Israel has launched its first-ever attack on Yemen's capital, Sana'a.
For the first time, Israeli air and naval forces have struck the capital of Yemen, Sana'a, as well as targeting ports controlled by the Houthis. This information was reported by Ynet.
07:09, 21 Dec
Ministry of Defense: On December 18, the Ukrainian Armed Forces launched an attack on the "Kamensky Plant."
The Russian Ministry of Defense has confirmed that on December 18, Ukrainian forces launched an attack on the "Kamenstroy" plant located in the Rostov region. The agency claims that the Ukrainian military used six ATACMS missiles and four Storm Shadow cruise missiles, with nine of them reportedly intercepted. According to the statement, one Storm Shadow missile deviated from its intended target and damaged a technical building on the plant's premises.
07:07, 21 Dec
The U.S. has granted Hungary and Turkey permission to make gas payments through Gazprombank.
The authorities of Hungary and Turkey announced that the United States has permitted them to make payments for Russian gas through Gazprombank, which has been under American sanctions since November 2024.
07:07, 21 Dec
In Georgia, two Russians involved in protests have been detained.
In Georgia, former Russian activist Anastasia Zinovkina and her partner Artyom Gribulya were detained while participating in protests in Tbilisi. This news was reported by the "Vot Tak" program on the Belsat channel.
07:06, 21 Dec
The Prime Minister of Bulgaria declined to sign the agreement with Ukraine.
Bulgarian Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev abruptly declined to sign a cooperation agreement on security between Bulgaria and Ukraine at the last moment. This was reported by the Bulgarian service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
07:06, 21 Dec
Russian hackers have targeted Ukraine's government registries.
Russian hackers have targeted Ukrainian government registries, reported Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Olga Stefanishyna.
07:06, 21 Dec
For the first time in a decade, American diplomats have arrived in Damascus.
For the first time in over a decade, American diplomats have arrived in Damascus. They intend to hold discussions "with representatives of the Syrian people" and the group "Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham," which controls a significant portion of the country's territory, according to a statement from the State Department.
07:06, 21 Dec
In Germany, a car drove into a crowd, resulting in fatalities and injuries.
In the city of Magdeburg, Germany, a driver crashed into a crowd at a Christmas market. Rainer Haseloff, the Prime Minister of the federal state of Saxony-Anhalt, reported two fatalities, with several dozen others injured. The driver has been apprehended, and emergency services and ambulances are currently on the scene. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of a terrorist attack.
07:06, 21 Dec
Politico: Trump urged the EU to purchase more energy supplies from the U.S.
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump threatened the European Union with a trade war on Friday, urging it to purchase more American oil and gas or face a wave of tariffs, according to Politico.
07:05, 21 Dec
"The U.S. government will continue to function," stated Speaker Mike Johnson.
Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives announced on Friday their intention to hold a vote on measures to keep the federal government running. House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters on Friday, "The work of the government will not be halted."
07:05, 21 Dec
The UN Security Council has extended the mandate for peacekeepers in the area between Syria and the Golan Heights.
On Friday, the United Nations Security Council extended the mandate of the peacekeeping mission between Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights for six months. The Council expressed concern that military actions in the area could lead to heightened tensions, as reported by Reuters. Following the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar Assad earlier this month due to a rebel offensive, Israeli forces entered the demilitarized zone established after the 1973 Arab-Israeli War, which is monitored by the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF). Israeli officials described this move as a limited and temporary measure to ensure the security of Israel's borders, but did not provide a timeline for the withdrawal of their troops.
07:05, 21 Dec
The U.S. House of Representatives has averted a government shutdown.
On Friday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill to avert a government shutdown at midnight, despite the demand from elected President Donald Trump to approve an increase in the debt ceiling.
07:05, 21 Dec
In Uzbekistan, a 22-year-old student received a suspended sentence for participating in the conflict.
In Uzbekistan, a 22-year-old resident of the Fergana region has been sentenced to five years probation for mercenary activities related to his involvement in the war against Ukraine on the side of Russia. This information was reported by Kun.uz, citing court documents.
07:09, 20 Dec
Ukraine and Poland are planning to establish a gas hub.
Ukraine and Poland are planning to establish an Eastern European gas hub to supply fuel to Europe while bypassing Russia. This announcement was made by Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Energy, Nikolai Kolesnik.
07:07, 20 Dec
In Finland, a private jet heading to Russia was detained.
Finnish authorities have detained a Beechcraft B55 Baron private jet at Helsinki Airport, which was en route from Lithuania to Pskov. The aircraft landed for refueling. The pilot is suspected of violating sanctions, according to the Finnish newspaper Iltalehti.
