Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has sent a letter to heads of state of countries in the Latin American and Caribbean region, denouncing the escalation of U.S. aggressions against Venezuela and their impact on the region, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil said Monday.

Flame was detected after the launch of South Korea's commercial space launch vehicle, failing the launch, Yonhap news agency said Tuesday.

Foreign tourist arrivals in Türkiye reached 2.8 million in November, highlighting the country's sustained tourism growth, as the total number of foreign visitors reached 50.06 million in the first 11 months of the year, according to statistics released by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism on Monday.

U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators on Sunday hailed the talks in Miami, Florida, as "productive and constructive" amid Russian troops' advances on the eastern front of Ukraine.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said on Monday that he would summon U.S. Ambassador to Denmark Kenneth Howery for talks following U.S. President Donald Trump's appointment of a special envoy to Greenland.

Russian and Venezuelan foreign ministers on Monday voiced grave concern over "increasing escalatory actions" by Washington in the Caribbean Sea, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

An explosion at a laboratory in eastern France on Monday injured at least four people, two of them seriously, according to local media.

Cambodia and Thailand are urged to exercise maximum restraint and take immediate steps towards the cessation of all forms of hostilities, according to a statement released on Monday following the Special ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting convened to address the ongoing conflict.

Despite persistent concerns among local residents, Japan's Niigata Prefecture on Monday approved the restart of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant, the world's largest, more than a decade after the Fukushima nuclear disaster, according to Japanese media. The plant in Niigata is operated by Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), the operator responsible for the nuclear accident at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in 2011. ​

The Special ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting to address the Thai-Cambodia conflict was held on Monday in Kuala Lumpur, as the regional grouping seeks to promote de-escalation.

Japan's Niigata Prefecture approved on Monday to restart the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant located in the prefecture, more than a decade after the Fukushima disaster.

Japan's H3 rocket engine shuts down after launch

French President Emmanuel Macron reportedly confirmed on Sunday that the country plans to replace its sole and ageing nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle with a new one. A Chinese expert said that France's new aircraft carrier seems to be a modern one with larger displacement and electromagnetic catapults, and might see the propulsion issue previously seen on the Charles de Gaulle solved.

The US is "in active pursuit" of a third oil tanker in international waters off the coast of Venezuela, US news outlets reported Sunday.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Sunday the launch of development and construction work on the French Navy's future aircraft carrier, a move he described as a decisive step to reinforce the country's maritime power.

More than 4,000 people lined up even before the zoo opened on Sunday, the last day visitors could see the pandas without a reservation, according to Japan's Fuji News Network, as Ueno Zoological Gardens announced that online reservations in advance will be required to view the pandas starting December 23.

Researchers have identified a promising way to recycle used tires by incorporating their components directly into concrete — a method that not only improves material performance but also reduces environmental impact.

Test production of photonic integrated circuits (PICs) has begun in Moscow. The unique enterprise for Russia, created on the basis of the Moscow Photonics Centre, was visited by Minister of Industry and Trade Anton Alikhanov and Mayor of Moscow Sergey Sobyanin. This was reported on the official website of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia.

Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, UAE minister of economy and tourism, said that hotel occupancy rates in the UAE reached 79.3 percent during the first 10 months of 2025, up from 78 percent last year, ranking among the highest regionally and globally.

The Irish Military Intelligence Service claimed that it had given confidential briefings to Irish university leaders, warning them about the so-called “risks associated with Chinese engagement” in sensitive areas of research, particularly in fields that could be adapted for military use, according to The Sunday Times.

The Venezuelan government on Saturday denounced what it called a new "theft and kidnapping" of a private vessel transporting Venezuelan oil, along with the forced disappearance of its crew, allegedly carried out by US military forces in international waters, Xinhua News Agency reported.

The Venezuelan government on Saturday denounced what it called a new "theft and kidnapping" of a private vessel transporting Venezuelan oil, along with the forced disappearance of its crew, allegedly carried out by US military forces in international waters.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla said Saturday that the U.S. government's designation of the legitimate government of Venezuela as a "foreign terrorist organization" is a politically motivated act.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday he generally supports the idea of a trilateral meeting involving the national security advisors of Ukraine, the United States and Russia, expressing cautious optimism about the prospect of such a meeting.

