Russell Brand has been charged by the U.K. Crown Prosecution Service with one count of rape and one count of sexual assault relating to incidents in 2009, adding to five previous charges of rape and sexual assault from 1999 to 2005. The allegations arose from a joint investigation by Channel 4 and The Sunday Times, which reported anonymous complaints of sexual and emotional abuse. Brand … Continue reading Russell Brand faces two additional rape and sexual assault charges from UK prosecutors in court case

A private jet carrying Libya’s top military commander, Gen. Muhammad Ali Ahmad al-Haddad, four other officers, and three crew members crashed near Ankara, Turkey, killing all on board. The delegation had been in Turkey for defense talks to strengthen military cooperation, and Turkish officials said the crash was caused by a technical malfunction. The aircraft, a Falcon 50 business jet, lost contact with air traffic … Continue reading Libya’s military chief and 7 others are killed in a plane crash

The U.S. has deployed a large number of special-operations aircraft, troops, and equipment to the Caribbean, increasing military options against Venezuela. President Trump has escalated pressure on Nicolás Maduro, imposing a blockade on Venezuelan oil tankers and leaving airstrikes on the table. Elite units, including CV-22 Ospreys, Army Rangers, and special-operations forces, have been prepositioned, signaling Washington may already have a course of action planned. … Continue reading U.S. Moves Troops, Additional Special-Operations Aircraft Into Caribbean

Russia launched a massive overnight assault on Ukraine, firing more than 650 drones and dozens of missiles that struck residential areas and energy infrastructure across 13 regions. At least three civilians were killed, including a 4-year-old child, just days before Christmas, as the attacks caused widespread power outages during freezing weather. Ukrainian officials said air defenses intercepted most of the drones and missiles, but significant … Continue reading Russia launches 650 kamikaze drones at Ukraine in pre-Christmas blitz

Clashes erupted in Aleppo between the Syrian army and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), killing at least two civilians and injuring 11 others ahead of a deadline to integrate the SDF into state institutions. Heavy gunfire and mortar shelling forced dozens of families to flee, and two Syrian Civil Defence rescuers were injured during the violence. Syria’s Interior Ministry reported injuries to two security personnel … Continue reading At least two killed in Aleppo clashes between Syrian army, Kurdish-led SDF

New South Wales (NSW) is fast-tracking laws to restrict guns, protests, and hate speech following the Bondi shootings, which killed 15 people. The reforms cap firearm ownership, increase licence renewal frequency, and allow police to limit demonstrations at religious sites while removing face coverings during protests. Critics, including civil liberties groups and pro-gun advocates, argue the measures unfairly target law-abiding gun owners and restrict democratic … Continue reading Australian move to fast-track new gun and protest laws

Thailand and Cambodia will hold a meeting of defense officials on Wednesday to address ongoing violence along their shared border, announced Thailand’s Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow. The talks follow a failed ceasefire brokered earlier this year by ASEAN and U.S. President Donald Trump after cross-border fighting erupted in July. Despite the planned meeting, clashes have continued, with Cambodia reporting Thai airstrikes and Thailand citing Cambodian … Continue reading Thailand and Cambodia agree to meet amid renewed cross-border fighting

A car bomb killed Russian Lt. Gen. Fanil Sarvarov on Monday, marking the third high-ranking military assassination in just over a year, with investigators suggesting Ukraine may be behind the attack. Sarvarov, 56, led the Operational Training Directorate of Russia’s General Staff and had fought in Chechnya and Syria. Previous killings include Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, killed by a bomb on an electric scooter, and … Continue reading Car bomb kills Russian general in Moscow

Ukrainian forces carried out a series of strikes on Russian soil, hitting an oil terminal, a pipeline, two ships, an ammunition depot, and a drone launch site, officials said Monday. Ukrainian military intelligence also said partisans set fire to two Russian jet fighters at an air base near Lipetsk. The attacks are part of Ukraine’s broader effort to disrupt Russia’s war capabilities and counter Moscow’s … Continue reading Ukraine strikes oil terminal, planes and ships in an array of strikes inside Russia

Investigators allege a father and son accused of killing 15 people at a Hanukkah celebration in Bondi Beach threw four homemade explosive devices at the crowd before opening fire. Court documents say the suspects trained in advance, recorded a video citing extremist motivations, and were inspired by the Islamic State group. Police are examining whether they received outside support, including during a recent trip to … Continue reading Bondi gunmen threw homemade bombs before shooting and conducted training

President Trump said the U.S. will temporarily keep oil and two oil tankers seized off Venezuela, with options to sell the oil, retain it, or add it to the strategic reserve. The U.S. Coast Guard, aided by the Navy, seized the first tanker, Skipper, carrying about 1.8 million barrels of crude oil and falsely flying Guyana’s flag. Days later, the administration announced a blockade on … Continue reading Trump says US will keep oil and ships seized near Venezuela

Seven men in Sydney’s south-west, aged 19 to 24, were released without charge after being detained over a suspected plot to commit violence. NSW police conducted a high-risk vehicle stop in Liverpool following information about a possible violent act, seizing only a knife and finding no definitive links to the Bondi gunmen. Authorities said the men had traveled from Victoria and were known to police … Continue reading Seven men arrested in Sydney over alleged fear of ‘violent act being planned’ released without charge

