N. Korea missile test: UN scrambles, allies pledge action

North Korea ignited regional anxieties and triggered global condemnation after launching its latest intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on Monday, December 18th, as reported by Reuters.

China quake kills 118, Jishishan devastated

A powerful 5.9 magnitude earthquake struck Jishishan County in Gansu Province, northwest China, on Monday evening, leaving a trail of devastation and claiming at least 118 lives, as reported by BBC.

Charles Michel announces an extraordinary EU summit for 1 February

The European Union will hold an extraordinary summit on February 1 in an attempt to agree on the revision of its multi-year budget, including funds for Ukraine, the president of the European Council, Charles Michel, said on Monday, reports Reuters and Agerpres.

Head of the Pentagon is expected in Israel on Monday

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced his arrival in Israel on Monday, DW reports.

Erdogan and Orban discuss Sweden's NATO membership in Budapest

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Budapest on Monday to meet with his Hungarian ally Viktor Orban, in his second visit to the country within four months aimed at deepening ties, Kyiv Independent reports.

Russian paramilitaries in Ukraine claim a cross-border attack in Belgorod

The Russian Freedom Legion, a Ukrainian-based paramilitary group made up of Russians opposed to President Vladimir Putin, claimed Sunday a cross-border attack several kilometers inside the Belgorod region, Reuters reports.

Zelenski supports the use of Russian assets frozen by the EU for Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed confidence about additional financial support for his country, after European Union leaders recently failed to reach an agreement on a new aid package for Ukraine, a country invaded by Russian forces unjustifiably in February 2022, reports DPA and Agerpres on Monday.

Austria unblocks 12th package of anti-Russian sanctions

Austria has lifted its objections to the 12th package of anti-Russian sanctions, but it is yet to be adopted, a European source told reporters on the sidelines of the ongoing EU summit in Brussels, TASS reports.

Serbia’s Vucic seeks to reassert dominance in elections

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic is pushing hard to reassert his populist party’s dominance in this weekend’s early parliamentary and local elections that observers say are being held in an atmosphere of intimidation and media bias, AP reports.

Romanian Foreign Ministry: Another hostage with Romanian citizenship died in Gaza

The Romanian Foreign Ministry announced on Saturday evening that another hostage taken by Hamas terrorists, who had dual Israeli and Romanian citizenship, died in Gaza. At the moment, there is another hostage in Gaza who has Romanian citizenship, according to Digi24.RO.

Hungary's gas veto threat casts doubt on Bulgaria's schengen entry

Hungary's long-held ambitions to see Bulgaria join the passport-free Schengen zone face a fresh hurdle as Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto brandished a veto threat, contingent on Sofia's removal of a contentious transit tax on Russian gas.

Israel mourns death of 3 hostages in Gaza

Israeli soldiers inadvertently caused the death of three hostages held by Hamas in Gaza on Friday, prompting demonstrations in Tel Aviv.