Russian Federation

Russia might only make one trip to the Rugby League World Cup but the memories forged in the 2000 tournament, especially in their record loss to Australia, are wild enough to last a lifetime. 

A source in Ukraine's presidential office says Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged German Chancellor Olaf Scholz against taking part in the call, warning it would prolong the war and reduce Mr Putin's isolation.

The bill would have allowed Russian legal entities to build investment projects in the Russian-backed breakaway region, which opponents say would price locals out of the market.

Russian forces reportedly planned to use the intelligence to eliminate special forces soldiers on the front line and in the Russian-occupied parts of southern Ukraine.

Former electronics engineer Artem Vasilyev, who was in the process of being "radicalised" by "extremist right-wing ideologies" when he was arrested, is sentenced to at least three years in prison where he has already made "good friends", a judge says.

Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un announced a mutual defence agreement earlier this year, which has paved the way for an estimated 10,000 North Korean troops to join in Russia's fight against Ukraine.

Some 50,000 Russian troops have reportedly moved to a region held by Ukraine since August, with experts saying it is no coincidence that the renewed interest coincides with the US presidential race and the re-election of Donald Trump.

The Kremlin and Ukraine have carried out their biggest drone strikes against each other since the start of the war.

The White House says US President Joe Biden will use his remaining time in office to make the case for continued support for Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says the West needs to bolster its aid to the country, while the Kremlin says it saw "positive signals" from the election of Donald Trump.

Donald Trump's presidential transition effort says a Republican operative who outlined some potential contours of a US-backed peace plan in Ukraine was not speaking on behalf of the president-elect.

Donald Trump's election victory could reshape the trajectory of Russia's war in Ukraine, analysts say, while also making Europe's domestic defence spending more difficult and the handling of the Middle East war more complicated.

European leaders react to the US election which returned Donald Trump to power. 

With the world "on the brink of a potential nuclear war", scientists are trying to work out just how bad it would be.

The international outlook is set for a major shake-up — and the most dramatic change would be regarding the war in Ukraine.

Parcels that exploded at logistics depots in Europe were part of a test run for a Russian plot to trigger explosions on cargo flights to the United States, the security officials said. 

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in his nightly video address, thanked those in the world who, he said, had reacted to the dispatch of North Korean troops to Russia last month "not just with words … but who are preparing actions to support our defence".

Indonesia begins its first-ever joint naval drills with Russia while simultaneously conducting military exercises with Australian forces.

Maia Sandu has claimed victory in a tense presidential run-off against pro-Russian rival Alexandr Stoianoglo, with almost 95 per cent of the votes counted.

Kamila Valieva still has 14 months to go on her four-year doping ban, but the controversial Russian figure skater says she is planning to get back into competition once her suspension ends at the end of next year.