WASHINGTON -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday he is willing to bring a peace plan to end the Ukraine crisis for a referendum if Russia agrees to a ceasefire of at least 60 days, according to U.S. media outlet Axios.
In a phone interview with Axios on Friday, Zelensky said he would still like to negotiate a better position on territory. But if the plan demands "a very difficult" decision on that issue, he believes the best path forward will be to put the entire 20-point plan to a referendum. (Ukraine-Zelensky-Referendum)
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LOS ANGELES -- A teenager was killed and four other people were injured in a shooting on Christmas Day in northern Los Angeles County, according to local media and police.
The search is on for the suspects who shot and killed the 16-year-old boy in Lancaster, a Southern California city located some 110 km north of downtown Los Angeles, FOX 11 reported on Friday. (US-California-Shooting)
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BEIRUT -- Israeli gunfire near United Nations peacekeeping patrols along the "Blue Line" border slightly injured one peacekeeper on Friday, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said.
In a statement, UNIFIL said heavy machine-gun fire from Israel Defense Forces (IDF) positions south of the demarcation line between Israel and Lebanon struck near a patrol inspecting a roadblock in the village of Bastarra. The fire followed a grenade explosion in the area. While no UN equipment was damaged, one peacekeeper sustained a minor ear concussion. (UNIFIL-Israel-Attacks)
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PARIS -- French police arrested a suspect after three women were injured in separate knife attacks at stations along Paris Metro Line 3 on Friday, according to local media.
French daily Le Parisien, citing police sources, reported that the three victims sustained light injuries and were treated by emergency services. (France-Paris-Knife attacks) ■
