Russia

Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin, and after their state meeting the two issued a joint statement calling for an end to the war in Iran. They stressed: "The attack on Iran harmed regional security."

CNN says the "Great Bear," a Russian cargo ship that went down in the Mediterranean on December 23, 2024, was moving components for two nuclear reactors bound for North Korea. Fourteen crew members were rescued; investigators say a "Western power" may have fired a torpedo. The ship's operator denies it, calling the incident a "terrorist attack."

Passengers held for hours at Domodedovo Airport, questioned over alleged Iran war ties

Western intelligence says shipments began this month, marking Moscow’s first direct weapons transfer as Israel targets Russia–Iran supply routes

Denial follows reports Moscow shared satellite imagery, drone technology and intelligence with Iran in expanding Russia-Iran military cooperation

Arriving from Ukraine as a violin prodigy, Shimon Batual met disappointment instead of belonging. In a new exhibition, he shows how alienation became Judaica art, and why success abroad still hasn’t erased the feeling of being an outsider.

The seizure follows a weeks-long chase tied to Venezuela sanctions and draws a sharp response from Moscow

Sources say indirect exchanges via Moscow aimed only to manage tensions, with Tehran stressing there was no ceasefire, coordination, or binding agreement

Report describes the former Syrian leader’s secluded exile, blocked media ambitions, and attempts to return to ophthalmology