Israel
An Israeli delegation arrives in Doha for talks with Hamas on the release of hostages and a ceasefire. The main disagreements concern control over the Philadelphia Corridor and the presence of troops in Gaza.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin recommends increasing military spending by more than $50 billion in fiscal year 2026. The plan envisages an increase in the Pentagon's budget to more than $1 trillion by 2028.
The Iranian army has added a thousand new high-security drones to its arsenal. The drones have considerable destructive power and are able to overcome air defense systems due to their low radar footprint.
Ryanair resumes flights to Tel Aviv from the end of March after being suspended due to the war with Hamas. The airline is waiting for Terminal 1 to open at Ben Gurion Airport to resume full operations.
Steve Witkoff is trying to reach an agreement on the release of hostages and a ceasefire before Trump's inauguration on January 20. Negotiations between Israel and Hamas continue in Doha with the mediation of Qatar, Egypt, and the United States.
Arkady Volozh hired a bodyguard for the first time after receiving a public health wish from Putin. The founder of Yandex has previously condemned the war in Ukraine and is not returning to Russia.
The U. S. House of Representatives has approved a bill on sanctions against officials of the International Criminal Court. The document provides for a ban on property transactions and visa revocation for those involved in ICC investigations.
Poland will not arrest Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu under an ICC warrant during his visit to Auschwitz on January 27, 2025. The Polish government guarantees the safe participation of Israeli leaders in the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the camp.
The Lebanese parliament elected army commander Joseph Aoun as president after a 2-year vacuum. The new leader promised to ensure a state monopoly on weapons and develop a strategy to deter Israel.
Israel's Prime Minister has canceled plans to attend Trump's inauguration on January 20. Earlier, Trump demanded that Israel end the conflict in Gaza and release the hostages before he takes office.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken meets with French President Macron in Paris. The parties discussed support for Ukraine, North Korea's assistance to Russia, and the situation in the Middle East.
Starting in 2025, Israel will introduce a mandatory ETA-IL electronic permit system for visa-free countries. Ukraine responds by imposing entry restrictions on Israeli citizens.
The UAE and Israeli Foreign Ministers met in the Persian Gulf to discuss the situation in Gaza. The parties discussed ways to achieve a ceasefire and the importance of international efforts to stabilize the situation.
Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip killed at least 28 people. Negotiations between Israel and Hamas on a ceasefire continue, and the humanitarian crisis is deepening.
The President of Ukraine spoke about the need to use frozen Russian assets to develop the military industry. Zelenskyy also discussed various forms of security guarantees and the importance of international partnership.
Hamas approved a list of 34 people proposed by Israel for release as part of a potential deal. The terrorist organization continues to insist on the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and a lasting ceasefire.
An Israeli delegation arrives in Qatar to resume indirect talks with Hamas on the release of hostages. Prime Minister Netanyahu provided detailed instructions for the negotiation process.
The Israeli Air Force successfully intercepted a missile launched by the Houthis from Yemen before it entered the country's airspace. Israel has warned the Houthis and Iran of the possibility of devastating strikes in response to the attacks.
The Israeli military destroyed a clandestine Hamas weapons production base in the central Gaza Strip. The complex contained military equipment, lathes, and other weapons manufacturing equipment.
Donald Trump has selected Morgan Ortagus, a former State Department spokeswoman, to serve as deputy special envoy for peace. She will join Steve Witkoff's team to work on the Gaza peace process and the agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
The US State Department informs Congress of plans to sell Israel $8 billion worth of weapons. The deal includes ammunition for fighter jets, helicopters, and artillery shells.
The US State Department has approved the sale of 20 light torpedoes and related equipment to Saudi Arabia. The contractor will be the American company RTX Corporation, with the deal worth $78.5 million.
The US State Department has released a declaration of gifts to the Biden family from world leaders. The most expensive was a $20,000 diamond from the Indian prime minister, and a $2.4,000 collage from Zelenskyy.
The US National Security Advisor presented Biden with options for a potential attack on Iran's nuclear facilities. The discussion focused on a possible U.S. response if Iran moves closer to developing nuclear weapons by January 20.
The President of Ukraine outlined the key elements of a just peace, including a powerful army and reliable security guarantees. Zelenskyy emphasized that NATO was the best option, and that guarantees without US participation would be weak.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry denies the UN's accusations that religious freedoms in the country are being restricted. The Ministry emphasizes that the law only prohibits subordination of religious organizations to the governing centers of the aggressor country.
An Israeli air strike on a tent camp in Gaza killed Hamas police chief Mahmoud Salah and security chief Husam Shahwan. A total of 11 people, including children and women, were killed in the attack.
Over the 15 months of the war, the population of the Gaza Strip decreased by 6% to 2. 1 million people.
The Israeli Defense Forces conducted a targeted strike in Khan Younis, killing the head of Hamas's internal security forces, Hasam Shahwan. The operation was conducted using precision weapons to minimize risks to civilians.
Israeli Ambassador to Kyiv expresses concern over incidents during Hanukkah celebrations.