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Finnish guard ship Turvan on duty in the southern Baltic Sea. Photo: EPA-EFE
Nordic nations

Europe

Finland boards oil tanker after internet and power cable outages

Finland seized the vessel’s cargo and believes that the ship was believed to belong to Russia’s so-called shadow fleet of ageing tankers.

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Pope Francis

Pope opens Holy Door for Catholic Jubilee at Rome prison: ‘do not lose hope’

King Charles III

UK’s cancer-hit King Charles hails doctors in Christmas speech

Europe

War and conflict

Pope urges ‘all people of all nations’ to silence arms in Christmas address

He called for an end to conflict in Ukraine and the Middle East, singling out Christian communities in the region.

Pope Francis leads the traditional Urbi et Orbi Christmas Day blessing from the central balcony of Saint Peter’s Square. He called for arms to be silenced in war-torn Ukraine and in the Middle East. Photo: EPA-EFE/ANGELO CARCONI
Pope Francis leads the traditional Urbi et Orbi Christmas Day blessing from the central balcony of Saint Peter’s Square. He called for arms to be silenced in war-torn Ukraine and in the Middle East. Photo: EPA-EFE/ANGELO CARCONI

Europe

Nordic nations

Finland investigates outage of undersea power link to Estonia

‘The possibility of sabotage cannot be ruled out,’ Fingrid control room manager Arto Pahki said.

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Europe

Pope Francis

On Christmas Eve, Pope Francis appeals for courage to better the world

The pontiff opened the Catholic Holy Year, which happens only every 25 years and is expected to bring 32 million tourists to Rome.

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Europe

The Netherlands

Amsterdam court sentences 5 men for ‘hit-and-run’ style attacks on Israeli fans

The court found them guilty of public violence, theft, and assault, with one man receiving a six-month sentence stemming from riots surrounding a soccer match.

Police stand guard as Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters light flares at the Dam square, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on November 7. Photo: AP
Police stand guard as Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters light flares at the Dam square, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on November 7. Photo: AP

Diplomacy

China-EU relations

How friendly will Europe’s right wing be to Trump on China? It’s complicated

Leaders like Viktor Orban of Hungary and Giorgia Meloni of Italy embrace US president-elect but may not hold with his entire agenda.

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Europe

Turkey

12 killed in blast at Turkey explosives plant, echoing past incidents

Authorities are investigating the cause of the explosion, ruling out sabotage and focusing on ‘technical reasons’.

Fashion & Beauty

Fashion

Are second-hand gifts the new trend? UK charity shops do a brisk trade

This Christmas, a time of year often criticised for promoting consumerism, more Britons than ever before are buying ‘preloved’ gifts.

A customer browses second-hand items inside an Oxfam charity shop in London. This Christmas, more people than ever are buying “preloved” gifts from charity shops and online second-hand retailers. Photo: AFP

Travel & Leisure

Climate change

Dreaming of a white Christmas? Global warming is making it less likely

An analysis of winter temperatures showing fewer freezing days spells bad news for fans of snow at Christmas. Europe is warming the quickest.

Melted snowmen may become an increasingly common sight in the northern hemisphere, particulary Europe, as climate change caused by burning fossil fuels leads to warmer winters with fewer days at or below freezing. Photo: Shutterstock
Melted snowmen may become an increasingly common sight in the northern hemisphere, particulary Europe, as climate change caused by burning fossil fuels leads to warmer winters with fewer days at or below freezing. Photo: Shutterstock

Europe

Royalty

Former Greek royal family expresses ‘deep emotion’ after regaining citizenship

Greece abolished its monarchy in 1974 and the former royal family was stripped of its citizenship two decades later.

Europe

King Charles III

Chocolate maker Cadbury loses royal warrant under King Charles

Campaign group B4Ukraine had urged king to remove companies ‘still operating in Russia’, singling out Cadbury’s owner Mondelez International.

Europe

Nordic nations

Sweden says China denied request to probe ship linked to cut undersea cables

Sweden’s assertion contradicts Beijing’s earlier promise of ‘cooperation’.

Chinese bulk carrier Yi Peng 3 is anchored in the sea of Kattegat, near the city of Grenaa in Jutland, Denmark on November 20. Photo: AP

United States & Canada

Donald Trump

Trump wants to buy Greenland again, Denmark says it’s still ‘not for sale’

Trump believes Greenland’s strategic location, home to a US airbase and a radar station, is crucial for national defence, particularly in light of the Ukraine war.

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Donald Trump has reignited his 2019 bid to buy Greenland, claiming it’s vital for US national security. Photo: Reuters
Donald Trump has reignited his 2019 bid to buy Greenland, claiming it’s vital for US national security. Photo: Reuters

Europe

Italy

Rome’s famous Trevi Fountain reopens to limited crowds

To avoid overcrowding, the monument will be limited to 400 visitors at a time.

Europe

TikTok

Albania PM says TikTok ban was not a ‘rushed reaction to a single incident’

Albania’s prime minister defends TikTok ban, citing careful consideration and concern for youth safety.

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Russia & Central Asia

Vladimir Putin

Putin meets Slovakia’s Fico, in rare visit to Russia by an EU leader

The leaders discussed the future of Russian natural gas deliveries, and the conflict in Ukraine.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo: Sputnik via AP
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo: Sputnik via AP

Europe

Germany

Saudi suspect in German Christmas market attack held on multiple murder charges

Officials say Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, a doctor, was angry about country’s permissive attitude to refugees from other mainly Muslim countries.

Europe

TikTok

Albania to ban TikTok for a year after teenager stabbed to death

Parents are concerned by reports of children taking knives and other objects to school over quarrels promoted by stories on the app.

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Europe

Pope Francis

Pope Francis tells Vatican staff off for gossiping in annual Christmas message

Francis’ message this year revisited a theme he has often warned about: gossiping and speaking ill of people behind their backs.

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Pope Francis’ Christmas message this year revisited a theme he has often warned about: gossiping and speaking ill of people behind their backs. Photo: dpa
Open Questions series

China’s rise, potential recession, no WWIII yet: 11 key interviews from 2024

Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

Why eco-warrior Ma Jun sees hope for China’s role in Cop29 amid US uncertainty

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

Historian on why we aren’t heading towards WWIII yet and how wars have changed

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

China’s evolving role in Middle East conflicts, according to an academic

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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

This economist says China’s property oversupply is far from over. Here’s why

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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez Garcia

Ex-World Bank economist on why ‘China will not be misled’, dodging Japan’s fate

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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez Garcia

China’s rise, potential recession, no WWIII yet: 11 key interviews from 2024

Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

Why eco-warrior Ma Jun sees hope for China’s role in Cop29 amid US uncertainty

videocam
4
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

Historian on why we aren’t heading towards WWIII yet and how wars have changed

videocam
32
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

China’s evolving role in Middle East conflicts, according to an academic

videocam
13
Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

This economist says China’s property oversupply is far from over. Here’s why

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46
Illustration: Victor Sanjinez Garcia

Ex-World Bank economist on why ‘China will not be misled’, dodging Japan’s fate

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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez Garcia
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