Friday, January 2, 2026

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American protesters demand release of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil

Demonstrators gathered Saturday outside US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) headquarters in Washington, DC to demand the release of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil -- a green card holder and recent Columbia University graduate who helped organize campus protests last year.

Italy says does not plan to send peacekeepers to Ukraine

Rome does not plan to participate in a peacekeeping force on the ground in eastern Ukraine to guarantee a potential ceasefire, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's office has announced.

Iran says will never back down from its share in global oil market

Iranian government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani stressed Tehran will never back down from its share in the global oil market.

Armed attack in southeastern Iran kills IRGC guard, injures another

An armed attack by unidentified assailants late Saturday evening in southeastern Iranian province of Sistan and Baluchestan left an IRGC guard dead and another injured.

At least 9 Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza

At least nine Palestinians, including journalists, were killed on Saturday in Israeli strikes the northern Gaza Strip.

Heavenly banquet: 270-meter Iftar spread lights up Tehran’s Tabiat bridge

In celebration of the midway point of the holy month of Ramadan and the auspicious birth anniversary of Imam Hassan al-Mojtaba (AS), a 270-meter-long Iftar table was set up on Tehran’s iconic Tabiat Bridge.

UK: ‘Troops on ground and planes in sky’ could secure Ukraine peace accord

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced that an expanded coalition of nations is ramping up efforts to back Ukraine in peace negotiations with Russia, following a high-level virtual summit in London.

Top Diplomat: US has no right to dictate Iran foreign policy

Seyed Abbas Araqchi, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, has emphasized that the US government has no right to dictate Iran's foreign policy.

Iran rejects Europe, US rights claims, citing their role in Saddam regime chemical weapons program

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmail Baqaei, says as long as the European countries, involved in developing Iraq’s chemical weapons prorgram under deposed dictator Saddam, avoid telling the truth, their claims to respect human rights and the rule of law remain pointless.

Iran spox rejects G7 Allegations as “baseless, repetitive”

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Esmail Baqaei, has slammed as baseless the recent anti-Tehran allegations of the G7 top diplomats, saying the group’s members must be held accountable for their improper conduct regarding peace and stability in West Asia and their complicity in gross violations of humanitarian and human rights laws in occupied Palestine.

Trump orders air attacks against Yemen’s Houthis, dozens killed

Donald Trump, the president of the United States, has announced a series of large-scale strikes on Yemen’s Houthis after the armed group threatened to resume raids on Israeli-linked ships in the Red Sea over Tel Aviv’s blockade on the Gaza Strip.

UN chief urges global action against rising ‘anti-Muslim bigotry’

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has voiced concern over “a disturbing rise in anti-Muslim bigotry”, calling on governments to protect religious freedom and for online platforms to curb hate speech.

US weighs travel ban on dozens of countries, including Iran

The administration of US President Donald Trump is considering issuing sweeping travel restrictions for the citizens of dozens of countries as part of a new ban, according to sources familiar with the matter and an internal memo seen by Reuters.

UN report on Israeli sexual abuses against Gazans must lead to prosecutions: Hamas

Hamas has urged international institutions to follow up on the findings of a major new United Nations report that found Israel had committed “genocidal acts” through the systematic destruction of women’s healthcare facilities in the Gaza Strip.

US detains second student over pro-Palestinian protests

The administration of US President Donald Trump has arrested a second student demonstrator and set a deadline for Columbia University, one of the most prestigious campuses in the United States, to cede control of one of its academic departments.

Iran unveils first Artificial Intelligence platform

The first initial version of Iran's national open-source artificial intelligence platform was launched in Tehran on Saturday.

Official: Iran moves closer to joining FATF after key approval

Iran has taken a significant step toward joining the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a global watchdog combating money laundering and terrorism financing, hoping to be rid of many restrictions caused by shunning the organization.

US received ‘some pretty good news’ on Ukraine-Russia ceasefire: Trump

The White House has received "some pretty good news" regarding a 30-day ceasefire accord between Russia and Ukraine, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed during a speech at the Justice Department (DOJ).

Putin calls on Ukraine to order soldiers in Kursk Region to surrender

Moscow is “sympathetic” to US President Donald Trump’s request that the lives of the Ukrainian soldiers encircled in Russia’s Kursk Region be spared, President Vladimir Putin stated during a National Security Council meeting on Friday. Russia will guarantee their lives if they lay down their arms, he added.

Iranian president emphasizes need for better management, education in Tehran

Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian has stressed the urgent need for improved management, education, and resource allocation in Tehran, the nation’s capital.

Hamas says ready to hand over Israeli American captive and four bodies

The Palestinian group Hamas has announced readiness to free Israeli American captive Edan Alexander and hand over the remains of four other dual nationals, after holding indirect negotiations with Tel Aviv.

‘Dangerous’ Daesh leader Abu Khadija killed: Iraq

The leader of the Daesh terror group has been killed by Iraqi security forces with support from the US-led coalition, the country's prime minister has confirmed.

US plans to dispatch upgraded long-range bombs to Ukraine: Reuters

The United States has upgraded the Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bombs (GLSDB) to counter Russian jamming and is set to reintroduce them to the battlefield in Ukraine within days, Reuters has reported.

US, Israel seeking to displace Palestinians from Gaza to East Africa: AP

The United States and Israel have discussed with three East African governments the forced displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to Sudan, Somalia and its breakaway region of Somaliland, according to US and Israeli officials quoted by The Associated Press news agency.

Iran’s former president Rouhani: Hardliners opposed buying S-300 anti-missiles 

Iran’s former president Hassan Rouhani has criticized "hardliners of the country for their pressures" on him during his presidency when he tried to beef up Iran’s military might and deterrence.

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