Tuesday, December 23, 2025

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Live Update: Russia’s “Special Operation” in Ukraine; Day 284

Russia, wary of NATO’s eastward expansion, began a military campaign in Ukraine on February 24 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:

Covid kills 3 more patients in Iran as WHO warns ‘not there yet’ on coronavirus

The death toll from the Coronavirus pandemic in Iran increased to 144,637 with three more patients killed by the deadly disease over the past 24 hours, Iran's Health Ministry announced on Saturday. The World Health Organization (WHO) has also estimated that as much as 90% of the world's population now has some resistance to COVID-19, while at the same time warning that diminishing vigilance could leave the door open for new variants to evolve.

Syrian president Assad rejected Russian requests to meet with Turkey’s Erdogan: Report

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has rebuffed his Russian allies' efforts to hold a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, citing Turkey’s upcoming elections and the presence of Ankara's troops on Syrian soil.

Palestinian youth killed by Israeli soldiers after being shot four times

Israeli troops have shot dead a Palestinian at point blank, with the Palestinian foreign ministry describing the shooting as an execution. The ministry warned the killing meant to escalate already spiraling violence in the occupied territory.

UN nuclear chief says Iran-IAEA cooperation needs to get back on track

Iran appears to be at odds with the UN nuclear watchdog over information it should be providing regarding its nuclear program, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said. Rafael Grossi added that Tehran and the IAEA need to put their relationship back on track.

Live Update: Russia’s “Special Operation” in Ukraine; Day 283

Russia, wary of NATO’s eastward expansion, began a military campaign in Ukraine on February 24 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 registers another day of Covid zero deaths

The Iranian Health Ministry figures on Friday showed that the Coronavirus pandemic had killed nobody over the past 24 hours in the country.

Hillary Clinton calls on Biden to abandon nuclear talks with Iran

The US should not be negotiating with Iran “on anything right now”, including a nuclear agreement, former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Thursday.

Kurdish forces halt joint operation with US after Turkish attack

A spokesman for the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) has confirmed all joint military operations with the US-led coalition have been put on hold following Turkish bombardment of its positions in northern Syria.

Biden, Macron support unrest, riots in Iran

US President Joe Biden and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on Thursday jointly saluted Iranians who have poured to the streets across the country for months after the death of a young woman in police custody. Hundreds, including security forces, have died during the protests and deadly riots.

Russia’s “Special Operation” in Ukraine; Day 282: Zelensky aide reveals between 10,000 and 13,000 Ukrainian troops killed

Russia, wary of NATO’s eastward expansion, began a military campaign in Ukraine on February 24 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:

One Covid death registered in Iran

Iran’s Health Ministry on Thursday announced that one patient had died of the Coronavirus pandemic over the past 24 hours. It comes after the country had reported zero deaths from the deadly disease for six straight days.

Lebanese parliament fails 8th time to elect new president

Lebanese lawmakers on Thursday failed for the eighth time to elect a new president. Speaker Nabih Berru scheduled a new session on December 8, as the country's political deadlock continues to prevent consensus on a new president.

Russia warns of risks of sliding into nuclear war

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has warned that any conflict between nuclear states, even if it starts with conventional weapons, is likely to escalate into an all-out nuclear war, and thus should be avoided at all costs.

Iran-Russia-China new triangle in multilateral diplomacy: Moscow’s envoy

A senior Russian diplomat says his "productive" talks with his Iranian and Chinese counterparts on issues of common interest are indicative of the emergence of a new triangle in multilateral diplomacy.

Russia names condition for resuming arms control talks with US

Moscow sees no possibility of resuming talks with Washington on the cornerstone New START arms control treaty while the US continues to arm Ukraine, Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova says

2 Palestinians killed during Israeli raid in WB

Israeli soldiers have shot dead two Palestinians during a raid near the city of Jenin in the northern part of the occupied West Bank.

Russia’s “Special Operation” in Ukraine; Day 281: Russia says US and NATO are participants in Ukraine war

Russia, wary of NATO’s eastward expansion, began a military campaign in Ukraine on February 24 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:

Daesh announces death of leader

Daesh terrorist group has lost another leader, according to reports. Abu al-Hasan al-Hashimi al-Qurashi died “in battle”, the terror group has announced.

Bomb blast hits Afghan school, dozens killed and injured

At least 15 people have been killed and 20 others wounded in a bomb blast at a religious school in the northern Afghan province of Samangan, according to a local official.

Iran registers sixth day of Covid zero deaths

The Iranian Health Ministry figures on Wednesday showed that the Coronavirus had killed nobody in the past 24 hours in the country. It's the sixth day in a row that the death toll from the deadly disease since the outbreak of the pandemic stays unchanged.

Three killed, dozens injured in bomb blast in Pakistan’s Quetta

A suicide bomb blast has struck a police vehicle in the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta, killing at least one police officer and two civilians and wounding dozens, according to police.

Cahiers du Cinéma names Iranian movie ‘Hit the Road’ as best first film of 2022

Cahiers du Cinéma magazine has chosen "Bazan Prize" for the Best First Film of the year to "Hit the Road" directed by Panah Panahi, the son of acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Jaafar Panahi.

Iran-Iraq cooperation to boost regional security: Speaker

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said that cooperation between Tehran and Baghdad, in addition to the booming economy, will lead to improvement of regional security.

Live Update: Russia’s “Special Operation” in Ukraine; Day 280

Russia, wary of NATO’s eastward expansion, began a military campaign in Ukraine on February 24 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:

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