Thursday, December 25, 2025

Media Wire

Moscow says US planning to use terrorists in Syria to kidnap Russian, Iranian forces

The US continues to use militants under its control to undermine Syrian President Bashar Assad, Director of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service Sergey Naryshkin has said. He added Washington is planning to hire terrorists to kidnap Russian and Iranian servicemen there.

Ex-Pakistani PM charged with terrorism over recent unrest

Police in Islamabad have filed terrorism charges against former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The development comes after crowds of his supporters rioted outside a courthouse in the Pakistani capital. Khan was due to appear at the court on Saturday to answer corruption charges.

Hundreds of Israeli military reservists stop volunteering for duty over PM judicial overhaul

About 700 Israeli reservists said they will no longer report for duty if the proposed overhaul to Israel's judicial system is approved by the far-right leadership.

Palestinians and Israelis agree to lower tensions ahead of Ramadan

Palestinian and Israeli officials have agreed at a meeting in Egypt to take steps to curb rising violence ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Polls show most Americans see Iraq war a mistake, 2 decades after invasion

Two decades after the US invaded Iraq, most Americans believe the war, which left about a million people dead and ruined the Arab country, was a mistake, a new poll shows.

Russia’s “Special Operation” in Ukraine; Day 390: Putin, Xi to discuss China’s peace plan for Ukraine war

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:

Israeli soldiers kill four Palestinians in West Bank

An Israeli army raid has left at least four Palestinians dead in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin, Palestinian officials have confirmed.

Pakistan court postpones police action against Imran Khan until Friday

A high court has ordered the Pakistani police to stop an operation to arrest Imran Khan to Friday, defusing a surge in violence that saw supporters of the former prime minister clashing with security forces.

Protests resume in Israel after Netanyahu rejected Herzog proposal over judicial crisis

Israelis have pressed ahead with demonstrations against a government plan to weaken the independence of the judiciary, pushing back against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after he rejected a President’s proposal meant to diffuse the crisis.

Iran’s Raisi opens advanced cancer treatment center

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi inaugurates a high-tech medical center specializing in the prevention and treatment of cancer.

Ex-Saudi intel. head hopes Tehran-Riyadh agreement will be ‘game-changer’ for ME

Former Saudi intelligence chief Turki al-Faisal has expressed optimism that the deal between Tehran and Riyadh to restore diplomatic relations will be a “game-changer” for the West Asia region.

Ex-Iraqi PM lauds Gen. Soleimani as architect of Iran-Saudi deal

Former Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi has hailed late Iranian anti-terror commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani as a “pacesetter” in the recent agreement between Tehran and Riyadh to restore diplomatic ties.

Erdogan, Aliyev discuss Azerbaijan-Armenia relations

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has held a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, discussing the normalization of Armenian-Azerbaijani ties.

Grossi says IAEA team to visit Iran within days

Rafael Grossi Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has voiced cautious optimism that Iran will boost inspectors’ access and restore monitoring equipment. Grossi said he’s sending a technical team in the next few days to follow up on Tehran’s commitments.

Putin and Assad hold meeting in Moscow

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Syrian counterpart, Bashar al-Assad, held talks in Moscow. The leaders have exchanged views on a broad range of bilateral and international issues.

Live Update: Russia’s “Special Operation” in Ukraine; Day 386

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:

US senators introduce resolution on human rights record in Saudi Arabia

US senators have introduced a resolution that could force the White House to critically appraise Saudi Arabia’s human rights record and possibly reassess Washington's security assistance for Riyadh.

Russia says disappointed by E3 decision over Iran trade system

Moscow is disappointed by the decision of France, Germany and the United Kingdom to terminate the Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges (INSTEX) with Iran, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said.

China says to conduct maritime drills with Iran and Russia in Gulf of Oman

China, Iran and Russia will conduct naval wargames in the Gulf of Oman from March 15 to March 19, China's defense ministry announced on Wednesday.

Saudi Arabia says investments in Iran could happen very quickly following Tehran-Riyadh deal

Saudi Arabia's Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan said on Wednesday that Saudi investments in Iran could happen "very quickly" following an agreement between the two nations.

Azeri President: Azerbaijan sees good chance for reaching peace with Armenia

There is every chance of achieving peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has said.

Live Update: Russia’s “Special Operation” in Ukraine; Day 385

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:

US summons Russia envoy following downing of drone over Black Sea

A US Air Force MQ-9 Reaper surveillance drone was brought down on Tuesday over the Black Sea, after what its European Command (EUCOM) described as “an unsafe and unprofessional intercept” by two Russian jets.

Syrian president lands in Moscow to meet Putin

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad arrived in Moscow on Tuesday for talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

European countries decry Israeli bill allowing settlers’ return to evacuated areas in WB

Several European states have condemned the Israeli parliament’s approval of a bill that will enable settlers to return to areas of the West Bank evacuated in 2005 as part of the so-called Disengagement Law.

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