Wednesday, December 24, 2025

World

Iran’s envoy warns Tehran may withdraw from NPT if UN sanctions are reinstated

Iran has warned that it could legally withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) if European signatories to the 2015 nuclear accord proceed with endeavors to reinstate United Nations sanctions against Tehran.

US says reduced presence of staffers not deemed essential in Middle East as tensions rise

The United States is drawing down the presence of staffers who are not deemed essential to operations in the Middle East and their loved ones due to the potential for regional unrest, the State Department and military announced Wednesday.

E3 lacks legal authority to trigger ‘snapback’ of sanctions: Iran’s envoy

Iran’s ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has stated that the three European signatories of the 2015 nuclear deal—Britain, France, and Germany (E3)—are in violation of the agreement and therefore lack the legal authority to activate its “snapback mechanism” and reinstate international sanctions against Tehran.

Gaza death toll surges past 55,000 as Israel’s war continues unabated

At least 55,104 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s war on the besieged Gaza Strip since October 2023, the Health Ministry announced on Wednesday.

More than 2,700 Gaza children diagnosed with acute malnutrition amid Israeli siege: UN

Over 2,700 Palestinian children were diagnosed with acute malnutrition in the Gaza Strip amid a crippling Israeli siege on the enclave, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said on Wednesday.

Russia doubts NATO’s Article 5, could use ‘little green men’ to test it: Germany

Moscow wants to test NATO's resolve by hostile steps beyond Ukraine, as some Russian officials believe the alliance's collective defense principle no longer works, German intelligence chief Bruno Kahl told the Table Media news outlet in an interview.

Pentagon says US to cut military aid to Ukraine

Washington will reduce funding allocated for military assistance to Ukraine in its upcoming defense budget, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has stated in a congressional hearing.

Several countries sanction two Israeli far-right ministers

Britain and four other nations have imposed sanctions on two far-right Israeli cabinet ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, accusing them of repeatedly inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.

US military evaluating options to prevent nuclear-armed Iran: CENTOCM

The top U.S. general overseeing American troops in the Middle East has stated that there were a range of options when asked if the military was prepared to respond with overwhelming force to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran.

Washington is not committed to a Palestinian state, Muslim neighbours could give land: US envoy

A Palestinian state in the occupied West Bank is no longer a Washington policy goal, but Israel’s “Muslim neighbours” could give up their land to create one, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has told Bloomberg news.

Iran ‘much more aggressive’ in nuclear negotiations: Trump

US President Donald Trump has stated that Iran has become “much more aggressive” in nuclear talks.

UN experts say Israel commits ‘extermination’ in Gaza

U.N. experts announced in a report on Tuesday that Israel committed the crime against humanity of "extermination" by killing civilians sheltering in schools and religious sites in the Gaza Strip, part of a "concerted campaign to obliterate Palestinian life."

Seized Gaza aid boat Madleen taken to Israeli port

A Gaza-bound aid boat illegally seized in international waters by Israel has been towed into Ashdod Port, with the dozen international activists who were on board now facing detention and deportation.

IAEA chief claims Israeli attack could drive Iran to seek nuclear weapons

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, has warned that an Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities could push Tehran closer to developing nuclear weapons as indirect negotiations between the United States and the Islamic Republic continue through Omani mediation.

Iran is involved in Gaza hostage talks: Trump

U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that Iran is involved in negotiations aimed at arranging a ceasefire-for-hostages agreement between Israel and Hamas.

Gaza health system ‘extremely fragile’ as aid point killings raise: ICRC

The healthcare system in the Gaza Strip is “extremely fragile” amid the ongoing Israeli war, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has warned.

IAEA says Iran obtaining agency’s documents is ‘bad’, shows poor collaboration

Tehran's acquisition of confidential United Nations nuclear watchdog documents is a 'bad' step that goes against the spirit of cooperation that should exist between the organization and Iran, its chief Rafael Grossi said on Monday.

Ukraine says Russia launched biggest drone attack since onset of war

Russia hit Ukraine overnight with its largest drone attack since the start of the war, causing some damage at a military airfield in the west of the country that was one of its main targets, the Ukrainian air force announced on Monday.

NATO urges 400% increase in air defenses to counter Russia: Bloomberg

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has called on alliance members to deliver a "quantum leap" in defense investment as the threat from Russia persists, Bloomberg reported.

Ukraine planned drone attack on Russian ships in Asia: Washington Post

Ukraine had planned to target Russian warships in the Asia-Pacific region using drones, in a similar way to how it previously attacked airbases that host Moscow’s strategic bombers, according to a report by the Washington Post.

US travel ban barring citizens from 12 countries, including Iran, goes into effect

President Donald Trump’s new travel ban on citizens from a dozen countries, mainly in Africa and the Middle East, went into effect at 12 a.m. on Monday, more than eight years after his first such ban sparked chaos, confusion, and months of legal battles

New Russia sanctions bill ‘on hold’ over White House’s stance: Bloomberg

The latest drive in the US Congress for more sanctions on Moscow, spearheaded by Senator Lindsay Graham, is now stalled due to President Donald Trump’s opposition, Bloomberg reported.

Russia warns against anti-Iran resolution at IAEA board meeting

Russia’s permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna has warned the European states about the consequences of pushing an anti-Tehran resolution during the upcoming Board of Governors meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Israeli soldiers seize Gaza aid boat

Israeli soldiers have taken command of a charity vessel that had tried to break a naval blockade of the Gaza Strip and the boat with its crew of 12 including activist Greta Thunberg is now heading to a port in Israel.

Gaza aid sites branded ‘human slaughterhouses’ under deadly Israeli army fire

At least 13 Palestinians have been killed and more than 150 injured after Israeli soldiers and American security contractors opened fire on crowds waiting for food near two aid distribution sites in the Gaza Strip, one east of Rafah and another near the Wadi Gaza Bridge.

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