Reuters

• Brexit deal could serve as template for EU relations to countries like Ukraine and Turkey

  An EU agreement with Britain on relations after Brexit could serve as a model for ties with other countries that want to be as close as possible to the bloc but are not yet ready to join, such as Ukraine and Turkey, Germany's foreign minister said.

• Queen praises husband's humour in Christmas message

  Queen Elizabeth will pay tribute to her husband Prince Philip in her Christmas message, and praise his support and unique sense of humour'.

• Bittersweet Christmas for Iraq's Christians after Islamic State defeat

  Inside the newly renovated Church of Saint George in the Northern Iraqi town of Teleskof, Hayat Chamoun Daoud led children dressed as Santa Claus singing Jingle Bells in Aramaic.

• Traffickers are 'Herods of today' says Pope Francis in passionate defence of refugees

  Pope Francis strongly defended immigrants at his Christmas Eve Mass on Sunday, comparing them to Mary and Joseph finding no place to stay in Bethlehem

• North Korea: UN sanctions 'an act of war'

  The latest UN sanctions against North Korea are an act of war and tantamount to a complete economic blockade against it, North Korea's foreign ministry said on Sunday, threatening to punish those who supported the measure.

• UN hits North Korea with petroleum sanctions

  The UN resolution seeks to ban nearly 90 per cent of refined petroleum exports to North Korea.

• The country where 'Merry Christmas' means you're betraying your religion

  Malaysia's growing ties to Saudi Arabia – and its puritan Salafi-Wahhabi Islamic doctrines – are coming under new scrutiny as concerns grow over an erosion of traditional religious practices and culture in the multi-ethnic nation.

• Storm leaves 90 dead in Philippines mudslides

  The casualties, most of them inflicted late on Friday, were all on the main southern island of Mindanao, they said.

• Modern magus: The Israeli entrepreneur who's growing myrrh, frankincense and – gold?

  The aromatic plants bestowed on the infant Jesus are being cultivated by an Israeli entrepreneur who aims to transform the gifts of the Christmas story into therapeutic balms and incense.

• Tight security for Christians facing worldwide Christmas terror threat

  Majority-Muslim countries in Asia and the Middle East were particularly nervous after US President Donald Trump's recent announcement he intends to relocate the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem

• Defying Trump: More than 120 countries vote for UN resolution condemning Jerusalem decision

  More than 120 countries defied President Donald Trump on Thursday and voted in favour of a United Nations General Assembly resolution calling for the United States to drop its recent recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

• Trump allies say Mueller unlawfully obtained thousands of emails

  The Trump team's accusation adds to the growing friction between the president's supporters and Mueller's office.