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said Saturday that the U.S. forces seized another oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela earlier in the day.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's remarks made on Friday on the recent escalation of tensions between Japan and China—claiming that the US can continue its strong and firm partnership and alliance with Japan while also finding productive ways to work with China—have drawn attention from Japanese media, with some noting that Rubio avoided making critical remarks about China and refrained from siding with either Japan or China.

The UN Security Council on Friday unanimously adopted a resolution to renew the mandate of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for one year, until Dec. 20, 2026.

US forces launched missiles from their bases in the countryside of Deir al-Zour toward Islamic State (IS) positions in desert areas in eastern and northern Syria after midnight, Syrian state media reported Saturday.

The U.S. Department of Justice on Friday released a trove of records from the files related to late financier Jeffrey Epstein, roughly a month after the U.S. Congress approved a bill requiring their release by Dec. 19, with only narrow exceptions.

About 500 Marines from Camp Pendleton in Southern California are being deployed to Yuma, Arizona, to support security along the U.S.-Mexico border, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported Friday.

Chairman of Japan-China Economic Association Kosei Shindo met with Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wu Jianghao in Tokyo on Thursday, during which Shindo asked the Chinese side to accept a previously planned economic delegation visit to Beijing in January next year, while emphasizing the importance of continuing to develop economic exchanges between the two countries, Kyodo News reported on Friday.

Russia willing to end conflict in Ukraine while eliminating root causes of crisis: Putin

US President Donald Trump said Thursday that he does not rule out the possibility of a war with Venezuela on the table.

Russia has long been concerned about the risks posed by Japan's accelerated "re-militarization," including the sharp rise in its defense spending and efforts to break free from its post-war "peace constitution," Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Thursday.

One person went missing and four others were rescued after a fishing boat capsized off South Korea's western coast, local broadcaster YTN reported Friday.

The US military on Thursday destroyed two more suspected drug-trafficking vessels in international waters in the eastern Pacific, killing five people aboard, the US Southern Command said.

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said on Friday that his ministry will pursue President Lee Jae-myung's state visit to China in the early part of next year, according to South Korean media.

Remarks by an unnamed official from Japan's Prime Minister's Office, cited by Japanese media on Thursday, that "Japan should possess nuclear weapons" have continued to spark criticism within the country. Some figures in Japan's political and legal circles, including former Defense Minister Gen Nakatani and House of Councillors member Taku Yamazoe, have stated that such opinions should not be expressed lightly. Political parties such as the Social Democratic Party and the Japanese Communist Party have also voiced their opposition to Japan possessing nuclear weapons on social media.

"Today, South Korea's new government emphasizes rational and pragmatic diplomacy in its China policy, aiming to promote cooperation that brings tangible benefits to the peoples of both countries." This was stated by Ro Jae-hun (Ro), South Korea's newly appointed ambassador to China, in a recent exclusive interview with Global Times (GT) reporters Bai Yunyi and Shan Jie in Beijing.

The Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) deliberated and adopted the "Recommendations of the CPC Central Committee for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development," which clarifies the guiding principles and main objectives for China's economic and social development over the next five years. In this issue, Global Times reporters Xie Wenting and Bai Yunyi (GT) conducted an exclusive interview with Mwangi Wachira, a former economist with the World Bank. In the interview, the renowned economist affirmed the resilience of the Chinese economy and its strong innovative capacity, and expressed his belief that China's experience in combining national planning with market mechanisms offers valuable lessons for other developing countries.

As New Delhi continues to choke under a blanket of toxic smog and takes measures to curb pollution, some Indian media outlets have turned their attention to remarks by the spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in India on China's pollution-control experience. "China has lessons for India," The Times of India (TOI) reported on Thursday.

Seven workers were trapped Thursday in South Korea's subway construction site accident, according to Yonhap news agency.

The US military on Wednesday hit an alleged drug boat in international waters in the eastern Pacific, killing four men, the U.S. Southern Command said.

South Korea's constitutional court on Thursday upheld the impeachment of the police chief for his involvement in former impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol's botched martial law bid last December.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday condemned the continued arbitrary detention of UN personnel by the Houthis in Yemen.

Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to the deployment of an ASEAN observer team as efforts to de-escalate their conflict continue, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Wednesday.

U.S. and Russian negotiators are expected to hold talks in Miami, U.S. state of Florida, this weekend over a peace deal aimed at ending the Ukraine crisis that has lasted nearly four years, U.S. media outlet Politico reported on Wednesday.

The U.S. Senate on Wednesday approved a 901-billion-dollar defense policy bill, known as the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026, sending it to U.S. President Donald Trump's desk for his signature.

The US is taking another step to ratchet up pressure on Venezuela by ordering a blockade of all "sanctioned oil tankers" into the South American country, a move a Chinese expert says exposed a revival of the Monroe Doctrine.

The surviving alleged perpetrator of the fatal mass shooting at Sydney's Bondi Beach had been charged with 59 offenses, police said on Wednesday.

US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he has ordered a total blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers traveling to and from Venezuela, escalating a months-long pressure campaign against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

Japan issued an emergency stop of the launch of an H3 rocket which carries the country's satellite "Michibiki No. 5" on Wednesday.

The United States has suspended implementation of a technology cooperation deal with Britain inked in September, according to media reports on Tuesday.

French lawmakers on Tuesday gave final approval to the country's 2026 social security budget, with 247 votes in favor and 232 against in the National Assembly.

Trump says ordering total, complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers going into and out of Venezuela -- media

U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed a proclamation expanding the list of countries subject to full or partial entry restrictions to cover around 40 countries, effective on Jan. 1, 2026.

Taro Yamamoto, member of the House of Councillors of Japan, also leader of Reiwa Shinsengumi, a political party in Japan, fiercely criticized Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Monday as "betraying the nation and abandoning the people," amid discussion over the future profit distribution, where Japan is said to hand over 90 percent of the profit to the US for its 80 trillion yen ($550 billion) investment in the US, according to Japanese media.

Malaysian PM unveils new ministerial appointments in cabinet reshuffle

South Korean former president Yoon Suk-yeol had prepared to declare martial law bid for over a year with a clear purpose to "eliminate the opposition and monopolize power," the special counsel investigating Yoon's alleged insurrection and treason concluded Monday, according to The Korea Herald.

US President Donald Trump on Monday filed a defamation suit against the BBC, accusing it of misleadingly editing a speech related to the Capitol riot.

Romania's parliament on Monday rejected a no-confidence motion against the government of Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan after it failed to secure the required majority in a joint session.

A court ruling on former impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol's obstruction of arrest case was scheduled to be delivered on Jan. 16 next year, multiple local media said Tuesday.

U.S. military reports strikes on 3 vessels in international waters, killing 8: media

Officials and experts from China and Africa on Sunday called for stronger scientific and technological cooperation to address desertification and land degradation, urging closer coordination to advance Africa's Great Green Wall initiative.

Thailand's military announced on Monday the designation of the Gulf of Thailand as a high-risk area. According to Thai media, the move is aimed at cutting off sea routes for transporting military supplies to Cambodia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday concluded lengthy talks with U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner in Berlin, describing the talks as "productive."

Multiple world leaders voiced condemnation on Sunday and Monday over a mass shooting in Australia - the worst in almost 30 years - amid the country's mourning of the victims and plans for tougher gun laws.

The Chinese Consulate-General in Fukuoka, Japan, on Monday issued a safety notice, alerting Chinese nationals that an attempted stabbing occurred on Sunday in a commercial area of Fukuoka City, leaving two people hospitalized. The notice urged Chinese nationals in the consular district to pay close attention to personal and property safety.

Describing the mass shooting that killed at least 16 people at Sydney's Bondi Beach on Sunday as a "pure evil" act of antisemitism, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday said flags would fly at half-mast to honor the lives lost in the attack, Australia's ABC News reported Monday.

One of the men allegedly responsible for the fatal mass shooting at Sydney's Bondi Beach on Sunday night was previously investigated over ties to a local Islamic State (IS) terrorism cell, local media reported on Monday.

Jose Antonio Kast, presidential candidate of the far-right Republican Party, won the Chilean presidential runoff election, becoming the country's new president, said the electoral authorities on Sunday.

