Saturday, December 20, 2025

World

Israel says to determine which international forces are unacceptable for Gaza

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Tel Aviv would determine its security policy and which foreign troops to work with.

Saudi Arabia says its Vision 2030 goals 85% completed

Saudi Arabia's investment minister has stated that 85% of the kingdom's Vision 2030 targets were complete or on track as of the end of 2024.

Iraqi officials say 2 workers killed in pipeline fire at Zubair oilfield

At least two workers were killed in an oil pipeline fire in Iraq's Zubair oilfield on Sunday, oilfield officials have confirmed.

Ukraine may face heating failures, plants shutdown in winter amid war with Russia: NYT

Ukrainian residents may face heating failures this winter and plants may fail to cope with rising electricity prices and will have to close, The New York Times (NYT) has reported.

PKK announces it is withdrawing fighters from Turkiye to Iraq

The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) has announced it is withdrawing all its forces from Turkey to northern Iraq as part of a peace process with Ankara, bringing an end to a months-long disarming process following a four-decade armed conflict that killed tens of thousands of people.

US says getting input on Gaza international force, will discuss in Qatar

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated that U.S. officials are getting input on a possible United Nations resolution or international agreement to authorize a multinational force in Gaza and will discuss the issue in Qatar.

Trump says he won’t waste time meeting Putin unless Ukraine peace accord is likely to happen soon

United States President Donald Trump has stated that he won’t waste time meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin again unless an accord on the war in Ukraine is likely.

Trump says measures to be taken against Hamas if bodies of captives not returned

Measures will be taken against Hamas in case bodies of hostages will not be returned as soon as possible, US President Donald Trump has warned.

Egypt to send special team to Gaza to search for bodies of Israeli captives: Report

Egypt will send a special team to the Gaza Strip to assist in the search for the bodies of deceased Israeli hostages, the Egyptian television has reported.

Afghanistan, Pakistan to firm up truce at Istanbul negotiations

Afghan and Pakistani negotiators met in Istanbul Saturday to address security issues and establish a lasting ceasefire along their shared border after an outbreak of unexpectedly intense bloody clashes.

Trump says he believes in Russia’s resolve to end Ukraine war

US President Donald Trump believes that his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin wants to settle the conflict in Ukraine.

EU leaders fail to agree to use frozen Russian funds for Ukraine

EU leaders have swerved a decision on using Russia’s frozen assets to fund Ukraine’s defence, despite a plea from President Volodymyr Zelensky to take swift action to make Moscow pay for its war.

Top Indian oil buyer to comply with Western sanctions against Russia

India’s top importer of Russian oil, the conglomerate Reliance Industries Ltd, has announced that it will abide by Western sanctions, ending several days of speculation about how the company will manage new measures targeting Russia’s two largest oil companies.

Demining Gaza could take up to 3 decades: Report

The demining of Gaza and the disposal of unexploded mines and shells left in the Palestinian enclave after two years of Israeli military operations could take about 30 years, a representative of an international non-governmental organization operating under the UN auspices has announced.

Gaza security force to include countries Israel ‘comfortable with’: US

An international security troops to be put in place in the Gaza Strip under a ceasefire accord will have to be made up of countries that Tel Aviv is "comfortable with", U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Friday during a visit to Israel.

Kim, Trump have chance to meet next week: South Korea

South Korea's unification minister has called on U.S. President Donald Trump to meet the leader of North Korea during his forthcoming visit to Asia, urging the two men to seize a rare chance for peace, Yonhap news agency reported.

France says to deliver to Ukraine additional Aster missiles, Mirage fighters

France plans to supply Ukraine with additional Aster surface-to-air missiles and Mirage fighter jets, French President Emmanuel Macron has stated at a meeting of the "coalition of the willing" on providing aid to Kiev.

Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon kill two in latest truce violation

An Israeli drone strike has killed two people in southern Lebanon, according to the country’s Ministry of Public Health, a day after Israeli military aircraft launched a series of deadly raids on the country’s eastern mountain range and south.

UK vows Ukraine allies will take Russian oil and gas off market after US sanctions

Allied nations have pledged to act to take Russian oil and gas off the global market, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has stated, after leaders gathered with President Volodymyr Zelensky in London.

Russia says it response to Tomahawk strikes would be ‘staggering’

Russia would deliver a “very serious, if not downright staggering” response to any Ukrainian attacks using US-made Tomahawk missiles, President Vladimir Putin has warned, calling pressure on Washington to supply such weapons “an attempt at escalation.”

Putin says Russia-US summit postponed

Russian President Vladimir Putin has confirmed that the planned Budapest summit with US counterpart Donald Trump is being postponed. Speaking to journalists on Thursday, he noted that the proposal was initially made by the American side.

Haniyeh family refutes reports relatives left Gaza after Turkish request

The family of late Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh has rejected reports that some of their relatives had been allowed to leave the Gaza Strip at Turkey’s request.

Saudi Arabia appoints conservative Grand Mufti

Riyadh has appointed a conservative cleric in his nineties as its top religious leader, state media reported, sticking with tradition even as rapid social changes upend the previously cloistered kingdom.

Russia says immune to US oil sanctions

Russia has announced that new US sanctions on its oil industry risked hurting diplomatic efforts to end the Ukraine war, and that it had developed a "strong immunity" to them.

EU squabbling over frozen Russian funds: Politico

European countries are at odds over how to use a proposed loan for Ukraine funded by frozen Russian assets, with some pushing to restrict spending to European-made weapons while others want US arms included, Politico has reported, citing sources.

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