Thursday, December 25, 2025

Media Wire

Israeli minister says Iran fighting against Israel on all fronts

Israel’s minister of military affairs has stated that Iran is waging ‘multi-front war of attrition’ against Israel, amid warnings that a broad-scale war is more likely after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s controversial judicial reforms sparked an internal crisis in the occupied territories.

Daesh kills dozens of mushroom hunters in Syria

At least 26 people have been killed in an attack by the Daesh terrorists in Syria’s province of Hama, Syrian’s news agency, SANA, reported. A source with the regional police told the news agency that local residents were collecting truffles in the desert in the east of the province when they were assaulted by militants.

Syria says priority is to work on its bilateral relations with Arab states

Syria’s return to the Arab League will be "almost impossible before correcting bilateral relations", Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad said.

US says sanctions threaten dollar’s dominance as Iran, Russia seek out alternatives

The United States Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has warned that economic sanctions imposed on other countries like Iran and Russia threaten the dominance of the dollar in the global economic market.

Nearly 5k Palestinian inmates in Israeli jails: Report

Israel is keeping about 4,900 Palestinians prisoners, including women and children, behind bars, according to a new report by Palestinian rights advocacy groups.

Live Update: Russia’s “Special Operation” in Ukraine; Day 418

Russia, wary of NATO’s eastward expansion, began a military campaign in Ukraine in February 2022 after the Western-leaning Kiev government turned a deaf ear to Moscow’s calls for its neighbor to maintain its neutrality. In the middle of the mayhem, Moscow and Kiev are trying to hammer out a peaceful solution to the conflict. Follow the latest about the Russia-Ukraine conflict here:

Iran Covid: New cases on decline

The number of Coronavirus cases continues to reduce in Iran. The Iranian Health Ministry figures on Sunday showed nearly 600 people had been infected with the deadly virus in the past 24 hours.

Yemen’s Houthis, Saudi Arabia complete prisoner swap

Yemen’s Houthi movement and Riyadh-backed Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) have released dozens of inmates on the last leg of a three-day exchange of nearly 900 detainees, raising prospects for nationwide peace in the warn-torn country.

IMF predicts high rates, oil prices and inflation worries in ME

Banks in the Middle East and Central Asia have very limited exposure to last month's banking turmoil in the United States and Europe, but financial pressures are adding to strains caused by high interest rates, volatile oil prices and years of double-digit inflation, a top IMF official has stated.

Media: Top Hamas leaders to visit Saudi Arabia following Tehran-Riyadh rapprochement

A delegation of the Palestinian Resistance Movement Hamas is set to visit Saudi Arabia, Palestinian media reported, describing it as a major development as Israel’s hopes of forging official ties with Riyadh appear to dwindle further.

Many killed, injured in Dubai apartment block fire

A fire in a residential building in Dubai has killed at least 16 people and injured several others in the Persian Gulf emirate, local media reported.

OPEC figures show Iran’s oil output at 2.567 mln bpd in March

Figures by The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) shows Iran’s oil output in March was almost unchanged from February.

Mass protests held in Israel against PM’s judicial reforms for 15th straight week

Tens of thousands have taken to the streets in Israel to protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to overhaul the judiciary, despite his decision to pause the contentious proposals.

Live Update: Russia’s “Special Operation” in Ukraine; Day 417

Russia, wary of NATO’s eastward expansion, began a military campaign in Ukraine in February 2022 after the Western-leaning Kiev government turned a deaf ear to Moscow’s calls for its neighbor to maintain its neutrality. In the middle of the mayhem, Moscow and Kiev are trying to hammer out a peaceful solution to the conflict. Follow the latest about the Russia-Ukraine conflict here:

IEA warns OPEC+ output cuts risk oil supply deficit, threaten economic recovery

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has warned that output cuts announced by OPEC+ producers risk exacerbating an oil supply deficit expected in the second half of the year and could hurt consumers and global economic recovery.

Around 80 percent of Russians trust in Putin: Poll

About 80 percent of Russians say they have confidence in President Vladimir Putin, according to the results of a survey conducted by the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center.

US lawmakers call on EU to blacklist IRGC as terrorist entity

A group of bipartisan US lawmakers have urged the European Union to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation.

Diplomats underline ‘Arab leadership role’ in resolving Syria crisis at Saudi meeting

Senior diplomats from the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have agreed that the Arab world must play a “leadership role” in efforts to find a political solution to the crisis in Syria so that its sovereignty is preserved and the return of Damascus to the Arab League is facilitated.

Saudi Arabia to launch four new special economic zones

Four special economic zones are to be established in Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has announced.

Lawmakers call on Biden admin. to ensure US funds not used in Israeli settlements

A group of US lawmakers have urged President Joe Biden to undertake a foundational “shift” in its dealings with Israel and ensure that American taxpayers’ money will not be allocated to Israeli settlements.

Egypt says to evaluate developments before normalizing ties with Iran

The Egyptian foreign minister has said that his country will take steps to normalize ties with Iran based on the evaluation of the developments regarding the recent agreement between Tehran and Riyadh.

Live Update: Russia’s “Special Operation” in Ukraine; Day 416

Russia, wary of NATO’s eastward expansion, began a military campaign in Ukraine in February 2022 after the Western-leaning Kiev government turned a deaf ear to Moscow’s calls for its neighbor to maintain its neutrality. In the middle of the mayhem, Moscow and Kiev are trying to hammer out a peaceful solution to the conflict. Follow the latest about the Russia-Ukraine conflict here:

Yemen’s Houthis, Saudi Arabia begin major prisoner swap

An exchange of hundreds of prisoners linked to Yemen’s long-running war began on Friday, the International Committee of the Red Cross has announced, a significant confidence-building measure amid peace talks between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis.

CENTCOM says several US forces diagnosed with ‘traumatic brain injury’ in Syria attacks

A spokesman for US Central Command (CENTCOM) has confirmed that 11 more American troops have been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury following a series of attacks that targeted US bases in Syria in March.

Iran calls for probe into “US-funded biological laboratories” abroad

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani has called for an international investigation into reports of US-funded biological laboratories in Ukraine and elsewhere across the world.

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