Leo, celebrating his first Christmas after being elected in May by the world's cardinals to succeed the late Pope Francis, has a quieter, more diplomatic style than his predecessor and usually refrains from making political references in his sermons.

The legislation lists the "crimes of French colonization", including nuclear tests, extrajudicial killings, "physical and psychological torture", and the "systematic plundering of resources".

The condemnation is a response to Israel's decision to green-light new settlements, which is said to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Six parties are competing nationwide, including the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party that is tipped to win the polls, creating conditions for members of the junta regime to take a civilian role.

Bethlehem residents hope the return of Christmas festivities will breathe life back into the city.

More than 80 people have been killed and 600,000 others are displaced from their homes in Cambodia and Thailand since the fighting.

Leo, the first United States-born pope, is celebrating his first Christmas after being elected in May by the world's cardinals to succeed the late Pope Francis.

The Indonesian Military (TNI) has been planning and preparing personnel from its three branches for the so-called international stabilization force (ISF) in Gaza, which is part of United States President Donald Trump’s peace plan for the war-torn enclave.

A year marked by war, disaster, political rivalry and rare moments of wonder, captured through images from around the world.

The next phase of the ceasefire is expected to include Hamas’ disarmament, further Israeli troop withdrawals and the deployment of the international force, topics slated for discussion during a meeting between Netanyahu and Trump scheduled for Dec. 29.

The latest release of Epstein files includes around 30,000 pages of documents, with many redactions, and dozens of video clips, including several purporting to be shot inside a federal detention center.

The New South Wales state parliament passed the terrorism and other legislation amendment bill early morning after the upper house approved the bill by 18 votes to eight.

China supports ASEAN's mediation efforts and is willing to once again create conditions and provide a platform for dialogue and negotiations between the two sides, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Tuesday.

The State Department declined to provide a list of the diplomats being recalled. A senior department official said on Monday the move was "a standard process in any administration" but critics said that was not so.

Just hours after the regional crisis talks were held in Malaysia, Cambodia's defense ministry said the Thai military deployed fighter jets to bomb areas of Siem Reap and Preah Vihear provinces.

The two countries agreed to hold talks using their General Border Committee, an established bilateral mechanism, with Thailand proposing that it takes place at the border line in the Thai province of Chanthaburi, Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow told a briefing in Kuala Lumpur.

They are believed to be among three crew members reported missing after the vessel sank on December 14 in choppy waters, some 100 kilometres north of the city of Porto.

The ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will seek to revive a short-lived ceasefire brokered by Malaysia, this year's ASEAN chair, and US President Donald Trump.

A 27-year-old suspect set off smoke bombs in Taipei's main metro station during the Friday evening rush hour before launching into a stabbing rampage, according to authorities.

Only one of five judges on the Supreme Court panel voted not to convict Bolsonaro.

The Bondi Beach volunteer and professional surf lifesavers, in their distinctive red and yellow uniforms, lined the sand on Saturday morning for two minutes of silence to honour the shooting victims, a Surf Life Saving Australia spokesperson said.

The protests in the capital Sofia and several other towns and cities across the Black Sea nation are the latest in a series of rolling demonstrations and come as Bulgaria prepares to adopt the euro on Jan. 1.

Rubio acknowledged difficulties in achieving peace in Gaza, saying that the ceasefire that went into effect in October with the release of hostages amounted to a "miracle."

The Muslim-majority nation of about 175 million people is due to elect a new parliament in less than two months' time -- a transition many hope will help the country recover from nearly two years of instability and reclaim its position as a South Asian development success story.

"I don't rule it out, no," he told NBC News in a phone interview.

This year's prize represented a "gross misappropriation" of funds and the "facilitation of war crimes" under Swedish law, according to the complaint posted by WikiLeaks on social media.

The Taiwan arms sale announcement is the second under US President Donald Trump's current administration, and comes as Beijing ramps up its military and diplomatic pressure against Taiwan, whose government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims.