World

Russia's domestic tourist trips up 5 pct in first 11 months of 2025

MOSCOW, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- Russia recorded 82.9 million domestic tourist trips from January to November in 2025, up 5 percent year on year, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko said Tuesday.

Football

Soccer-Espanyol ban Barcelona symbols at stadium as Garcia return raises derby tensions

Dec 30 (Reuters) - Espanyol ‌have banned Barcelona fans from wearing their ‌team's shirt and stepped up security ‌ahead of Saturday's LaLiga Catalan derby at the RCDE Stadium,  with tensions running high as Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia ‍prepares to return to his ‍former club.

Football

Soccer-Goalkeeper Zidane fast becoming Algeria favourite

Dec 30 (Reuters) - Algeria ‌will be looking to make it a perfect Africa Cup ‌of Nations group phase when they face Equatorial Guinea on Wednesday, particularly ‌if they keep another clean sheet as goalkeeper Luca Zidane shines in Morocco.

Other Sports

Chess-Peerless Carlsen completes fifth rapid and blitz double

Dec 30 (Reuters) - Magnus ‌Carlsen's domination of chess showed no sign of ‌weakening when the world number one won ‌the blitz world championship title for the ninth time on Tuesday, two days after taking the rapid title.

World

Analysis-Yemen strike shows depth of distrust between Saudi Arabia and UAE

DUBAI, Dec 30 (Reuters) - The withdrawal of Emirati forces ‌from Yemen following a Saudi airstrike may help defuse a confrontation between the UAE and Saudi Arabia, but the incident has exposed simmering distrust between two Gulf oil powers with long-running differences. 

World

Mexico train derailment piles pressure on Sheinbaum over safety of megaprojects

MEXICO CITY, Dec ‌30 (Reuters) - Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum deferred questions on Tuesday about the record of a passenger train that derailed over ‌the weekend, killing 13 people and injuring 98 others, the latest in a series of accidents that have ‌put pressure on her government to improve the safety of flagship projects.

Football

Soccer-Draw with Tunisia sends Tanzania into Cup of Nations last 16

RABAT, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Tanzania grabbed ‌a second-half equaliser to hold Tunisia to a 1-1 draw in their ‌last Group C game at the Africa Cup of Nations on ‌Tuesday and book a place in the last 16.

World

Zelenskiy discusses US troop presence in Ukraine with Trump

KYIV, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Tuesday ‌Kyiv was discussing with Washington a possible presence of U.S. troops in Ukraine as part of security guarantees, and also raised what he called a faked attack on Russian President ‌Vladimir Putin's residence.

World

News Analysis: Germany ends 2025 in broad stagnation as U.S. tariffs derail recovery hopes

BERLIN, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- Germany's economy remains mired in stagnation as 2025 draws to a close, following two consecutive years of contraction. Early-year hopes of a modest recovery were dashed by an unexpected escalation of tariffs by the United States.

Football

Soccer-Nigeria complete perfect group campaign with 3-1 win over Uganda

Dec 30 (Reuters) - Raphael Onyedika scored twice ‌and Paul Onuachu netted his first international goal in four years as Nigeria ‌beat 10-man Uganda 3-1 in Fes on Tuesday to record a third win in ‌Group C at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco and send the East African side home.

World

Brazil's Bolsonaro again undergoes procedure to treat hiccups

SAO PAULO, Dec ‌30 (Reuters) - Former Brazilian President Jair ‌Bolsonaro was undergoing an unscheduled procedure ‌on Tuesday to treat persistent hiccups, his wife said on social media.

World

Thieves drill into German bank vault and make off with millions

BERLIN, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Thieves used ‌the quiet Christmas period to drill their way into the ‌vault of a German retail bank and make off with at ‌least 10 million euros' worth of money and valuables from customers' deposit boxes, police said on Tuesday.

World

Disease risks rise in Gaza as official warns of leptospirosis among displaced

GAZA, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- A Palestinian medical official on Tuesday warned of the spread of leptospirosis among displaced people living in tents across the Gaza Strip.

World

US Justice Department sues Virginia over in-state tuition for migrants

Dec 30 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department ‌of Justice has filed a lawsuit challenging a Virginia law that makes immigrants in the ‌country illegally eligible for reduced in-state tuition and financial aid at the state's public colleges ‌and universities.

World

Slovenia's inflation edges up to 2.4 pct in 2025

LJUBLJANA, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- Slovenia's annual average inflation rose to 2.4 percent in 2025, up from 2 percent in 2024, the country's Statistical Office said Tuesday.

World

Dutch police arrest Syrian man suspected of being IS member and of planning attack

AMSTERDAM, Dec ‌30 (Reuters) - Dutch police have arrested ‌a 29-year-old Syrian man they ‌suspect of being a member of Islamic State and planning an attack somewhere in ‍Europe, prosecutors said on ‍Tuesday, based on ‌the man's social media posts.

World

Honduras' presidential runner-up Nasralla challenges loss

Dec 30 (Reuters) - Honduran ‌presidential candidate Salvador Nasralla has formally challenged the results of the ‌country's recent election, the latest twist in a closely contested race ‌that was beset by delays, technical problems and fraud allegations. 

World

Yearender: Labour's honeymoon ends as Britain's cost-of-living crisis continues

by Xinhua writers Zhao Jiasong, Zhao Xiaona, and Larry Neild

World

Prolonged border control delays cause disruptions at Lisbon airport

LISBON, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- Immigration control waiting time at Lisbon airport exceeded seven hours on Tuesday, resulting in operational losses for airlines and missed passenger connections. Travelers report that border control delays have intensified since the pandemic, reaching their worst levels during the end-of-year holiday period.

World

Mainline welding completed for Chinese-built East African oil pipeline

DAR ES SALAAM, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- Mainline welding of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline, constructed by China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Co., Ltd. (CPP), has been completed, marking a major milestone in the development of one of East Africa's largest cross-border energy infrastructure projects.