Gaza truce efforts intensify, Israeli strike kills 20
Israeli authorities have called on residents of al-Bureij camp in the centre of the Gaza Strip to leave, saying militants had fired rockets from the area.
unrest, conflicts and war
France to host Syria summit, cautious on sanctions end
French Foreign Minister Jan-Noel Barrot says the new rulers of Syria will be judged "by their actions and over time" ahead of a summit on Syria in France.
Ukraine’s Zelenskiy urges EU-US unity to stop Putin
President Volodymyr Zelensky is pleading for the joint help of the EU and the US to fight Russia amid fears Donald Trump could withdraw support for Ukraine.
Russia has no preconditions for Ukraine talks: Putin
Russia has no conditions for starting talks with Ukrainian authorities to end the war, President Vladimir Putin says
Israel bombards Gaza as ceasefire talks intensify
Mediators have managed to narrow some gaps on previous sticking points in a possible ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, but differences remain.
Russian missile strike on Kyiv damages embassies
Six embassies including Argentina and Portugal's have been damaged in Russian missile strikes on Kyiv.
Ukraine strikes deep into Russia, miles from front line
Ukraine has hit a 1000km deep into Russian territory, a day after their hit on Russia's Kursk region killed six people, including a child.
Israeli strikes kill 17 in Gaza as hospital evacuated
The Israeli military says it has targeted Hamas militants hiding in a school in Gaza as it orders the evacuation of Kamal Adwan Hospital.
Israel orders hospital closure, docs fear for patients
Medics at a northern Gaza hospital are scrambling to rescue patients following an order from Israel to close down the facility.
Russian forces advance, capture two villages in Ukraine
Russian troops are moving through eastern Ukraine at the fastest rate since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Fears for Australian soldier captured in Ukraine
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says it is concerning news that an Australian citizen is reportedly being held hostage by pro-Russian forces in Ukraine.
Gaps have narrowed in Gaza ceasefire deal, sides say
A fresh bid by mediators to end the fighting in Gaza and release hostages has gained momentum, though sticking points remain between Hamas and Israel.
North Korea could send more troops to Russia: Zelenskiy
Ukraine says more than 3000 North Korean soldiers have been killed and wounded in Russia's Kursk region while South Korea has a more conservative estimate.
Israeli parliament extends state of emergency
The Israeli parliament has extended the country's state of emergency until the end of 2025.
Aussie Cossack’s ‘attractive’ offer to seal prison swap
A perennial thorn in the Australian government's side has vowed to make it worth their while if he's sent to Russia in a swap for prisoner of war Oscar Jenkins.
Sudan’s war is ‘deepening and widening’ a famine crisis
A hunger-monitoring group says half of Sudan's population now face high levels of acute food insecurity as a result of the ongoing conflict.
Israeli strike on West Bank refugee camp, eight dead
At least eight people have died in Israeli raids on a refugee camp in the West Bank city of Tulkarm, in what it described as a counter-terrorism operation.
Christmas conditions sparkle for millions of Aussies
From the beach to the bush, Australians were treated to a day of sunshine on Christmas though it remains a time when many are doing it tough.
Energy systems hit in Christmas Day attack on Ukraine
Ukrainian officials say Russia has used Christmas Day to attack the country's energy systems.
Gaza war overshadows Bethlehem midnight mass
The Catholic Church's highest representative in the Holy Land, has told Palestinians in Gaza they are not alone, during a Christmas mass.
Baby freezes to death in Gaza as ceasefire talks stall
A baby girl froze to death overnight in Gaza, while Israel and Hamas accused each other of complicating ceasefire efforts that could wind down the 14-month war
Russia looking into alleged capture of Aussie mercenary
Moscow officials are seeking to verify reports the Russian army may have captured an Australian citizen fighting with Ukrainian forces.
Clashes between Syria’s new regime and Assad loyalists
Clashes between the Islamists who overthrew the Assad government in Syria and supporters of the former president have killed 14 insurgents and wounded others.
Biden condemns Russian Christmas Day attacks in Ukraine
Ukrainians have been hit by blackouts and left without heating after Russia's Christmas Day strike on the country's power infrastructure.
Houthis fire missile at Israel after Yemen airport hit
Houthi rebels have retaliated to Israel's airstrikes on Yemen's Sanaa International Airport, described by the UN as alarming.
Israel loosened rules at start of Gaza war: NYT
Israel changed its rules of engagement at the start of the Gaza war to allow commanders more flexibility to order attacks on targets despite civilian risks.
Russian drone attack kills two in Ukraine’s Donetsk
A Ukrainian town in Donetsk on the front lines of the war has been hit with Russian drones, which struck a multi-storey apartment building, killing two people.
Uneasy calm settles over Syrian city of Homs
Syria's new rulers are scrambling to impose order as security forces checked IDs and searched cars in Homs, a day after protests erupted in gunfire.
Mass North Korean troop casualties on Ukraine frontline
Some 3000 North Korean troops are reported to have been killed on the frontline in Ukraine, as fighting continues.
Israel detains director of hospital in northern Gaza
The director of one of Gaza's last functioning hospitals has been detained by Israeli forces, Palestinian officials say, after troops stormed the facility.
Putin apologises for ‘tragic’ Azerbaijan plane crash
Russian President Vladimir Putin has apologised for the "tragic incident" which resulted in the crash of an Azerbaijani passenger plane in Russian airspace.