International news from Friday, December 26th, 2025

Israel became the first country to formally recognise the self-declared Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state on Friday - a decision that could reshape regional dynamics and test Somalia’s long standing opposition to its secession.

Malaysia's former premier Najib Razak was jailed on Friday for a further 15 years and fined $2.8 billion for power abuse and money laundering in the biggest trial of the multibillion-dollar 1MDB scandal, a ruling that could have big political ramifications.

Eight people were killed in an explosion at a mosque of the Alawite minority sect in the Syrian city of Homs on Friday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Thursday that he spoke with US President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner for about an hour on how to end the war with Russia.

The White House will unveil new details on President Donald Trump's planned East Wing ballroom during a hearing early next month, according to a federal commission tasked with reviewing the project.

The United States has carried out a strike against IS targets in northwest Nigeria at the request of Nigeria's government, President Donald Trump and the US military said on Thursday, claiming the group had been targeting Christians in the region.

The Arab Parliament has welcomed the holding of direct municipal elections in Somalia, considered to be the first in the country since 1969.