog is now closed Hungary’s Péter Magyar is also here, looking very elegant as always… … but it looks like he took a slight detour on the way back to hotel last night to try and pour a perfect pint of Guinness. Con