Friday, December 19, 2025

World

Florida talks aimed at ‘creating a pathway’ for sovereign Ukraine: Rubio

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday stated that negotiations with a Ukrainian delegation in Florida were aimed at "creating a pathway" for a sovereign Ukraine, as the United States pushes to end Russia's war against its neighbor.

Israelis protest outside Herzog’s home to demand rejection of Netanyahu pardon request

Scores of Israelis protested near President Isaac Herzog’s home in Tel Aviv on Sunday night to oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s request for a presidential pardon from corruption charges.

Trump says sets no deadlines for Russia on Ukraine war

US President Donald Trump has stated that he is not seeking to set any deadlines for Moscow regarding the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict.

NATO says needs to be ‘more aggressive’ towards Russia

NATO members should find ways to be more aggressive towards Russia, the US-led alliance’s top military chief has stressed.

Navy chief reaffirms Iran’s sovereignty over Persian Gulf Islands, says foreign claims to fail

The commander of the Iranian Navy reaffirmed the historical and undeniable right of the Iranian nation to the islands of Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb in the Persian Gulf, stressing that foreign powers’ policies and ambitions toward the trio  are destined to fail.

Israeli PM submits formal pardon request

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, facing long-running corruption cases, has submitted a formal pardon request to President Isaac Herzog, the head of state's office announced Sunday.

Egypt trains Palestinians for future Gaza police force

Cairo is training hundreds of Palestinian police officers with an eye towards integrating them into a post-war security force in the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian official told AFP.

Israel has ‘de facto state policy’ of organised torture: UN

Israel has “a de facto state policy of organised and widespread torture”, according to a United Nations report covering the past two years, which also raised concerns about the impunity of Israeli security forces for war crimes.

Russian attack on Ukraine kills six as Kyiv envoys travel to US for peace negotiations

A Russian attack on Ukraine has killed six people and wounded dozens more, officials confirmed. Emergency crews have restored power to over 400,000 households in Kyiv after strikes on the power grid, as the United States moves to broker peace talks.

Tens of thousands rally in Europe, demanding justice over Israeli war on Gaza

Tens of thousands of people have marched in cities across Europe, denouncing Israel’s genocidal war on the Gaza Strip and demanding tougher global action against its continued and deadly violations of a United States-brokered ceasefire.

Gaza death toll surpasses 70,000: Health Ministry

The health ministry in the Gaza Strip on Saturday announced more than 70,000 people have been killed since the Israeli war erupted more than two years ago.

Kiev behind drone attacks on Black Sea tankers: Ukrainian source

Kiev was responsible for attacks on two oil tankers in the Black Sea that it believed were covertly transporting sanctioned Russian oil, a Ukrainian security source told AFP on Saturday.

Russia confirms receipt of US draft peace plan on Ukraine

Russia has received the “main parameters” of the revised Ukraine peace plan, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has stated.

Palestinians forced into lockdown as Israel’s West Bank invasion continues

Entire Palestinian communities have been forced into lockdown in parts of the occupied West Bank, a human rights group warned, as the Israeli military continues to carry out wide-scale, deadly attacks in the territory.

US pauses visas for Afghan travelers after National Guard shooting

The U.S. State Department has suspended visa processing for Afghan nationals after two West Virginia National Guard members were shot near the White House.

Turkey confirms  two sanctioned tankers hit by ‘explosions’

Two tankers sanctioned by the West were damaged by blasts in the Black Sea on Friday, Turkish officials have announced.

Syria condemns Israeli aggression on Damascus countryside as ‘criminal onslaught’

Syria has condemned the Israeli army raid on the town of Beit Jinn in the Damascus countryside as a “criminal assault,” saying the incursion and subsequent airstrikes amounted to a war crime.

NATO member states considering ‘cyber offensive’ against Russia: Politico

NATO’s European members are reportedly considering joint offensive cyber operations against Russia, Politico has reported, citing two senior EU government officials and three diplomats.

Hezbollah says reserves right to respond to Israel’s killing of senior commander

Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Naim Qassem has condemned Israel’s killing of top commander Haitham Ali al-Tabtabai, calling it a “deliberate crime”, and emphasized that the armed group reserves the right to retaliate at a time of its choosing.

Ukraine says won’t cede territory to Russia

Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky will not agree to give up any territory to Russia as long as he remains in charge of the country, his top aide and chief negotiator, Andrey Yermak, has stated.

13 killed, several wounded in Israeli attack on Beit Jinn town in Damascus countryside

At least 13 people were killed, including women and children, and several were wounded early Friday in an Israeli attack on the town of Beit Jinn and the road leading to Mazraat Beit Jinn in the Damascus countryside.

Israel still committing genocide in Gaza: Amnesty International

Amnesty International has announced that Israel is “still committing genocide” against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, despite the ceasefire agreed last month.

Iranian MP criticizes UN forum for giving platform to separatist groups

A member of Iran’s parliament strongly criticized the United Nations Forum on Minority Issues for allowing armed separatist groups to speak under the banner of minority representation. 

Iran reserves right to pursue US accountability for war: Envoy

The Iranian ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations has reaffirmed Tehran’s “full and unequivocal” right to seek accountability from Washington and pursue compensation for losses resulting from the June war.

Israel hits Lebanon with nearly 700 air raids since ceasefire: Report

Israel carried out 669 airstrikes on Lebanon since a ceasefire took effect in November 2024, at a rate of two attacks per day, an Israeli security institute announced Thursday.

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