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Russia has issued a travel warning to its citizens as it said tensions with the US are "teetering on the verge of rupture". Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian foreign ministry, urged citizens on Wednesday to "refrain from trips to the US, Canada and with a few exceptions EU countries" over the Christmas period. She said those that travel were at risk of being "hunted" down by US authorities."In the context of the increasing confrontation in Russian-American relations, which are teetering on the verge of rupture due to the fault of Washington, trips to the United States of America privately or out of official necessity are fraught with serious risks," Ms Zakharova said.She did not elaborate which EU countries were exempt from the travel recommendations. Although travel warnings ...

A top commander in Syria has warned that a resurgent ISIS is starting to take advantage of the chaotic fall of Bashar al Assad.The lightning advance by opposition groups on Damascus has been the focus of much attention but the revolution has created power vacuums across the country. What's happening in Syria is an opportunity but also a moment of great jeopardy.Syria latest: Russia hits out at Israel over airstrikesAs the country struggles to emerge from the darkness and brutality of the Assad regime many groups are vying for position in this new reality - and it is in that space that Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is trying to gather strength.In the northeast, the Kurds are worried about what may happen.One of the most important figures in this region is General Abdi Mazloum, the ...

Saudi Arabia has been confirmed as the host nation for the 2034 football World Cup.Also confirmed were the hosts for the 2030 World Cup, which was awarded to six countries and will take place across three continents to celebrate 100 years of the tournament. Saudi Arabia was the sole bidder for the 2034 competition. Its host status was confirmed on Wednesday after an online meeting of the 211 members of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA).The members confirmed the unchallenged bids by acclamation - simply clapping during the virtual meeting led by FIFA president Gianni Infantino.As well as the World Cup, Saudi Arabia is hosting football's 2027 Asian Cup, the 2029 Asian Winter Games and the 2034 Asian Games. It also has long-term ambitions to host more major events, i...

There is a new prime minister of Syria.The rebel groups, led by Abu Mohammed al Jolani's Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS), have installed a transition government to run the country and navigate the turbulent first months of what some are hailing as "Free Syria". This interim government - which says it will be in place until March to sort out "constitutional issues" - is led by new Prime Minister Mohammed al Bashir.Who is Mohammed al Bashir?Born in 1983 in the Idlib region of northwestern Syria, Mr Bashir graduated with a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Aleppo in 2007. He went on to work for the Syrian Gas Company. After the civil war broke out in 2011 he became director of an institution that provided education to children affected by the conflict.He obtained a second deg...

An 18-year-old Briton has been sentenced to a year in prison in Dubai after a "holiday romance" with a girl who was 17 at the time.Marcus Fakana was with his family in the UAE when he met the girl - who's also from London and is now 18. The head of campaign group Detained in Dubai said it was a "disgrace" and Mr Fakana felt abandoned by the British government since his arrest in September.He's expected to appeal against the sentence.Mr Fakana previously said the pair kept their romance secret from the girl's family "because they were strict" and had hoped to continue seeing each other back in the UK.However, he said police turned up at his family's hotel and took him into custody without explanation.Detained in Dubai said Mr Fakana was arrested and charged after the girl's mother found the...

The alleged killer of a US health insurance boss has tussled with police officers as they were escorting him to court.Luigi Mangione, in handcuffs, shouted to reporters outside the Pennsylvania courthouse: "It's completely out of touch and an insult to the intelligence of the American people and their lived experience." He has been charged with the murder of UnitedHealthcare chief executive Brian Thompson, who was shot dead in Manhattan last week.Dressed in an orange prison uniform, Mangione was seen struggling with officers, who pushed him against a wall. Image: Luigi Mangione tussled with police before entering court. Pic: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette/AP During an appearance at Blair County Courthouse, he decided to challenge ...

A Georgia man has been charged over the 1985 killing of a couple at a black church after the original suspect was exonerated by DNA evidence.Erik Kristensen Sparre is facing felony murder and aggravated assault charges over the killings of Harold and Thelma Swain. The 61-year-old was arrested nearly four decades after the couple were fatally shot inside the Rising Daughter Baptist Church in Camden County.Sparre became the focus of a renewed investigation after authorities concluded they had initially prosecuted the wrong man. Image: Harold and Thelma Swain were shot and killed during a bible study class Pic: Family handout Image: Dennis Perry was convicted in 2003 Pic: Georgi...

South Korea's former defence minister has tried to take his own life while being held in detention over his role in the failed imposition of martial law, officials have said.Kim Yong Hyun, along with President Yoon Suk Yeol are the subject of a criminal investigation on insurrection charges. Mr Kim was arrested earlier on Wednesday after a Seoul court approved a warrant for him on allegations of playing a key role in a rebellion and committing abuse of power.He became the first person arrested over the 3 December martial law decree.It comes after reports said police were searching Mr Yoon's office. Read more:Shocking week for South Korea with people appalledWho is the president who plunged South Korea into crisis? Image: President Yoon Suk Yeo...

The world's landmark Paris Agreement is "more fragile" than it has ever been and disagreements risk "imploding" it, the UK's climate ambassador has warned.The seminal treaty obliges countries to produce regular plans on how they will cut greenhouse gas emissions in order to slow climate change. Since it was signed in 2015, predicted levels of global warming have fallen, the cost of wind and solar have plummeted and net zero targets have proliferated.But the Paris Agreement is "more fragile now than it has been in the nine years up to now", the UK's new climate envoy Rachel Kyte said yesterday evening.She added: "Certain countries push back on Paris because it's too effective, in some respects. And then you've got countries who are saying it's not effective enough." "It would be bizarre, if...

Football has never seen a stadium as audacious and outlandish before.A futuristic cliff-top venue will be built 350m above ground when the $1.5trn NEOM megaproject springs up from the Saudi Arabian desert. There are no limits on ambition or spending to bring the World Cup to the kingdom in 2034 - and no need to win a bidding contest.After flattering and funding FIFA, Saudi Arabia will today be confirmed as hosts of the 2034 World Cup by acclamation of football nations rather than a vote.Read more:FIFA awarding World Cups 'without transparency'FIFA has 'not changed its decision-making' It is the rapid conclusion to a 14-month process engineered to secure their victory but a strategic success for the kingdom in avoiding a protracted contest.And scrutiny of the fast-tracked process - ending a...