George Clooney, his wife Amal and children become French citizens

• 6:36 PM

1 min

Hollywood superstar George Clooney has become French, along with his wife Amal Alamuddin Clooney and their two children, an official decree seen by AFP on Monday showed. 

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Why the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant is a sticking point in Ukraine peace talks

• 5:12 PM

1 min

Control over the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in east Ukraine remains one of the main sticking points in peace negotiations. Russia took control of it in March 2022 and its proximity to the front lines has sparked international fears for the safety a

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Syria: Construction of new tunnels in Raqqa sparks fears of renewed conflict

• 4:52 PM

1 min

As the March 10 agreement between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces nears its end, more and more new tunnels are under construction in residential neighbourhoods in Raqqa, in northeastern Syria. Locals told us that they are concerned

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Netanyahu to discuss Gaza ceasefire with Trump without 'antagonising his base back home'

• 4:52 PM

1 min

US President Donald Trump is expected to ⁠push for progress in the stalled ceasefire in Gaza when he meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for talks on December 29 that will include Israel's concerns over Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iran. For

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Gaza truce: Where does it stand and what's supposed to happen under phase two?

• 4:44 PM

1 min

US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are meeting in Florida for talks that will cover the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal. Washington wants to see it move to the second phase in January 2026, but Israel and Hamas

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Ukraine: Theatre in Mariupol reopens after three years

• 4:37 PM

1 min

A theatre that became a symbol of Russia’s 2022 siege of Mariupol has reopened after extensive restoration, Russian authorities said. State television showed a gala event and rebuilt interiors, including a marble staircase, columns and a large crystal ch

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Hamas armed wing confirms spokesman Abu Obeida killed by Israeli strike in August

• 4:35 PM

1 min

Hamas's armed wing confirmed on Monday the death of its spokesperson in a video statement, months after Israel announced he had been killed in an air strike in Gaza.

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Taiwan: Chinese military releases footage of drills around the island

• 4:08 PM

1 min

The Chinese army has released footage it says shows destroyers, frigates, fighter jets and bombers carrying out exercises around Taiwan. The large-scale show of force comes amid heightened tensions, notably following a major US arms sale to the island an

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Arms deal with Taiwan is a bargaining chip for Trump in negotiations with China

• 3:44 PM

1 min

As China holds military drills around Taiwan to deter what it calls separatist forces, why is it happening now? Several reasons include the United States' multi-billion arms deal to Taipei, at a time where the Trump administration is trying to woe the Ch

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Race for AFCON knockout stages intensifies

• 3:44 PM

1 min

South Africa is to play Zimbabwe in a decisive group B clash after losing to Egypt, automatically qualifying the Pharaohs to the round of 16. For South Africa, it's a matter of laying down their credentials as contenders. In the meantime, host nation Mor

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Chinese military drills a warning to 'separatist forces' and 'external interference' in Taiwan

• 2:42 PM

1 min

China has launched sea and air military drills around Taiwan, which it claims as its own. Riled by a US arms package to the island nation and Japan saying it would intervene in the case of an invasion, it calls its war games a warning against what it cal

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Netanyahu and Trump to meet for talks on Gaza peace plan and Iran

• 2:38 PM

1 min

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet Donald Trump in Florida on December 29, with the US president pushing to move to the next stage of his fragile Gaza truce plan. Netanyahu is also expected to try to shift some focus onto Iran, amid

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First UN visit to Sudan's El-Fasher finds traumatised civilians amid reports of mass atrocities

• 2:32 PM

1 min

Traumatised civilians left in Sudan's El-Fasher after its capture by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces are living without water or sanitation, UN aid coordinator Denise Brown told the AFP news agency on Monday, after a small humanitarian team was abl

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Panamean monument honouring China's contribution to Canal torn down

• 2:21 PM

1 min

China has spoken out against the demolition of a monument near the entrance to the Panama Canal, celebrating the friendship of the two nations, with local authorities citing safety issues and an expired land concession. It comes amid warnings from Donald

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Syrian Alawites protest after deadly mosque bombing

• 2:17 PM

1 min

Members of Syria's Alawite minority protested in their thousands on December 28, days after an attack on an Alawite mosque killed eight people. Clashes between demonstrators and security forces broke out at some of the protests, with at least four people

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Brigitte Bardot to be buried January 7 at Saint-Tropez cemetery

• 2:15 PM

1 min

The funeral for French cinema icon Brigitte Bardot will take place in her hometown of Saint-Tropez on January 7, her foundation said on Monday, as France wrestles with how to pay tribute to a cultural legend who in her later years championed far-right vi

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Taiwan vows to defend democracy as Chinese threat looms

• 2:14 PM

1 min

Taipei has condemned 'military intimidations' from Beijing as China started military drills off the cost of the island nation, simulating a blockade of its main ports. The operation 'further confirm its nature as an aggressor, making it the greatest dest

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Ukraine: What is blocking the peace deal negotiations?

