Friday, December 19, 2025

Media Wire

One killed, one injured in ship collision in southern Iran

The collision of two ships near Khamir Port in southern Iran has killed a young man and injured another.

Elderly Palestinian beaten to death by Israeli troops

An 80-year-old Palestinian man has died in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah after being arrested and beaten in handcuffs by Israeli forces.

Report: US quietly ditches Israel gas pipeline to Europe

The US government silently abandoned an eastern Mediterranean pipeline project that would carry Israeli gas through Cyprus to Europe this week by submitting a non-paper to Athens explaining its reasons, according to a report by Middle East Eye.

Yemen berates ‘ridiculous and pathetic’ Saudi use of US film to accuse Iran

Yemen has lambasted the Saudi-led military coalition for using footage of an a documentary on the US invasion of Iraq to accuse the country’s armed forces of stockpiling ballistic missiles in the besieged Red Sea port city of Hudaydah.

Russia launches military drills near Ukraine border

Russia has staged live-fire exercises involving troops and tanks near the Ukrainian border. It comes as Russian and the US negotiators gave no sign of narrowing their differences in briefings after the recent talks in Switzerland.

Lebanon central bank chief banned from leaving country

A Lebanese judge has issued a travel ban against Central Bank Governor over a lawsuit accusing him of financial misconduct.

4 soldiers killed in Armenia-Azerbaijan border clashes

Azerbaijan Republic and Armenia reported clashes on their border Tuesday that killed one Azeri force and three Armenian troops, the latest skirmish following a 2020 war between the two rivals

US says modest progress made in nuclear talks

US State Department Spokesman Ned Price says there was “modest progress” in the Vienna negotiations between Iran and world powers in recent days.

‘Pakistan-based Taliban leader killed in Afghanistan’

A senior leader of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (known as Pakistan Taliban or TTP) has been killed in eastern Afghanistan, a Pakistani security official says.

Kremlin says not optimistic on US talks

The Kremlin spokesperson says Moscow was not optimistic after a first round of talks with the United States on the Ukraine crisis. Dmitry Peskov added Russia would not allow its demands for security guarantees from the west to become mired in tortuous negotiations.

China’s Iran oil imports hit record high despite US bans

China's imports of crude oil from Iran last year hit a record high since the US re-imposed sanctions on Tehran in 2018 with the aim of bringing the country's oil sales down to zero, Bloomberg reported.

‘Afghanistan not to pose threat to other countries’

Acting Afghanistan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi says the new government is exercising power over the whole country, and the Islamic Emirate-led government will not pose a threat to any country in the world.

Kazakhstan govt. says coup attempts failed, 10k arrested

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has stated coup attempts in the country have failed. This as the country's Interior Ministry announced in a statement Nearly 10,000 people were detained during the recent unrest

Iran UN envoy calls on US to deliver Achaemenid tablets

Iran's ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations stressed Washington must deliver Achaemenid tablets to Tehran completely and without any excuse.

Chinese, Saudi FMs discuss Iran nuclear deal, Yemen

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks on Monday with Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud in Wuxi City of Jiangsu Province. The top diplomats discussed a range of issues, including the Iran nuclear deal and Yemen.

Russia: Chances to restore JCPOA increasing

The Vienna negotiations aimed at reviving the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) are speeding up and the chances for reaching a solution have increased, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov says.

Prominent Iranian actress to chair French film festival

Well-known Iranian actress Leila Hatami was named as the president jury of the 28th Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinemas.

Blast kills 9 minors in eastern Afghanistan

Nine children were killed and four others injured in an explosion near a school in eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar.

Iran futsal team, coach, players among world top 10

Iranian men's National Futsal Team, its coach and several male and female players were selected among global top 10 list by Futsalplanet.com.

Polls: Most Americans support Iran nuclear deal, favor sanctions removal

Most US voters still support the Iran nuclear deal and believe US’s anti-Tehran sanctions should be lifted, according to new Morning Consult polling.

Putin says Russia not to allow ‘color revolutions’ in neighboring countries

Speaking of the events in Kazakhstan, Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized that Moscow will not allow the “color revolutions” to take place on its doorstep.

SANA: US building Syria refinery to increase oil theft

Official sources say the United States and Kurdish forces have launched the construction of an oil refinery in Hasaka Province in northeastern Syria to smuggle crude oil from the energy-rich region to the Iraqi territory.

Iran’s Farhadi loses Golden Globe race to Japan’s Hamaguchi

The movie “Drive My Car”, directed by Japanese filmmaker Ryusuke Hamaguchi, won the Golden Globe for best non-English language film. “A Hero” directed by Asghar Farhadi was among the five nominees in the Best Motion Picture – Foreign Language category.

Intl. peacekeepers to stay in Kazakhstan until situation stabilizes

The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) peacekeepers will continue to fulfill their tasks in Kazakhstan until the situation in the country stabilizes fully, Andrey Serdyukov, who leads the CSTO peacekeeping effort in Kazakhstan, says.

Ministry: Over 160 killed, 6k arrested in Kazakhstan unrest

Official sources say more than 160 people were killed and 6,000 including several foreign nationals, detained in Kazakhstan during the unrest that shook the central Asian country.

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