Israel ready 'for any scenario' after strike kills Hamas deputy in Lebanon

The Israeli army has said it is "prepared for any scenario" after a strike in Beirut that killed Hamas's deputy chief, stoking fears the war in the Gaza Strip could boil over into wider regional conflict, AFP reports.

More than 100 killed in Iran blasts at event marking general’s death

More than 100 people were killed and scores injured Wednesday in two blasts that struck the central Iranian city of Kerman, emergency services said. Thousands of mourners had gathered there to commemorate Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani on the fourth anniversary of his assassination in a U.S. drone strike in Iraq in 2020, The Washington Post reports.

Elections in Serbia: The victory of President Vucic's party has been officially confirmed

Full election results on January 3 handed Serbia's ruling party a major victory in the parliamentary and local votes held on December 17, amid demonstrations that triggered thousands to protest alleged fraud, RFE reports.

UK continues to ‘stand steadfastly’ by Ukraine’s side in 2024, PM tells Zelensky

The UK will continue to “stand steadfastly by” Ukraine throughout 2024, the Prime Minister has told Volodymyr Zelensky, writes Independent.

Russia has launched 300 missiles and 200 drones at Ukraine in the last 5 days. Zelensky asks the West for more anti-aircraft weapons

Russian officials say they have foiled a Ukrainian attack on a border city as the aerial war between the two nations continues to intensify. The officials said a dozen missiles were downed before they could reach Belgorod, where 25 people were killed on Saturday. Ukraine has not commented, BBC reports.

Israel ready 'for any scenario' after strike kills Hamas deputy chief in Lebanon

Israeli forces intensified their bombing of the Gaza Strip on Wednesday and told civilians to leave a refugee camp in the north of the Palestinian enclave after the war stretched into Lebanon with the killing in Beirut of the Hamas deputy leader, Reuters reports.

Death toll rises to 57 in Japan

The death toll in the wake of the Jan. 1 earthquake off Japan’s northwest coast rose above 60 as the government doubled the number of personnel dispatched to the affected areas to bolster rescue operations, Bloomberg reports.

Missiles fired at Russian city Belgorod and occupied Crimea

Russian officials say they have foiled a Ukrainian attack on a border city as the aerial war between the two nations continues to intensify, BBC reports.

Bulgaria and Romania join Schengen area for maritime and air passengers

The European Council has decided to enlarge the border-free Schengen area to include Bulgaria and Romania, the council’s Spanish presidency said Saturday, CNN reports.

Russia accidentally bombs own village during attack on Ukraine

A Russian jet accidentally dropped its payload on the village of Petropavlovsk in the Russian region of Voronezh region damaging several private homes. The accident occurred at the same time as Russia had hit Ukraine with its latest large-scale missile attack, Kyiv Post reports.

Ukraine urges faster western arms deliveries after attack

Ukraine on Tuesday called on its allies to accelerate deliveries of weapons after another deadly Russian missile attack, almost two years into Moscow's invasion, AFP reports.

UPDATE - Five died after Japan Airlines jet bursts into flames after collision with earthquake relief plane at Tokyo Haneda airport

Five people were killed when a Japan Airlines plane carrying hundreds of passengers collided with an earthquake relief aircraft and burst into flames on landing at Tokyo’s Haneda airport on Tuesday, CNN reports.