Updates: Iran calls on UN Security Council to condemn Israeli strikes amid fresh peace efforts
Iran unlikely to escalate situation with Israel, say experts, as UN chief says destruction in Gaza is "shocking". Netanyahu faces...Geostrategy
Is Musk’s million-dollar US voter lottery legal?
Donald Trump surrogate Elon Musk's offer of a million dollars to one registered voter in a swing state every day...Geostrategy
Families of Gaza’s Christians tense due to war
Jerusalem - Khalil Sayegh lives in the United States and for days he anxiously awaited news of his family who...The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem reported that on December 16 two Christian women were "murdered" by an Israeli army sniper.
A Jerusalem-based nun,said she is only able to reach two other nuns sheltering at the Holy Family Church every three or four days.
Israeli evacuation diktat leaves Gaza without safe zone, says UN body
Israel's latest evacuation order for civilians in the central Gaza Strip would force them to relocate to areas "where there..."The Israeli army just orders people to move into areas where there are ongoing air strikes. No place is safe, nowhere to go," said a UN official.
"People in Gaza are people. They are not pieces on a checkerboard -- many have already been displaced several times," he added.
Six Turkish soldiers dead in Iraq after PKK attack
Ankara, Turkey - Six Turkish soldiers were killed and one wounded when their base in northern Iraq was attacked by members...Friday's attack on Turkish troops by the Kurdistan Workers' Party occurred near Hakurk, the defense ministry said.
In October, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed to continue stepping up its strikes on targets in Iraq and Syria.
War affects Christmas festivities in southern Lebanon
Qlayaa, Lebanon - In the Lebanese Christian border village of Qlayaa, the priest urged his parish to keep the Christmas spirit...Despite the violence, the church has put up lights, a life-sized manger and is planning recitals and activities for the community's children.
Residents along the border are used to "difficult times", said father Antonios Farah, "but we have decided... we will celebrate Christmas as usual".
UN expresses ‘alarm’ at spreading violence in Sudan
The Council in a joint statement denounced attacks on civilians and the spread of the violence "into areas hosting large...The UN called on the warring parties to allow for safe and unhindered humanitarian access
It said apart from the 7m internally displaced another 1.5m had fled into neighboring countries
Ukraine says it shot down three Russian Su-34 fighters
Air force commander Mykola Oleshchuk said the Su-34 jets were downed around noon on Friday. In his announcement he noted...In his nightly address on Friday, President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the soldiers who shot down the Russian fighters in the Kherson region
The Kremlin has not commented on the Ukrainian claims but Russian war blogger Fighterbomber said there had been losses, likely due to the Patriot missile air-defence system
Saudi defense minister hosted by UK counterpart at Lancaster House in London
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — UK's Secretary of State for Defense Grant Shapps welcomed Saudi Arabia's Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin...Upon Prince Khalid bin Salman's arrival, a formal reception ceremony was held, featuring a review of the guard of honor
The two sides discussed strengthening the strategic partnership between the UK and Saudi Arabia
UK terms UN resolution on Gaza as ‘good news’
UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron termed it good news that that the UN has come together to "back a resolution...Cameron said that the resolution also calls for steps towards a sustainable ceasefire
Russia and the United States abstained, meaning it passed with 13 votes in favor
UNSC approves aid resolution as Gaza crisis mounts
As fighting between Israel and Hamas intensifies, the UN Security Council has passed a resolution to enhance aid to Gaza,...As fighting between Israel and Hamas intensifies, the UN Security Council has passed a resolution to enhance aid to Gaza, where civilians face severe hardships.
Escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has led to over 410 deaths in 48 hours and intense urban warfare, triggering a severe humanitarian crisis.
UN resolution urges more aid for Gaza as death toll rises
Fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza raged as the UN Security Council approved a much-delayed resolution to boost aid...The resolution also urged the creation of "conditions for a sustainable cessation of hostilities" but did not call for an immediate end to fighting.
It came after the UN's World Food Program warned that Gaza's population is at a "high risk of famine".
