European Union leaders are meeting in Brussels to decide if they can use frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine, which needs financial support. The decision is important due to Ukraine's major funding gap.
Key Facts
EU leaders are meeting in Brussels, the capital of Belgium.
The purpose of the meeting is to vote on using frozen Russian assets.
These assets are worth billions of dollars.
The funds would support Ukraine financially.
Ukraine currently faces a significant funding shortfall.
Al Jazeera's Step Vaessen is reporting from the summit.
Chris Evans is confirmed to return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Captain America in the upcoming film "Avengers: Doomsday." In a teaser trailer, it was revealed that Steve Rogers, played by Evans, has a child. The film will be released on December 16, 2026.
Key Facts
Chris Evans will return as Captain America in "Avengers: Doomsday."
A teaser trailer showed Steve Rogers with a child, which is a major new twist.
The film will be released on December 16, 2026.
The trailer showed Rogers riding a motorcycle and visiting a house from the end of "Avengers: Endgame."
The teaser included a countdown to the movie's release date.
The casting reveal for the film was a six-hour-long YouTube video.
Robert Downey Jr. is also returning, but as the character Doctor Doom.
The teaser suggests there are more character-focused teasers planned for release.
A small jet crashed at Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina, killing NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, his wife, and their children. Officials confirmed a federal investigation into the crash as the plane, linked to Biffle's company, crashed during landing.
Key Facts
The crash happened on December 18, 2025, around 10:20 a.m. at Statesville Regional Airport.
Greg Biffle's family, including his wife and two children, were on the plane.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is leading the crash investigation.
The aircraft, a Cessna C550, is registered to GB Aviation Leasing, linked to Biffle.
Garrett Mitchell, a friend of Biffle, confirmed the family's presence on the plane.
Greg Biffle is known for winning NASCAR championships in both the Busch Series and Craftsman Truck Series.
Authorities are looking for a person of interest after a shooting at Brown University in Rhode Island. The shooting led to the deaths of two students and injured nine others. The suspect left the scene, and police and the FBI have released images of the individual.
Key Facts
The shooting took place at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island.
The incident occurred in a classroom during final exams.
Two students died and nine others were injured.
The suspect is a male who fled the engineering building after the shooting.
Authorities have identified a person of interest in connection with the shooting.
Police and the FBI have released surveillance images of the person of interest.
The images show the person walking in a neighborhood near Brown University.
The investigation is ongoing, and updates are expected to follow.
The UK government has stopped testing its new Ajax armored vehicles after a soldier became ill from vibrations during trials. Multiple investigations are underway following similar incidents affecting soldiers in earlier exercises.
Key Facts
The UK paused testing of Ajax vehicles after a soldier got sick from vibrations.
About 30 soldiers fell ill from noise and vibration during past training.
The government suspended 23 vehicles earlier due to these issues.
New findings on these vehicles will be released early next year.
A defence minister stated the latest incident did not require hospital care.
The Ajax vehicles are made by General Dynamics and were planned to be ready by 2017.
The program costs £6.3 billion and has faced many delays and problems.
Pulitzer Prize-winning war reporter Peter Arnett has died at age 91 in California, where he was receiving hospice care for prostate cancer. Arnett, born in New Zealand, was known for his reporting on the Vietnam and Gulf Wars, and for interviewing significant figures like Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden.
Key Facts
Peter Arnett died at 91 in California from prostate cancer.
He was a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist best known for covering wars in Vietnam and the Gulf.
Arnett started his career with the Associated Press in Vietnam from 1962 to 1975.
He gained fame through his work with CNN during the first Gulf War.
Arnett was one of few Western reporters in Baghdad during the Gulf War.
He conducted a groundbreaking interview with Osama Bin Laden in 1997.
Arnett faced dismissal from NBC after an interview on Iraqi TV but was soon hired by the Daily Mirror.
He was originally from New Zealand but became an American citizen.
A Kremlin envoy is traveling to Miami for talks about a U.S. plan to end the war in Ukraine. The meeting involves Russian representative Kirill Dmitriev and President Trump's team. Conflicting demands from Russia and Ukraine present challenges to peace efforts.
Key Facts
A Kremlin envoy will visit Miami to discuss a U.S. plan to end the war in Ukraine.
Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, will meet U.S. President Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner.
This meeting follows earlier discussions with Ukrainian and European officials in Berlin.
Russia wants control of areas it currently occupies and Ukraine to abandon NATO membership efforts.
Ukraine seeks security guarantees similar to those offered to NATO members.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy plans to negotiate in the U.S. over the weekend.
Russia and Ukraine continue to exchange aerial attacks, causing casualties and infrastructure damage.
Russian President Putin demands Ukraine recognize Russian control over key regions and seeks Ukraine's military retreat from eastern areas.
