Friday, January 2, 2026

World

Most Britons support immediate ceasefire in Gaza, Israeli arms embargo: Poll

More than 70 percent of British people back an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, a new survey indicates as pressure rises on the government to adopt a firmer stance against Israel.

Hamas: US floating pier for Gaza aid publicity stunt

The Palestinian group Hamas has rejected Washington's establishment of a temporary floating pier designed to increase the amount of aid getting into the besieged Gaza Strip as a publicity stunt “to beautify its ugly face".

Egypt has destroyed over 2,000 Gaza tunnels: Report

Secret military documents obtained by Middle East Eye revealed the scale of Egyptian operations to destroy tunnels between the Sinai peninsula and the Gaza Strip built to circumvent the Israel-imposed blockade of the enclave.

Official: Some 12% of US aid to Ukraine ‘delinquent or unaccounted for’

Some 12 percent of US security aid provided to Ukraine from January 1 through March 31 was delinquent or unaccounted for, the US Defense Department Inspector General has announced in a quarterly oversight report of US support for Ukraine.

Israeli military says bodies of three hostages found in Gaza

The Israeli military has announced the discovery of the bodies of three Israeli hostages taken by Hamas in the October 2023 attack.

Putin says Russia has no plan to seize Ukraine’s Kharkiv

Moscow has no intention of capturing the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, which is close to the Russian border, President Vladimir Putin has claimed. The remarks came as the Russian armed forces have been making notable gains in the area in recent days.

Iranian UN envoy: US spreads lies about Tehran to justify attacks on Yemen

Iran’s permanent representative to the UN Amir Saeed Iravani strongly rejects US claims that the Islamic Republic is supplying arms to Yemen’s Ansarullah movement.

Iran raps Arab League stance on three Persian Gulf islands

The spokesman for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Kanaani, has condemned as unacceptable the clause related to the three Iranian islands in the Persian Gulf in the statement of the 33rd meeting of the Arab League leaders in Bahrain.

Iran UN envoy stresses Tehran still a neutral party in Ukraine war

Iran’s ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations Amir Saeed Iravani says his country’s impartial position since the outbreak of the Ukraine conflict has remained unchanged.

Russia and China say their relations at “the best period in their history”

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping have agreed to strengthen ties across energy, trade, security and geopolitics, as both parties displayed their close relationship against the backdrop of regional unrest.

Israel says to send additional forces for Rafah operation

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Thursday revealed plans to send additional troops to join an ongoing ground attack in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, defying international calls for a halt to the invasion.

Arab League calls for UN peacekeepers in occupied Palestinian territory

The Arab League has called for the deployment of a United Nations peacekeeping force in the occupied Palestinian territory at a summit dominated by the war on the Gaza Strip.

Zelensky says military situation in Kharkiv ‘extremely difficult’

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has admitted the military condition in the northeastern Kharkiv region was "extremely difficult", but still "under control", after a meeting with his military chiefs near the front line.

South Africa calls on ICJ to halt Israel’s ‘genocidal’ Rafah invasion

South Africa has urged an end to Israel's "genocidal" war in the Gaza Strip and for its attack on the southern city of Rafah to be halted, in a new submission at the International Court of Justice  (ICJ).

Iraqi president denies Iranian interference in Iraq, voices support for Palestinian statehood

Iraqi President Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid has vehemently denied accusations of Iranian military involvement in Iraq's affairs.

Putin meets Xi in Beijing as China, Russia pledge to deepen partnership

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing during a state visit to the Asian country on Thursday. It is Putin’s first foreign trip since he was sworn in for a fifth term as president earlier this month.

600,000 Palestinians left Gaza’s Rafah due to Israeli strikes: UN

The number of Palestinians who were forced to leave Rafah in southern Gaza Strip due to the attacks by Israeli soldiers rose to 600,000, the United Nations has reported.

Blinken’s visit to Kiev shows US concerned over Ukrainian failures on frontline: Russia

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to Kiev is a sign that the Biden administration is concerned about the situation on the frontlines in Ukraine conflict, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said at a briefing.

Israel’s insistence on Rafah invasion forces negotiations into unknown fate: Hamas

The head of Hamas's political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, has warned that Israel's insistence on continuing its military aggression against the southern Gaza city of Rafah puts negotiations over the captives' release and ceasefire in an unknown fate.

Another Biden admin. staffer quits over US stance on Gaza war

Another staffer in United States President Joe Biden’s administration has publicly resigned in protest against the US’s continued support for Israel amid its war on Gaza which has so far killed more than 35,000 Palestinians.

Putin says Russian army making gains on all Ukraine fronts daily

The Russian armed forces are improving their tactical positions in all directions every day in the Ukraine conflict, Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated.

Israel orders Al Jazeera closure in West Bank: Report

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant ordered the army Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi to block Al Jazeera from broadcasting in the West Bank, according to a report.

Zelensky cancels visit to Spain, Portugal due to difficult condition in Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has postponed foreign visits scheduled for this week, his press secretary announced. The cancellation comes amid the Russian offensive in the Kharkov border Region.

Putin says Russia wants comprehensive, sustainable settlement of Ukraine conflict

Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated he is open to resolving the conflict in Ukraine through dialogue but seeks a settlement that will be comprehensive and sustainable.

Poll shows almost 70% of British public want end to Gaza war

More than two-thirds of British people want a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, according to a survey by the pollster YouGov.

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