Friday, December 19, 2025

World

Iran calls for U.S. accountability and reparations after Trump admits involvement in Israeli strikes

Iran’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations has urged the United States to be held accountable and to compensate the Iranian people, following President Donald Trump’s public acknowledgment of Washington’s role in Israel’s attacks on Iran.

Türkiye rejects US pressure to give up S-400s: Bloomberg

Ankara continues to resist Washington's demands to abandon its Russian-made S-400 air defense systems, but is eager to make some concessions to the Americans on the issue, Bloomberg has reported.

Kremlin dismisses Lavrov fell out of favor with Putin after canceled Trump summit

Speculation that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov fell out of favor with Russian President Vladimir Putin is not true, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has stated.

Afghanistan says peace talks with Pakistan failed again

Afghanistan's Taliban government has announced the latest round of peace negotiations with Pakistan had failed, blaming Islamabad's "irresponsible and uncooperative" approach and stoking fears of further violence.

Britain lifts sanctions on Syrian president

London has lifted sanctions on Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, following a United Nations decision to remove him from its terrorist list. The move comes ahead of the Syrian leader’s planned visit to the United States.

Britain and Baltic countries simulate war with Russia: Politico

Several northern European countries, including the United Kingdom, Nordic, and Baltic states, rehearsed a military conflict with Russia at a gathering in northern Norway this week, Politico has reported. Ukrainian Defense Minister Denis Shmigal reportedly also attended.

Washington lifts terrorist label on Syria’s leader ahead of US visit

The United States on Friday removed sanctions on Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, after the United Nations Security Council lifted similar sanctions ahead of his meeting with President Donald Trump.

US sees ‘progress’ in resolving Ukraine conflict

US President Donald Trump and his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, have both noted “progress” in finding a negotiated solution to the Ukraine war.

NATO head claims military bloc outproducing Russia in ammo

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has claimed that the military bloc is now outproducing Moscow in ammunition, citing dozens of new production lines and the highest output “in decades.”

Afghanistan and Pakistan return to Turkey for more peace negotiations

Kabul and Islamabad will resume peace talks in Istanbul, both nations have announced, after a previous round ended without agreeing on a lasting truce.

Opium farming in Afghanistan declined by a fifth in 2025: UN

The total area of land in Afghanistan on which opium poppy is grown shrank 20% in 2025, according to a U.N. estimate issued on Thursday, a further drop since farming of the raw material for heroin collapsed in 2023 after the Taliban banned it.

Trump reiterates nuclear threat

US President Donald Trump has announced his intention to restart nuclear testing, following Washington’s launch of a Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile.

Israel sets up checkpoint in Syria’s Quneitra

Israel’s military has renewed its incursions into Syria, setting up a checkpoint in the southern province of Quneitra, according to local media, as it continues daily attacks.

US to share draft UN resolution on Gaza with most of Security Council

Washington is sharing a draft resolution on US President Donald Trump's peace plan for Gaza with the 10 elected members of the United Nations Security Council later on Wednesday, an American official has stated.

Washington asks UN to lift sanctions on Syria’s president ahead of US visit

The United States has proposed a draft United Nations Security Council resolution that would lift sanctions on Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who is due to meet American President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday.

Russia to take ‘reciprocal measures’ if US resumes nuclear tests: Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin has told top Kremlin officials to draft proposals for the possible resumption of nuclear weapons testing, as Moscow responds to United States President Donald Trump’s order that Washington “immediately” resume its own testing after a decades-long hiatus.

IAEA condemns Trump’s nuclear test plan

US President Donald Trump’s decision to resume nuclear weapon testing is indicative of a deepening global crisis and weakens the international system of security and peace, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, has stated.

Iran’s envoy urges urgent UN action over Trump’s ‘alarming’ nuclear testing remarks

Iran’s Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani has called on the United Nations Security Council to convene urgently following “extremely alarming” remarks by US President Donald Trump about resuming nuclear weapons testing, warning that such statements pose a serious threat to international peace and violate Washington’s international obligations.

Saudi Arabia’s request to purchase F-35s clears key Pentagon hurdle: Reuters

The Donald Trump administration is considering a Saudi Arabian request to buy as many as 48 F-35 fighter jets, a potential multi-billion-dollar deal that has cleared a key Pentagon hurdle ahead of a visit by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters news agency.

Envoy: Macron holds video call with two French nationals released from detention in Iran

President Emmanuel Macron of France has held a video call with two French citizens recently released from Evin Prison in Tehran, French officials confirmed on Wednesday.

Hamas transfers remains of another Israeli captive under Gaza ceasefire agreement

The Palestinian group Hamas handed over the remains of another Israeli hostage to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) late Tuesday under its ceasefire deal with Tel Aviv.

Crimes against children in conflict zones surge in 2024: Save the Children

One in five children globally lived in active conflict zones last year, according to a report by Save the Children.

Official figures show Israel’s war expenses reached $76.3bn in 2 years

Israel’s military expenses have surged to $76.3 billion since the outbreak of the Gaza war two years ago, official data show.

Nearly 1mn people in Gaza receive food aid amid ceasefire: UN

The United Nations has announced that nearly 1 million people in the Gaza Strip have received food assistance since October, as humanitarian operations expand under a 60-day response plan amid Israeli attacks.

Putin claims NATO spy ship observed test of Russia’s nuclear-powered missile

Foreign military experts had the opportunity to observe and verify the capabilities of the Burevestnik cruise missile, which features a nuclear-powered turbojet engine and is technically capable of unlimited range, Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated during a ceremony honoring those involved in the development of the new strategic weapon.

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