Pope Leo XIV appointed Bishop Ronald Hicks as the new archbishop of New York to replace Cardinal Timothy Dolan. This change signifies a shift in leadership style as Hicks emphasizes a more pastoral approach compared to Dolan's active public engagement.
Key Facts
Bishop Ronald Hicks has been appointed as the new archbishop of New York by Pope Leo XIV.
Hicks replaces Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who has reached the Church's mandatory retirement age of 75.
Dolan was known for his public appearances and support for President Trump.
Hicks, a Spanish-speaking pastor, previously served in the Diocese of Joliet in Illinois and worked in El Salvador.
Hicks aims to follow a pastoral model and aligns with Pope Leo's vision.
Dolan's previous political comments received mixed reactions, while Hicks has less focus on political engagement.
Hicks supports Catholic teachings on human dignity and immigration reform.
Hundreds of farmers drove tractors into Brussels to protest a trade agreement between the European Union and South American countries. Farmers are concerned the agreement will hurt their businesses by allowing cheaper agricultural products from South America into Europe. EU leaders are discussing the agreement, with some countries supporting it and others opposing it.
Key Facts
Farmers used over 150 tractors to block roads in Brussels as part of their protest.
The protest took place during a meeting of EU leaders discussing the Mercosur trade deal.
Farmers are worried the trade deal could bring cheaper agricultural products from South America, affecting European producers.
Some protested by throwing potatoes and eggs at police and setting off fireworks.
Countries like France and Italy oppose the trade deal, while Germany and Spain support it.
The Mercosur agreement aims to create the largest free-trade area, involving 25% of global GDP and 780 million people.
Supporters of the deal believe it could boost European exports and balance global trade relations, especially with China.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen plans to visit Brazil to finalize the deal but needs broader EU support.
A pretrial hearing for Luigi Mangione in New York ended without new witness testimony or evidence. Mangione, accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, is awaiting the judge's decision on what evidence can be used at trial. The ruling will be issued in May, with both sides required to submit their arguments earlier.
Key Facts
Luigi Mangione faces charges for the fatal shooting of Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare.
The pretrial hearing lasted nine days, focusing on evidence suppression.
No new witnesses were called on the final day of the hearing.
The judge plans to rule on which evidence can be used in the trial by May 18.
Both the defense and prosecution have deadlines to submit their arguments, before March.
Mangione was arrested in Altoona, Pennsylvania, shortly after the shooting.
Key evidence includes a handgun, identification items, and a handwritten to-do list found with Mangione.
Seventeen witnesses testified during the hearing, including police officers involved in the arrest.
President Donald Trump stated that the United States claims rights to Venezuelan oil and land. This statement comes after the U.S. took control of Venezuelan oil and set up a naval blockade. The validity of these claims is questioned.
Key Facts
President Trump claimed the U.S. owns rights to Venezuelan oil and land.
The U.S. has seized control over Venezuelan oil.
A naval blockade has been declared by the U.S. around Venezuela.
The truth and legality of these claims are under scrutiny.
The situation involves international relations between the U.S. and Venezuela.
A bomb disposal robot destroyed a box of unsent Christmas cards meant for Labour MPs in the UK after a suspicious package triggered a lockdown near Parliament. The package was later found to be harmless, and roads were reopened shortly after.
Key Facts
A bomb disposal robot was used to inspect a suspicious package near Parliament in London.
The package contained Christmas cards intended for Labour MPs.
The incident caused roads around Parliament Square to be closed for about an hour.
Police later confirmed that the package was not dangerous.
Parts of the cards had drawings by children and listed addresses for the MPs.
Some cards were in a box labeled with Housing Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh's name.
The police do not comment on packages once deemed safe.
Such incidents of road closures due to unattended packages are common in the area.
People gathered at Bondi Beach in Sydney to honor those killed in a gun attack during a Jewish Hanukkah event. The funeral for the youngest victim, 10-year-old Matilda, was held. Mourners left flowers and cards to pay their respects.
Key Facts
A gun attack occurred during a Jewish Hanukkah celebration.
The attack took place at Bondi Beach, Sydney.
Matilda, a 10-year-old girl, was the youngest victim.
Matilda's funeral was held on a Thursday.
Mourners left flowers and cards at the site to honor the victims.
The winter solstice marks the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, occurring when the Earth is tilted farthest from the sun. This event signals the start of winter north of the equator and summer in the Southern Hemisphere, where it is the longest day of the year.
Key Facts
The winter solstice is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
It marks the start of winter north of the equator and summer in the Southern Hemisphere.
"Solstice" comes from Latin, meaning "sun" and "pause" or "stop."
During the solstice, the sun makes its shortest, lowest arc in the sky.
After the winter solstice, days begin to get longer until late June.
People have historically celebrated solstices worldwide, with some structures like Stonehenge built to align with the sun.
The Earth orbits the sun at an angle, affecting how sunlight reaches different parts of the planet during solstices.
