FAO launches first major global assessment of salt-affected soils in 50 years
Geneva [Switzerland], December 12: The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has released the first major global assessment of salt-affected soils in 50 years.
EU spent €381.4 billion on R&D in 2023
Brussels [Belgium], December 12: In 2023, the EU spent €381.4 billion on research & development (R&D), which is 6.7% more than in the previous year...
Austria drops veto on Bulgaria, Romania fully joining Schengen Travel Zone
Vienna [Austria], December 12: Austria is dropping its veto on Romania and Bulgaria becoming full members of Europe's Schengen free-travel area, the Austrian Interior Ministry...
Finance Minister Keller-Sutter to be next president of Switzerland
Bern [Switzerland], December 12: Swiss Finance Minister Karin Keller-Sutter will become president of her country in 2025, after her formal election by both houses of...
Hungary's Orban calls Putin to discuss diplomacy options in Ukraine war
Moscow [Russia] / Kiev [Ukraine], December 12: Russian President Vladimir Putin and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban have spoken on the phone about the war...
Girl, 11, rescued in Med after 3 days clinging to tyre tubes
Freetown [Sierra Leone], December 12: An 11-year-old girl has been rescued after clinging to inner tubes for three days in stormy weather in the Mediterranean....
Ex-defence chief in South Korea tries to kill himself after being arrested
Seoul [South Korea], December 12: South Korea's previous defence minister was stopped from attempting suicide while in detention over last week's martial law declaration, officials...
Afghanistan's refugee minister Haqqani killed in suicide blast in Kabul
Kabul [Afghanistan], December 12: Afghanistan's acting minister for refugees has been killed in an explosion in the capital, Kabul, the Taliban has said.
Iran blames Israel, US for overthrow of al-Assad
Tehran [Iran], December 12: Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has blamed his archenemies the United States and Israel for the fall of the Bashar...
Syria's new PM appeals to refugees: 'Come back!'
Rome [Italy], December 12: Syria's new interim prime minister, Mohammed al-Bashir, is calling on Syrian refugees around the world to return to their homeland following...
EU to discuss potential sanctions on Georgia after protest violence
Brussels [Belgium], December 12: The European Union is threatening the Georgian government with sanctions in light of the violence against pro-European protesters. Possible measures will...
Taiwan urges China to stop military activities in surrounding waters
Taipei [Taiwan], December 12: Taiwan on Wednesday called on China to immediately halt its military activities in the island's surrounding waters following several days of...
Billions of malaria cases prevented this century
Geneva [Switzerland], December 12: The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that around 2.2 billion cases of malaria have been prevented since the year 2000 through...
Israel 'more optimistic' on prospects of Gaza hostage deal
Gaza [Palestine], December 11: Israel is now more optimistic about a possible hostage deal in Gaza, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on Monday, amid reports...
UN Security Council appears united on Syria
Damascus [Syria], December 11: United Nations Security Council members will work on a statement on Syria in the coming days, U.S. and Russian diplomats said,...
Kenyan police fire teargas at protesters marching against femicide
Nairobi [Kenya], December 11: Kenyan police fired teargas and arrested at least three people as hundreds protested against a wave of femicides, a Reuters reporter...
Russia would not invade NATO, says Latvian foreign minister
Moscow [Russia], December 11: Russia would not invade NATO as it has too many complications with the fighting in Ukraine, Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze...
France begins military withdrawal from Chad
Paris [France], December 11: France has started the withdrawal of its military from Chad with the departure of two warplanes that were based in the...
Prince Harry faces four days in witness box in Murdoch papers trial
London [UK], December 11: Prince Harry could be quizzed for four days in the witness box by lawyers for Rupert Murdoch's News Group Newspapers (NGN)...
Trump offers fast permits for $1B
New York [US], December 11: U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said on Tuesday that any person or company investing at least $1 billion into the U.S....
Russian missile strike kills three, injures 14 in Zaporizhzhya
Kiev [Ukraine], December 11: At least three people have been killed and 14 injured in a Russian missile attack on the south-eastern Ukrainian city of...
Nobel Prize winners receive awards on anniversary of founder's death
Copenhagen [Denmark], December 11: The winners of this year's Nobel Prizes, including 10 scientists, one writer and one peace organization, received their awards in Oslo...
Georgian intelligence service warns of plot before presidential poll
Tbilisi [Georgia], December 11: Georgia's intelligence services issued a warning on Tuesday of a potential plot by criminal elements to topple the government days before...
At least 13 Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza
Jerusalem [Israel], December 11: At least 13 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in central and southern Gaza as Israel continues its assault on...
Israeli attacks destroy military sites in Syria
Jerusalem [Israel], December 11: Israel has unleashed a barrage of aerial attacks across Syria, battering key military sites amid a security vacuum after opposition forces...
Al-Bashir named caretaker PM of Syria
Damascus [Syria], December 11: Syrian forces who toppled President Bashar al-Assad have appointed Mohammed al-Bashir as the country's caretaker prime minister.
239,000 deaths attributable to poor air; but situation improving
Copenhagen [Denmark], December 11: At least 239,000 deaths can be attributed to exposure to fine particulates in the air, the European Environment Agency (EEA) reported...