Grainne

But he also said, "We must be careful that if we don't have a purpose, a single misstep could result in creating something like the Imperial Rule Assistance Association," referring to an organization that aimed at removing sectionalism and factionalism from politics during World War II.

Instead of the traditional boisterous street partying on New Year’s Eve, tens of thousands of protesters led by university students gathered overnight in Belgrade and other Serbian cities to demand political reforms and justice in the Balkan country.

Chadians voted Sunday amid a low turnout in parliamentary and regional elections that will end a three-year transitional period from military rule but which the main opposition is boycotting after accusing authorities of not overseeing a credible electoral process.

The parliamentary election is the first in more than a decade in Chad and comes months after the junta leader, Mahamat Idriss Deby, won a disputed presidential vote that was meant to return democracy. Deby took power in 2021 following the death of his father and longtime president Idriss Deby Itno, who spent three decades in power.

The United States is expected to announce that it will send $1.25 billion (€1.2 billion) in military assistance to Ukraine, US officials announced on Friday as Joe Biden pushes to get as much aid to Kyiv as possible before he leaves office in January. The large package of aid includes a significant amount of munitions, including for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems and the HAWK air defence system. It will also provide Stinger missiles and 155 mm and 105 mm artillery rounds, officials said. The officials, who said they expect the official announcement to be made on Monday, spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details that have not yet been made public.

NATO is ready to help Finland and Estonia as Finnish authorities probe an oil tanker that sailed from a Russian port over the possible "sabotage" of a power cable linking the two member countries, alliance chief Mark Rutte has said.

"Spoke with (Estonian Prime Minister) Kristen Michal about reported possible sabotage of Baltic Sea cables. NATO stands in solidarity with Allies and condemns any attacks on critical infrastructure.

"We are following investigations by Estonia and Finland, and we stand ready to provide further support," Mr Rutte said on X.

Earlier, Finnish authorities said they were investigating an oil tanker that sailed from a Russian port for the "sabotage" of a power cable linking Finland and Estonia that was damaged the previous day.

The Cook Islands-registered ship, named by authorities as the Eagle S, was boarded by a Finnish coast guard crew which took command in the Baltic Sea and sailed the vessel to Finnish waters, a coast guard official told a press conference.

"From our side we are investigating grave sabotage," Robin Lardot, Director of the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation, said.

"According to our understanding an anchor of the vessel that is under investigation has caused the damage," he added.

"Guinness has seen quite a bit of growth over the past few years. It's now, by volume, over the past 12 months, the biggest beer in Britain. It's seen a bit of an explosion really post-Covid ... and it's across a lot of demographics which is really interesting," Chris Sterling of CGA Strategy explained.

Israel's military said on Thursday it had detected "suspects" in several areas in southern Lebanon, calling this a violation of a ceasefire with Hezbollah.

Israeli military strikes killed at least 17 Palestinians across the Gaza Strip on Thursday, medics say.

Months of efforts to negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza have yielded scant progress, and negotiations are now on hold.

He added that there were three reasons to pursue a ceasefire - to focus on Iran, replenish depleted arms supplies and give the army a rest, and finally to isolate Hamas, the militant group that triggered war in the region when it launched an attack on Israel from Gaza last year.

“As winter approaches, the horror in Gaza continues to grind on with no end in sight,” he said.

"At most, we controlled about 1,376 square kilometres (531 square miles), now of course this territory is smaller. The enemy is increasing its counterattacks," the source said.

"Now we control approximately 800 square kilometres (309 square miles). We will hold this territory for as long as is militarily appropriate."

Fighters from Hamas and other Gaza factions have formed an armed force to prevent gangs pillaging aid convoys in the territory, residents and sources close to the group said, after a big increase in the looting of scarce supplies.

Since being formed this month amid rising public anger at aid seizures and price gouging, the new force has staged repeated operations, ambushing looters and killing some in armed clashes, the sources said.