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a national firearms buy-back scheme to remove surplus, newly banned, and illegal guns following the Bondi Beach massacre. The scheme, funded jointly with states and territories, aims to collect and destroy hundreds of thousands of firearms, with state authorities handling collection and payments and federal police responsible for destruction. A day of reflection for the victims will be held … Continue reading Australian PM announces gun buy-back plan, day of reflection following Bondi Beach shooting

Violence erupted in Dhaka, Bangladesh, after 32-year-old pro-democracy leader Sharif Osman Hadi, injured in an assassination attempt on December 12, died in a Singapore hospital. Thousands of protesters took to the streets, setting fire to several buildings, including the offices of the country’s two largest newspapers, Daily Star and Prothom Alo, while also attacking other sites and blocking key roads. Hadi had been a prominent … Continue reading Violent protests in Bangladesh after pro-democracy figure dies in hospital

U.S. forces have killed five more people on vessels in the eastern Pacific, raising the death toll in the Trump administration’s anti-narcotics campaign to at least 104 since September. The strikes, ordered by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, targeted two boats, killing three on one and two on the other, though Washington has provided no proof the vessels were involved in drug trafficking. Hegseth faces scrutiny … Continue reading Five killed as US military destroys two more vessels in Pacific Ocean

The U.S. sanctioned two more International Criminal Court (ICC) judges—Gocha Lordkipanidze of Georgia and Erdenebalsuren Damdin of Mongolia—for participating in investigations of Israeli nationals related to the Gaza conflict. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the sanctions target judges who voted in favor of the ICC’s decision rejecting Israel’s appeal against the ongoing probe. The ICC condemned the move as an attack on judicial independence, … Continue reading Trump administration sanctions two more International Criminal Court judges for investigating Israel

European Union leaders have agreed to provide Ukraine with a €90 billion ($105 billion) loan, addressing its military and economic needs for the next two years, after failing to reach a deal on using frozen Russian assets. The loan, backed by the EU’s common budget, avoids disputes over liability that blocked proposals to use €200 billion in Russian funds. Ukrainian President Zelensky warned that without financial support by … Continue reading EU agrees €90bn loan for Ukraine but without using Russian assets

Heavy storms on Hormuz Island in Iran turned rainwater and coastal seas a striking blood-red as iron-oxide-rich soil washed down cliffs and into the ocean. The phenomenon, known locally as “Red Beach,” is caused by golak soil, which turns crimson when it comes into contact with water due to high levels of hematite. The dramatic scene drew widespread attention online, with some comparing it to … Continue reading ‘Blood rain’ turns beach bright red

Australia is introducing tougher hate speech laws following the Bondi Beach terror attack, where Naveed Akram and his father, Sajid Akram, targeted Hanukkah celebrations, killing 15 people. Naveed Akram faces 59 charges, including murder and firearms offences, while Sajid Akram was shot dead by police at the scene. The new measures include harsher penalties for promoting violence, a specific hate-speech offence for leaders, and powers … Continue reading Australia announces tougher hate speech laws following Bondi massacre

The United States approved an $11.1 billion arms sale to Taiwan, one of its largest ever, including HIMARS rocket systems, long-range missiles, artillery, drones, and military software. U.S. officials said the package supports Taiwan’s efforts to modernize its forces and maintain a credible defensive capability. Taiwan welcomed the deal, calling it essential to strengthening deterrence and national defense. China strongly criticized the move, urging Washington … Continue reading US approves $11bn in arms sales to Taiwan in deal likely to anger China

Naveed Akram, the sole surviving suspect in Sunday’s mass shooting at Bondi Beach, Sydney, has been charged with 59 offenses, including 15 counts of murder and one of committing a terrorist act. The attack, targeting Australia’s Jewish community during a Hanukkah celebration, left 15 people dead and dozens injured, making it the country’s deadliest shooting since 1996. Akram’s father, Sajid Akram, was killed in a … Continue reading Naveed Akram charged with 15 counts of murder over Bondi shooting

Venezuela has deployed its Navy to escort ships carrying petroleum products from its ports, heightening tensions with the U.S. after President Trump announced a “total and complete blockade” targeting sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers. Several vessels transporting urea, petroleum coke, and other oil-based products departed the Port of José for Asia under military escort, responding to Trump’s blockade threats. The escorted ships do not appear on … Continue reading Venezuelan Navy Escorts Vessels After Blockade Threat

Thousands visited Tokyo’s Ueno Zoo to see twin pandas Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei before they return to China next month, marking the first time in over 50 years Japan will be without a panda. Their last public viewing will be on January 25, but tensions between Japan and China make the arrival of replacements uncertain. The four-year-old pandas were born in Tokyo in 2021 … Continue reading Thousands flock to see the last 2 pandas in Japan before their return to China

A driver who injured more than 130 people by plowing his minivan into a crowd celebrating Liverpool’s Premier League title was sentenced to more than 20 years in prison. Paul Doyle, 54, deliberately accelerated into groups of fans on May 26, stopping only after a bystander forced the vehicle into park. Prosecutors said Doyle used his car as a weapon after becoming enraged over delays … Continue reading Driver who rammed through crowd at Liverpool soccer parade sentenced to over 20 years

The International Criminal Court (ICC) appeals chamber has rejected Israel’s attempt to block an investigation into its actions in Gaza, allowing the probe to continue. The court upheld a lower court ruling permitting the ICC prosecutor to investigate alleged crimes following the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Israel argued that events after October 7 constituted a new situation requiring a fresh … Continue reading ICC rejects Israeli bid to block Gaza war crimes investigation