Special investigation files charges against 24 people on martial law in S. Korea, including former President Yoon Suk-yeol

Six teenagers were injured in a shooting outside a party venue in New York City early Sunday, police said.

The death toll from a shooting at Sydney's Bondi Beach on Sunday has risen to 16, with a father and son identified as the attackers, police said Monday.

A hero bystander received widespread applause after he wrestled a rifle off a suspected gunman during a mass shooting on Sunday at Sydney's Bondi Beach, a famous tourist site, which left at least 12 people killed and multiple injured as of press time.

A hero bystander wrestled a rifle off an alleged gunman in a moment of bravery that may have saved lives, according to the footage from the mass shooting scene at Bondi Beach in Sydney, The Sydney Morning Herald reported on Sunday.

Thailand's military announced on Sunday the imposition of a curfew in parts of Trat Province, citing the ongoing situation along the border areas. This is the second province to impose a curfew since the latest round of the Thailand-Cambodia border clash erupted, according to Xinhua News Agency.

Chinese Consulate-General in Sydney issued a safety alert for Chinese nationals in its consular district on Sunday after a shooting at Sydney's Bondi Beach left at least 12 people killed and multiple injured.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Akram's home in Bonnyrigg is currently being raided by police.

10 people believed to have been killed in mass shooting at Sydney's Bondi Beach -- local media

Gunshots fired at Bondi Beach in Sydney, police urged public to avoid the area -- media reports

Multiple people were shot in an active shooting incident at Brown University in Providence, the US state of Rhode Island, on Saturday local time, according to Xinhua News Agency. Around 4:20 pm, students at the university received a text alert warning of a shooter on campus, instructing them to lock doors, silence phones and stay hidden until further notice.

At least two people were killed and several others injured in a shooting on Saturday afternoon at Brown University in Providence, U.S. state of Rhode Island, according to U.S. media reports.

Two Syrian security personnel, two U.S. service members, and one U.S. civilian were killed Saturday in an attack on a joint Syrian-U.S. patrol near the ancient city of Palmyra, Syrian authorities and the U.S. Central Command reported.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it killed a Palestinian militant during a raid in the northern West Bank on Saturday evening.

Multiple people were shot on Saturday afternoon at Brown University in Providence, U.S. state of Rhode Island, according to local police.

Law enforcement is responding to reports of an active shooter on Brown University's campus in Providence, U.S. state of Rhode Island, local media said on Saturday quoting a text message sent by the school.

Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi faced online mockery after posting a photo on social media platform X on Friday of a telephone conversation with his US counterpart Pete Hegseth, with many netizens questioning whether the image was carefully staged.

Russia's overnight attacks once again brought death and destruction to Ukrainian cities and villages, Embassy of Ukraine in the USA said on social media platform Facebook. Odesa Oblast Governor Oleh Kiper described the overnight attack as "one of the largest" since the war began, The Kyiv Independent reported.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said in a social media post on Saturday morning that "Thailand will continue to perform military actions until we feel no more harm and threats to our land and people."

Thailand's Caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Friday evening that he held a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss the Thai-Cambodian border clashes.

A Chinese envoy on Friday called on the March 23 Movement (M23) to immediately cease hostilities in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said Saturday that he had a phone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss the Cambodian-Thai border conflict.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday on social media that Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to cease all shooting effective Friday evening.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order to issue a national regulatory framework for AI, curbing the power of states.

Chemists from the Advanced Engineering School of St. Petersburg State University (SPbU) have created a material capable of absorbing oil from water, according to the university's portal. The polymer film can be reused; it is strong and does not sink.

Dubai Chamber of Commerce, one of the three chambers operating under the umbrella of Dubai Chambers, has announced that GCC markets topped the list of global destinations for its members' exports and re-exports during the first nine months of 2025.

Russia's economic growth rate is undergoing an expected slowdown this year, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said at a regular press briefing on Thursday that the Nanjing Massacre on December 13, 1937, which claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians in Nanjing, has become a symbol of the inhumanity and barbarity of Japanese militarism.

A train on the Akita Nairiku Line derailed in the northern Japanese prefecture of Akita early Friday, and one man, believed to be the driver, was rescued, local media reported.