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The Ukrainian capital Kyiv was hit by Russian missiles and drones overnight, ahead of talks to end the war.

At least one person was killed and 28 others were injured in Kyiv, Ukraine's State Emergency Service reported.

As the fighting continues, so does the work to get a peace deal that all sides can agree to. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to meet Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday.

But following the latest Russian strikes, Zelensky has repeated his claim that Russia “does not want to end the war and is trying to use every opportunity to inflict more pain on Ukraine”.

Meanwhile, Russia's defence ministry said its air defences destroyed seven Ukrainian drones overnight.

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What did the Americast team get right when they made their predictions for what the big news stories of 2025 might be? Justin, Anthony, Sarah and Marianna look back at a tumultuous year for Donald Trump in his second term, which include deportation raids, Elon Musk’s role, the war in Gaza, the US shutdown and more. It’s time to open up the Americast time capsule of predictions and find out what we got right and what we got wrong…

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An explosion has killed at least eight people and injured 18 others during Friday prayers inside a mosque in the Syrian city of Homs, the health ministry has said.

Pictures from Syria's state-run news agency, Sana, show the inside of the Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib Mosque with black, scorched walls, smashed windows and blood on the carpet.

Officials believe that an explosive was detonated inside the building, Sana reports, citing a security source.

While authorities are still searching for the perpetrators, jihadist group Saraya Ansar al-Sunnah has claimed responsibility.

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Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has given a positive assessment of a conversation he had with US envoys on how to end the Russia-Ukraine war.

Zelensky said Thursday's call with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, which lasted nearly an hour, had yielded "new ideas in terms of formats, meetings, and... timing on how to bring a real peace closer".

He added later that he would hold another meeting with President Donald Trump "in the near future".

Earlier this week Zelensky gave details of an updated 20-point peace plan, agreed by US and Ukrainian envoys in Florida.

The Kremlin said it was analysing proposals brought back from the US by a Russian envoy.

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The US has launched strikes against militants linked to the Islamic State group (IS) in north-western Nigeria, where jihadists have long carried out an insurgency.

Camps run by the group in Sokoto state, which lies on Nigeria's border with Niger, were hit, the US military said, adding that an "initial assessment" suggested "multiple" fatalities.

US President Donald Trump said the strikes were "powerful and deadly" and labelled the group "terrorist scum", saying it had been "targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians".

Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar told the BBC it was a "joint operation" and had "nothing to do with a particular religion".

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Pope Leo has urged Ukraine and Russia to find the "courage" to hold direct talks to end the war during his first Christmas remarks to crowds in St Peter's square.

He called for an end to conflicts around the world during his Urbi et Orbi address, which is traditionally delivered by the pontiff on Christmas Day to worshippers gathered in Vatican City.

His plea comes as US-led negotiations on a deal to end the fighting continue.

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Adam, Chris, Laura and Paddy go through the biggest stories of 2025 with the help of economics editor Faisal Islam and international editor Jeremy Bowen.

They also reveal what it was like to be on the inside as they happened, and discuss how Keir Starmer will reflect on his first full year as prime minister, how Donald Trump's tariffs reshaped the world's economy, and how a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was reached.

And we look at where the rise of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK and Zack Polanski’s Green Party have left politics in the UK.

Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenters were Adam Fleming, Chris Mason, Laura Kuenssberg and Paddy O’Connell. It was made by Chris Flynn. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

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Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has given details of an updated peace plan that offers Russia the potential withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the east that Moscow has demanded.

Giving details of the 20-point plan agreed by US and Ukrainian negotiators in Florida at the weekend, Zelensky said the Russians would respond on Wednesday once the Americans had spoken to them.

The 20-point plan is seen as an update of an original 28-point document, agreed by US envoy Steve Witkoff with the Russians several weeks ago, which was widely seen as heavily geared towards the Kremlin's demands.

The Russians have insisted that Ukraine pulls out of almost a quarter of its own territory in the eastern Donetsk region in return for a peace deal. The rest is already under Russian occupation.

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Russia has hits Ukraine with a massive attack, after President Volodymyr Zelensky warned of an increase in strikes during the festive period.

As Ukrainians prepare to celebrate their fourth Christmas since the full-scale invasion, Samira Hussain in Kyiv tells us how the war is affecting people around the country, and what hope they have for an end to the fighting.

Subscribe to the Global News Podcast wherever you get your podcasts or find more episodes here: https://bbc.in/GlobalNewsPodcast

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Today, Adam is joined by Labour’s deputy leader Lucy Powell to reflect on her first few weeks in the role and what lies ahead for the Labour government in 2026.

The pair also discuss Health Secretary Wes Streeting’s new comments on the UK’s relationship with the EU, his leadership ambitions, and the importance of the party sticking together and showing a united front.

Plus, how will Labour take on the political challenge represented by the Reform party and Nigel Farage next year?

And, crucially, does she think that Keir Starmer will still be prime minister by next Christmas?

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