Saturday, December 27, 2025

World

Trump’s envoy says US wants Zelensky to hold elections in Ukraine

Washington wants Kiev to have presidential and parliamentary elections, potentially by this year’s end, Reuters has reported, citing US President Donald Trump’s special envoy for the Ukraine conflict, Keith Kellogg.

Netanyahu delays sending negotiation team to Qatar ahead of meeting with Trump: Report

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided not to send a negotiation team to Doha for talks on the second phase of a ceasefire accord until after he met with US President Donald Trump, according to a report by the Walla news outlet.

Palestinians freed by Israel show signs of ‘torture, starvation’

Dozens of Palestinian prisoners released from Israeli jails show signs of torture and starvation, the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society announced following the latest batch that was released on Saturday.

At least five Palestinians killed in Jenin by Israel

A teenager was among five people killed in Israeli strikes in Jenin as the Israeli army’s deadly raids continued across the occupied West Bank.

Arab countries reject Trump’s Gaza displacement plan

A six-nation Arab ministerial meeting in Egypt's Cairo firmly refuted the displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and reiterated a demand for the implementation of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.​​​​​​​

EU divided over peacekeeping forces in Ukraine: Times

The European Union remains divided over the prospect of deploying Western-led peacekeeping troops to Ukraine if a ceasefire agreement between Kyiv and Moscow is reached, The Times has reported, citing multiple military and diplomatic sources.

Hamas releases three Israeli captives in exchange for over 180 Palestinians

The Palestinian movement Hamas has freed three Israeli captives in two separate handovers in exchange for the release of more than 180 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails. This is the latest stage of a gradual prisoner exchange under a ceasefire accord reached after 15 months of Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip.

Nearly half a million people return to north Gaza following truce: UN

The United Nations has reported that "nearly half a million people have returned to northern areas of the Gaza Strip" since the ceasefire took effect.

US pressuring Lebanese leadership to isolate Hezbollah: Reuters

The United States has been blocking bids aimed at the formation of a new government in Lebanon by “pressuring” the country’s top echelons to restrict the influence of Hezbollah and its allies in the upcoming cabinet, according to a report by Reuters.

WhatsApp confirms Israeli spyware company targeted dozens of its users

An official at Meta’s popular WhatsApp chat service has confirmed that Israeli spyware company Paragon Solutions targeted 90 of its users, including journalists and members of civil society.

Only 4% of Israelis believe objectives of Gaza war met: Poll

A survey released Friday showed that only 4% of Israelis believe the goals of the war in the Gaza Strip have been fully achieved, despite the return of hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians to the northern part of the besieged enclave.

Gaza ceasefire ‘at risk’ if UNRWA forced to stop aid operations

Israel’s forcible shutdown of the UN’s humanitarian work in the Palestinian territory would put the ongoing ceasefire between Tel Aviv and Hamas at risk, the United Nations Palestinian relief agency (UNRWA) at the head of the ban has warned.

Rebuilding Gaza could take 10-15 years: Trump’s Middle East envoy

US President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy has estimated that rebuilding the war-torn Gaza Strip could take 10 - 15 years, highlighting the vast destruction caused by Israel's relentless bombardment over the last 15 months.

Israeli war on Gaza costs nearly $42bn: Report

The cost of Israel’s war on Gaza has reached $42 billion, averaging $83.8 million per day, according to a report.

At least two killed in Israeli attacks on Lebanon

At least two people were killed after Israel launched a wave of attacks on Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley in its latest breach of a fragile ceasefire accord with Hezbollah.

Netanyahu to visit White House Tuesday, first foreign leader since Trump assumed office

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will visit the White House on Tuesday, marking the first visit by a foreign leader since US President Donald Trump assumed office.

Hamas confirms death of military chief Mohammed Deif

Hamas has confirmed the death of its military chief Mohammed Deif – believed to be one of the key architects of the October 7 attacks against Israel.

Eight Gaza captives, including five foreigners, released by Hamas as part of ceasefire deal

The Israeli army has announced eight captives, including three Israelis and five foreign nationals, held in the Gaza Strip have been released in the third phase of a ceasefire agreement between Tel Aviv and Hamas.

Iraqi man who carried out several Quran burnings in Sweden killed

An Iraqi man who carried out several Quran burnings in Sweden has died, a judge in Stockholm confirmed Thursday. Swedish media reported that he was killed in a shooting.

EU not considering banning Russian LNG until it secures alternatives: Reuters

The European Commission will not propose implementing a ban on Russian liquified natural gas (LNG) imports in its upcoming sanctions package amid concern among member countries about first securing an alternative from other states, including the United States, EU diplomats have told Reuters.

Trump vows to deport foreign Hamas sympathisers on college campuses in crackdown on ‘anti-Semitism’

US President Donald Trump has pledged to deport foreign university students involved in pro-Palestinian rallies, prompting an outcry from free speech and Muslim advocacy organisations.

Iran hawk US senator sentenced to 11 years in prison for Egypt-linked corruption case

Former American Senator Bob Menendez was sentenced to 11 years in prison following his conviction of bribery and corruption after accepting gold bars, cash and a car in exchange for helping Egyptian officials and businessmen.

Israeli air raid kills 10 Palestinians in West Bank

At least 10 Palestinians were killed, and many others were seriously injured on Wednesday evening in an Israeli airstrike on the town of Tammun in the northern occupied West Bank.

Rebel group leader declared Syria’s transitional president

Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani and a former al-Qaeda member, has been appointed as Syria's president for a transitional period.

US says Israel “model ally”, fully supports right to defend itself

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth held an introductory call Wednesday with his Israeli counterpart Israel Katz to discuss bilateral ties, according to a spokesman.

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