Mirziyoyev in Tokyo: Uzbekistan–Japan ties strengthen
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s official visit to Tokyo represents more than a strengthening of bilateral relations; it is a strategic step tha...
The UN on Friday said humanitarian operations are continuing in the Gaza Strip, with aid convoys moving through multiple crossings and thousands of people recorded travelling across the territory.
Speaking at a press conference, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said that yesterday, medical supplies, food, fuel, and other cargo were collected from the Kareem Shalom, Karim Abu Salam, and Kissufim crossings.
He added that partners monitoring movement across Gaza reported more than 17,600 movements from south to north and 12,900 movements from west to east in Khan Yunis on Wednesday.
UN relief chief Tom Fletcher entered Gaza from Egypt via the Israeli-controlled Karim Shalom crossing on Friday and visited Castle Bakery in Deir al-Bala, one of nine bakeries supported by the World Food Programme with fuel and ingredients across central and southern Gaza. Dujarric described Fletcher’s visit as the “first time” since the ceasefire and thanked the US for helping secure the necessary approvals from Israel and Egypt.
When asked how the UN verifies truck entry data provided by Israel’s COGAT (Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories), Dujarric explained that these figures are given to mediators by COGAT. The UN can only verify the number of trucks it directly handles. He said:
“We hope to have a mechanism in the coming days to provide our own verified numbers. Part of the challenge is that we do not have UN monitors at every crossing.”
Dujarric noted that the UN is not always permitted to place monitors at all entry points, adding that restrictions come from Israel. He also stressed that the UN is “learning to operate in a new environment” and has seen improved cooperation from the Israeli side, which they hope will continue.
Ukraine has welcomed the European Union’s decision to provide €90 billion in support over the next two years, calling it a vital lifeline even as the bloc failed to reach agreement on using frozen Russian assets to finance the aid.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has warned that attempts to reach a peace agreement in Ukraine are being undermined by Russia’s continued refusal to engage meaningfully in negotiations.
Petroleum products are being transported by rail from Azerbaijan to Armenia for the first time in decades. The move is hailed as a tangible breakthrough in efforts to normalise relations between the long-time rivals.
A rare pair of bright-green Nike “Grinch” sneakers worn and signed by the late NBA legend Kobe Bryant have gone on public display in Beverly Hills, ahead of an auction that could set a new record for sports memorabilia.
U.S. President Donald Trump delivered a wide-ranging address from the White House in which he sought to highlight what he described as his administration’s achievements while laying the groundwork for his plans for the year ahead and beyond, on Wednesday (18 December).
U.S. intelligence sources indicate that Russian President Vladimir Putin still intends to take control of all of Ukraine and reclaim parts of Europe that once belonged to the Soviet Union. These assessments contradict Putin’s repeated claims that he poses no threat to Europe.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued a stark warning over the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.
The foreign ministers of Cambodia and Thailand have told Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that they are willing to pursue a ceasefire, as tensions flared along parts of the two countries’ shared border.
The Conservative Party says it would cut funding for green energy projects and redirect the money into defence, arguing the UK needs to be ready for war.
The European Union is facing mounting political pressure over its ability to keep Russian sovereign assets frozen, as internal divisions, leadership changes and war fatigue reshape decision-making across the bloc.
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