A bomb cyclone named Storm Barra dropped heavy rains in northern Spain in early December, causing flooding in the Navarre region, with the water level in some villages up to roof level. One person was killed when a farmhouse was struck by a landslide.

A bomb cyclone is a fast-developing cyclone that occurs outside of the tropics, similar to but formed differently than a hurricane. It is characterized by high winds and heavy rains.

Storm Barra also caused minor flooding and wind...

Sudan’s prime minister, Abdalla Hamdok, stepped down from his position on Jan. 2, only one month after being released from prison and reappointed by the military junta that has been in control of the country since a coup on Oct. 25. During antimilitary protests continuing since the coup, at least 47 civilians have been killed and hundreds more wounded or detained.

Hundreds of thousands of protesters gathered outside of the presidential palace in Khartoum on Dec. 19, calling for...

On the river Sugandha in Bangladesh, a ferry traveling south from the capital, Dhaka, to the town of Barguna caught fire on Dec. 24, killing at least 39 people and injuring more than 100 others. The ferry was carrying 500 passengers at the time.

Investigators believe the fire spread from the engine room, while the ship’s owner stated that the fire started in a guest room before spreading to the engine. At press time, the cause of the fire had not been determined.