• 2:11 PM

1 min

Speaking at a joint press conference, both US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky were cautiously optimistic about negotiations over the 20-point peace plan for Ukraine. But progress made doesn't include issues of security g

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More than 100,000 air passengers will face delays over China drills, Taiwan warns

• 1:10 PM

1 min

Taiwan's Civil Aviation Administration said that the delay of roughly 296 international departures, 265 international arrivals and 296 transit flights affected by the live-fire drills that China launched around the island on Monday would snarl travel for

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Chinese drills around Taiwan after US and Japan show support towards the island

• 11:55 AM

1 min

China this morning conducted live-fire military drills in waters around Taiwan, aimed, it says, as a warning against separatist forces in the self-ruled island. Codenamed "Justice Mission 2025", the drills come just ten days after the Trump administratio

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Brigitte Bardot remembered for acting, activism and controversial politics

• 11:51 AM

1 min

After the death of Brigitte Bardot this Sunday, the international press has been paying tribute to the film star, singer and animal rights activist. While she is celebrated for her contribution to cinema, many criticise her turn towards the extreme right

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China launches military drills simulating blockade of Taiwan ports

• 11:41 AM

1 min

China launched live-fire drills around Taiwan on December 29 that it said would simulate a blockade of the self-ruled island's key ports. The decision follows a bumper round of arms sales to Taipei by the United States, Taiwan's main security backer. For

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Myanmar pro-military party claims win in controversial election

• 11:39 AM

1 min

Myanmar's dominant pro-military party claimed an overwhelming victory in the first phase of the elections after democracy watchdogs warned the junta-run poll would entrench military rule. The election win will be a way for the ruling junta, in power afte

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People are 'looking for more meaningful tourism'

• 11:09 AM

1 min

Paris and Barcelona are some of the cities which were the most visited in the world this year. But with 2026 starting soon, what will travelling look like in the year to come? With films and TV series like The White Lotus creating new travelling trends,

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Ukraine talks: Peace plan '90% agreed' as Trump hosts Zelensky

• 10:54 AM

1 min

US President Donald Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Florida to discuss a draft peace framework aimed at ending Russia’s war. Ukraine is seeking long-term US security guarantees, with Zelensky saying he has asked Trump for commitmen

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Thorny questions remain despite positive meeting reports from Trump and Zelensky

• 10:14 AM

1 min

US President Donald Turmp and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky both reported progress on two of the most contentious issues regarding a peace deal in Ukraine: security guarantees for the country and the division of the eastern Donbas region, which Ru

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Winter rains flood camps, worsening living conditions for displaced Gazans

• 10:13 AM

1 min

Rain lashed the Gaza Strip, flooding makeshift encampments with ankle-deep puddles as Palestinians displaced by the two-year war attempted to stay dry in tents frayed by months of use. The flooding came as Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu travell

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E-commerce giant Coupang offers €1 billion compensation scheme after massive data breach

• 10:12 AM

1 min

Over a month after announcing a massive data breach affecting 34 million of its users, South Korean e-commerce company Coupang announced this Monday it would offer 1.69 trillion won in compensation (around €1 billion) to customers in the form of vouchers

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Thailand's army says Cambodia violated truce with more than 250 drones

• 9:46 AM

1 min

Thailand's army on Monday accused Cambodia of violating a newly signed ceasefire agreement, reached following weeks of deadly border clashes, after "more than 250 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were detected flying from the Cambodian side, intruding int

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Myanmar's pro-military party 'winning a majority' in junta-run poll, official says

• 8:23 AM

1 min

Myanmar's dominant pro-military party is "winning a majority" in the first phase of junta-run elections, a party source said on Monday, after democracy watchdogs warned the poll would entrench military rule. The vote has been widely condemned for its sta

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Netanyahu and Trump to meet in Florida to discuss second phase of Gaza ceasefire

• 8:13 AM

1 min

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump will meet in Florida on Monday to discuss the next stage of the fragile Gaza truce plan. Under the second phase of the ceasefire, Israel is due to withdraw from its positions in Gaza

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After the recognition of a Palestinian state in 2025, what's next ?

• 6:21 AM

1 min

The recognition of the State of Palestine by several Western countries in September stood out as one of the key diplomatic moments of 2025. Largely symbolic for Palestinians, the move raised questions about whether it could break a decades-long geopoliti

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Live: Putin hails Russian progress in 'liberating' Donbas, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions

• 6:19 AM

1 min

Russia is pressing ahead with its plan to capture four Ukrainian regions it announced the annexation of in 2022 and is making steady progress, President Vladimir Putin said on Monday. The Kremlin earlier said it agreed with US President Donald Trump that

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Achraf Hakimi to return to action in Morocco's final AFCON group stage match

• 6:14 AM

1 min

Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi is set to return to action for his team's final AFCON group stage match against Zambia, having recovered from an ankle injury that sidelined him for nearly two months.

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Kim oversees cruise missile launch as North Korea touts nuclear readiness

• 3:48 AM

1 min

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un oversaw the launch of long-range strategic cruise missiles on Sunday, state media said, as Pyongyang stepped up military activity it says is aimed at reinforcing its nuclear deterrent amid what it calls growing security th

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China conducts large-scale Taiwan drills amid rising tensions

• 3:24 AM

1 min

China mobilised army, naval, air force and artillery units around Taiwan on Monday for its "Justice Mission 2025" exercises. Taipei responded by deploying troops to rehearse repelling a potential Chinese attack, underscoring the island's commitment to de

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US offered Ukraine a 15-year security guarantee, Zelensky said after talks with Trump

• 12:43 AM

1 min

The US has offered Ukraine "solid" security guarantees for the next 15 years with the possibility of an extension, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday after talks with the US president at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. Kyiv is seekin

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Iranian shopkeepers protest, shut stores as currency hits record low

• 12:43 AM

1 min

Iranian traders and shopkeepers protested for a second day Monday after the country’s currency plummeted to 1.42 million to the US dollar. Many shut shop and asked others to do the same as prices of food and other daily necessities put further strain on

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