News Headlines - 26 December 2017

▽Germany′s Sigmar Gabriel: Brexit deal could serve as model for Turkey, Ukraine | DW

Germany's Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel proposed on Tuesday that the European Union's upcoming Brexit deal with the UK could serve as a template for relations with other non-EU states, namely Turkey and Ukraine... Berlin's top diplomat added that he could not see either Turkey or Ukraine joining the bloc anytime soon, and that the EU therefore "needs to consider alternative forms of closer cooperation."

▽Japan's Toshiba unveils affiliate's accounting misconduct - Xinhua

Toshiba Infrastructure Systems & Solutions Corp., an affiliate of Toshiba Corp. that conducts electrical installation work, was found attempting to cover losses of a money-losing project by attributing its expenses to another profitable business.
The misconduct, lasting for four years through September 2017, involved a total amount of some 95 million yen (838,000 U.S. dollars), according to Toshiba.

▽Oil soars, U.S. crude hits $60/bbl for first time since mid-2015

Oil prices surged to 2-1/2-year highs and U.S. crude touched $60 a barrel in light trading volume on Tuesday, boosted by news of an explosion on a Libyan crude pipeline as well as voluntary OPEC-led supply cuts... Armed assailants blew up a pipeline pumping crude oil to the port of Es Sider on Tuesday, cutting Libya’s output by up to 100,000 barrels per day (bpd), according to military and energy sources.

▽Two World Record-Holding Cats Died in a House Fire | Time

The owner of two Guinness World Record-holding cats says the animals died in a fire that destroyed their suburban Detroit home last month.

▽Otani bids farewell, ready to fight for Halos - The Japan News

Los Angeles Angels-bound Shohei Otani bid farewell to fans of his former Japanese club on Monday as he sets off to join his new Major League Baseball team.