Wednesday, December 24, 2025

World

France may toughen stance on Israel if it continues blocking Gaza aid: Macron

Paris could harden its position on Israel if it continues to block humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, French President Emmanuel Macron stated on Friday, reiterating that his country was committed to a two-state solution to resolve the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

US proposes 60-day ceasefire for Gaza

The U.S. plan for the Gaza Strip, seen by Reuters on Friday, proposes a 60-day ceasefire and the release of 28 Israeli hostages - alive and dead - in the first week, in exchange for the release of 1,236 Palestinian prisoners in the Israeli jails and the remains of 180 dead Palestinians.

US, E3 plan to push IAEA Board of Governors to find Iran in breach of duties: Reuters

Western powers are preparing to push the U.N. nuclear watchdog's Board of Governors at its next quarterly meeting to declare Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations for the first time in almost 20 years, a move bound to enrage Tehran, diplomats has stated.

Over 300 celebrities urge PM Starmer to end UK arms sales to Israel

Nineteen months into the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, more than 300 British artists, doctors, activists and academics have signed an open letter urging British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to end UK complicity in potential war crimes and broker an immediate and permanent ceasefire.

Persian Gulf leaders told Trump they oppose attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites: Axios

The leaders of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have all argued against a strike on Iran's nuclear facilities during US President Donald Trump's recent visit and encouraged him to continue pushing for a new nuclear accord, three sources with knowledge of the talks have told Axios.

Over 310 UNRWA staff killed in Gaza: Agency’s chief

More than 310 staff from the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) have been killed in Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip since October 2023, the agency’s chief has stated.

UN describes Gaza as “hungriest place on earth”

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has described the Gaza Strip as 'the hungriest place on Earth'.

US envoy says Trump to declare Syria ‘state that doesn’t sponsor terrorism’

US President Donald Trump will soon declare Syria a state that doesn't sponsor terrorism, US ambassador to Syria Thomas Barrack announced on Thursday.

Israel approves construction of 22 new settlements in occupied West Bank

Tel Aviv has approved the construction of 22 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, including at previously dismantled sites.

Israel kills 10 desperate aid seekers in Gaza in 2 days

At least 10 Palestinians, desperately seeking aid from a contentious and heavily criticised United States-backed organization, have been killed by Israeli soldiers in Gaza over the last 48 hours, according to the besieged enclave’s Government Media Office on Wednesday.

80% of weapons in south under state control: Lebanon PM

The Lebanese government has managed to bring 80% of weapons in southern Lebanon under its control, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has stated.

‘We’ll know in weeks’ if Putin serious about ending Ukraine war: Trump

U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that he would soon know whether Russian President Vladimir Putin is serious about ending the war in Ukraine, warning that if Moscow is stalling, Washington would "respond a little bit differently."

Israeli PM says Hamas Gaza chief Mohammad Sinwar has been killed

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed that Mohammad Sinwar, Hamas' Gaza chief and the younger brother of the Palestinian group's deceased leader and mastermind of the October 2023 attack, Yahya Sinwar, had been killed.

Trump warns Netanyahu off Iran attack as negotiations continue

United States President Donald Trump says that he told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to hold off on any strike against Iran to give his administration more time to push for a new nuclear accord with Tehran, as several rounds of talks have been held in Oman and Italy.

EU announces new Black Sea strategy to counter “Russian threats”

The European Union has unveiled a new security strategy for the Black Sea region, aiming to counter “growing Russian threats”, improve regional defense infrastructure, and deepen cooperation with key partners from Ukraine to Turkey, EU High Representative Kaja Kallas has stated.

Any US-Iran agreement should include ‘robust’ IAEA inspections: Atomic agency chief

Any deal between Iran and the U.S. that would impose fresh nuclear curbs on Tehran should include "very robust" inspections by the U.N. nuclear watchdog, International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi said on Wednesday.

Over 17k detained by Israeli military since Gaza war: Rights group

The Israeli army has arrested more than 17,000 Palestinians since October 2023, a prisoners’ affairs group announced on Wednesday.

Israel says carried out attack on Yemen’s Sanaa airport

Israel announced on Wednesday it launched air strikes on Yemen’s main airport in the capital, Sanaa, a day after Yemen’s Houthis fired two projectiles towards the occupied territories.

Hundreds of Israeli military officers draft letter demanding end to ‘immoral Gaza war’: Report

Hundreds of active and reservist Israeli army officers have written an open letter urging the Israeli government and military leadership to stop the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip. They describe it as a political war that 'does not serve Israel's national security and is therefore immoral,' according to a report by Haaretz.

UNICEF says over 50k Gaza children killed, injured during war

More than 50,000 children have been killed or injured in Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip since October 2023, the UN children’s fund said on Wednesday.

US blocks G7 push to tighten Russian oil price cap: FT

The United States has opposed a joint G7 effort to lower the $60-per-barrel price cap on Russian oil exports during last week's meeting of finance ministers, the Financial Times reported, citing three unnamed officials familiar with the talks.

China dimisses Ukraine’s allegations of supplying arms, defense components to Russia

The Chinese Foreign Ministry has denied Ukraine's accusations that it supplies Russia with special chemical products, gunpowder, and components for the defense manufacturing industry.

5th round of US-Iran negotiations ‘constructive’: Washington

The fifth round of US-Iran talks in Rome was "constructive" and marked "further progress", State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce stated Tuesday.

Israeli soldiers kill 3, wound dozens at Gaza aid distribution center

Israeli soldiers killed three Palestinians and wounded 46 on Tuesday at an aid distribution center in Rafah in southern Gaza, according to the Gaza Government Media Office.

Putin ‘playing with fire’: Trump

US President Donald Trump has suggested that his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin is “playing with fire”, without elaborating on what exactly he means. In recent days, the American leader has increasingly criticized the Kremlin over what he perceives as a lack of progress in peace negotiations between Moscow and Kiev.

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