A documentary short by Halyna Lavrinets, produced by Eleron Pictures, focuses on displaced people from Kharkiv, Ukraine, who are trying to build new lives in the rural village of Kozubivka in the Poltava region. The film shows the challenges they face as they adjust to rural life and the emotional strain of being displaced by the conflict.
Key Facts
The focus is on people from Kharkiv, Ukraine, who have been displaced due to bombing and shelling.
They have moved to the village of Kozubivka in the Poltava region to rebuild their lives.
Adjusting to rural life includes learning new routines and handling physical farm work.
The displaced individuals experience emotional challenges due to being uprooted.
The documentary is called "Guests from Kharkiv" and was made by Halyna Lavrinets.
The film shows both the difficulties and moments of connection among the displaced.
Thailand bombed a logistics center near the Cambodian town of Poipet amidst ongoing border clashes. These bombings are part of renewed fighting that has resulted in deaths and displacement in both countries. A ceasefire brokered previously has fallen apart, leading to continued hostilities.
Key Facts
Thailand bombed a logistics center near Poipet, Cambodia, a major casino hub and border crossing.
Cambodia's defense ministry reported that two bombs were dropped by Thai forces.
The Thai Air Force stated the target was a facility storing BM-21 rockets, and no civilians were harmed.
Recent fighting has caused at least 21 deaths in Thailand and 17 in Cambodia.
Around 800,000 people have been displaced due to the clashes.
The conflict escalated on July 24 with a Cambodian rocket attack and subsequent Thai airstrikes.
A previous ceasefire, mediated by Malaysia and President Trump, has failed.
Cambodia closed land borders with Thailand, leaving thousands of Thai nationals stranded in Poipet.
Police in the United Kingdom arrested four people for shouting slogans that included calls for "intifada" during pro-Palestine protests in London. These arrests were part of a broader effort by UK police to act more assertively against demonstrations they believe may incite violence. Some protest groups and individuals argue that "intifada" is misunderstood and that the protests are against injustice, not violence.
Key Facts
UK police arrested four people at a pro-Palestine protest in London for chanting about "intifada."
The protests took place outside the Ministry of Justice.
UK police increased efforts to address demonstrations that might incite violence after incidents in Australia and the UK.
"Intifada" refers to uprisings in Palestinian history and is viewed as resisting military occupation.
Police action has support from UK officials like Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips.
Palestinian supporters argue the protests are non-violent and against perceived injustices.
Jewish community leaders in the UK support the police's actions, citing increases in anti-Semitic incidents.
Both anti-Semitism and Islamophobia have reportedly increased in the UK recently.
Qatar's Prime Minister spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington. They discussed the need to increase aid to Gaza and concerns about ceasefire violations affecting a peace deal.
Key Facts
Qatar's Prime Minister is Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
US Secretary of State is Marco Rubio.
The meeting took place in Washington, D.C.
They discussed increasing aid to Gaza.
Ceasefire violations were a major concern during the talks.
The discussions focused on a peace deal related to Gaza.
Weather warnings are in place for most of the U.S. East Coast due to an approaching storm expected to bring strong winds and possible power outages. The storm has already affected other parts of the U.S., including rare alerts issued in Montana and the Midwest. People along the coast are advised to prepare for high winds and rough sea conditions.
Key Facts
Weather alerts cover nearly the entire U.S. East Coast for an expected storm.
The storm originated from an atmospheric river in the Pacific Northwest.
Wind gusts may reach up to 60 mph in some areas along the coast.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued wind advisories and high wind warnings in several states.
A Civil Emergency Message was issued in Montana, and a tornado warning in St. Louis due to the storm's effects.
Gale warnings affect the Atlantic Ocean from Maine to South Carolina, with advisories for mariners to take precautions.
Potential hazardous conditions include downed trees, power lines, and difficult travel, especially for large vehicles.
People are advised to expect scattered power outages in wind-affected areas.
The Duke of Marlborough has been charged with three counts of non-fatal intentional strangulation against his estranged wife, Edla Marlborough. The incidents are alleged to have occurred over 18 months, from November 2022 to May 2024, in Woodstock, Oxfordshire. The case will be heard at High Wycombe Magistrates' Court on January 5.
Key Facts
The Duke of Marlborough is accused of strangling his estranged wife, Edla Marlborough, three times.
The alleged incidents happened between November 2022 and May 2024.
The Duke was arrested on May 13, 2024.
He was supposed to appear in court on Thursday, but the hearing was postponed to January 5, 2024.
The Duke inherited his title in 2014 from his father, the 11th Duke of Marlborough.
He is related to Sir Winston Churchill and the late Princess Diana through the Spencer family.
Blenheim Palace, the Duke's ancestral home, is linked to Winston Churchill's birth and is managed by a heritage foundation.
The Blenheim Palace Heritage Foundation did not comment on the charges, citing ongoing legal proceedings.
