Driftel

Brazil's financial world experienced a shock on December 18, when the country's currency, the real, fell 2.8% — hitting an all-time low of 6.2 reais per $1 (6.5 per €1) and shedding almost a quarter of its value over the year.

The first round of the presidential election in Greece is set for January 25, with more rounds to follow. But the winner already seems clear: Konstantinos Tasoulas, a member of the conservative New Democracy party who was parliament speaker up until a few days ago.

Many political commentators believe a deal may have been struck whereby Italy promised to free Abedini if Iran release the Italian journalist Cecilia Sala from prison, which Tehran did last week.

However, neither the United States, nor Italy, nor Iran have confirmed whether a deal was in fact struck.

Milanović won more than 74% of the vote compared to his challenger Dragan Primorac, who received nearly 26%, according to the results released by Croatia's state election authorities after more than 99% of the ballots were counted.

The result presents a major boost for Milanović, who is a critic of Western military support for Ukraine in the war against Russia.

Milanović is also a fierce opponent of Croatia's conservative Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and his government.

The Israeli military siege on the northern Gaza Strip has left about 5,000 Palestinians dead or missing after 100 days of brutal attacks that have only intensified amid talks of a potential mediated agreement between Israel and Hamas.

Another 9,500 Palestinians were injured as a result of the Israeli military operation in the north that was launched in early October, a medical source told Al Jazeera on Sunday.