07:07, 20 Dec
Trump urged to reject the government funding bill.
Elected U.S. President Donald Trump has urged lawmakers to reject a temporary government funding bill that must be passed by Friday. This raises the likelihood of a partial shutdown of government agencies, according to Voice of America.
07:07, 20 Dec
A Frenchman who invited others to assault his wife has been sentenced to 20 years in prison.
A court in France has sentenced Dominique Pelico to 20 years in prison for years of drugging his wife, Giselle, with tranquilizers and inviting strangers to assault her. This information was reported by the Associated Press.
07:07, 20 Dec
Zelensky endorsed the proposal to deploy peacekeepers in Ukraine.
Kyiv endorses the concept of deploying a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine but will not agree to reduce its military forces. This statement was made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky following his meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Brussels, as reported by "European Pravda."
07:06, 20 Dec
A member of the Abkhaz parliament was killed in a shooting incident in Sukhumi.
Gunfire occurred in the parliament building of the partially recognized Republic of Abkhazia. One lawmaker was killed and another was injured. This information was reported by "Echo of the Caucasus."
07:06, 20 Dec
OCCRP: The grandson of Tajikistan's president purchased a luxury apartment in Dubai at just 9 years old.
The grandson of Tajikistan's President Emomali Rahmon purchased a luxury apartment in Dubai when he was just 9 years old. This information comes from OCCRP, which cites leaked documents detailing hundreds of thousands of property owners in Dubai.
07:06, 20 Dec
The captain of the crashed tanker "Volgoneft-212" has been arrested.
A court in the annexed city of Simferopol has placed Captain Leonid Volegov of the tanker "Volgoneft-212," which sank in the Kerch Strait, under arrest for two months. This information was reported by "Kommersant," citing the Investigative Committee of Russia in annexed Crimea.
07:06, 20 Dec
The UK has imposed sanctions on five Georgian officials.
The United Kingdom has imposed sanctions on five Georgian officials for human rights violations. In a press release on the government's website, they were identified as responsible for violent assaults on journalists and peaceful protesters in Georgia.
07:06, 20 Dec
Denmark will provide Ukraine with a new aid package to strengthen its air defense systems.
Denmark will allocate 2.1 billion Danish kroner (approximately 281 million euros) to enhance Ukraine's air defense capabilities. This was announced in a statement from the Danish Ministry of Defense.
07:05, 20 Dec
Reuters: The U.S. has made it easier for Budapest to pay for Russian gas.
On Thursday, the United States exempted Budapest from the obligation to adhere to sanctions imposed on the Russian Gazprombank, announced Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto. A related video was shared on social media. This information was reported by the Reuters agency from Budapest.
07:05, 20 Dec
The European Council has affirmed: "Russia must not win."
Following the latest summit of European Union leaders, the European Council issued a statement on the situation in Ukraine on December 19.
07:05, 20 Dec
In Tunisia, 11 Russian tourists found themselves in a notorious prison known for torture.
Eleven Russian tourists who were detained in Tunisia in November have been sent to the Mornag prison, notorious for torture and poor living conditions. This information was reported by the fiancée of one of the detainees, citing their lawyer, according to RIA Novosti.
07:15, 19 Dec
The President of South Korea did not attend the interrogation regarding the rebellion case.
The President of South Korea, Yoon Suk-yeol, whose powers have been suspended due to impeachment, did not attend a questioning session at the anti-corruption investigation office concerning high-ranking officials in relation to a rebellion case. This case was initiated following the declaration of martial law in the country. This information was reported by Yonhap.
07:13, 19 Dec
Trump's representative, Kellogg, is set to visit Kyiv.
Retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg, who has been nominated by elected U.S. President Donald Trump to serve as a special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, will visit Kyiv and several other European capitals in early January as part of efforts to end the war in Ukraine. This information was reported by Reuters, citing sources familiar with the travel plans.
07:13, 19 Dec
The EU Court has declined to lift sanctions against pro-Russian politicians in Moldova.
The European Union Court in Luxembourg has rejected the appeal from Moldovan opposition figures Ilan Shor and Marina Tauber to lift the sanctions imposed on them by the EU in 2023 for attempts to destabilize the Republic of Moldova. This was reported on Wednesday by a correspondent for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
07:13, 19 Dec
Mass graves have been discovered near Damascus, Syria.
Over 100,000 individuals may have fallen victim to the repressive actions of the regime of former President Bashar al-Assad, reported Stephen Rapp, a former U.S. ambassador involved in investigating war crimes, to Reuters on December 18.
07:13, 19 Dec
