Earlier on Saturday, IDF soldiers shot and killed two terrorists who were observed crossing the Gaza ceasefire's Yellow Line in the northern Strip, according to the Israeli military.

2025-12-20T17:56:44.863723+00:00 IST

Europe

Zelenskyy calls Budapest Memorandum “piece of paper”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday described the 1994 Budapest Memorandum as a "piece of paper", stressing that Ukraine will not accept any peace agreement with Russia that lacks strong and enforceable security guarantees.

2025-12-20T17:54:54.542005+00:00 IST

Middle East

UAE welcomes statements by US Secretary of State on Sudan

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, has welcomed the statements by Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State, on Sudan, in which he stressed that the immediate objective is a cessation of hostilities with the start of the new year, to allow humanitarian organizations to deliver assistance across the country.

2025-12-20T17:54:36.619163+00:00 IST

Middle East

Rulers of Emirates congratulate Emir of Kuwait

The Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates have sent congratulatory cables to Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Emir of Kuwait, on the occasion of the second anniversary of his accession to the throne

2025-12-20T17:50:29.652562+00:00 IST

Asia

Pakistanis express outrage, lose faith in judiciary after Imran

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were sentenced to 17 years of imprisonment each by a special court of the country's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Saturday in the Toshakhana-2 corruption case, triggering widespread criticism from ordinary citizens who termed the verdict "politically motivated" and a "farce" that has further eroded public trust in Pakistan's judicial system and democratic institutions.

2025-12-20T17:36:15.470487+00:00 IST

Asia

Lord Krishna, Hanuman were greatest diplomats: Jaishankar

Emphasising India's own traditions and highlighting instances of strategy and statecraft in its scriptures, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday said that Lord Krishna and Lord Hanuman were "greatest diplomats" also and noted that one is the great diplomat of story of Mahabharata, the other is great diplomat of the Ramayana.

2025-12-20T16:52:28.125224+00:00 IST

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar addresses UN

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, humanitarian, spiritual leader and founder of The Art of Living, addressed a distinguished gathering at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on Friday, 19 December, as part of the lead up to World Meditation Day 2025, observed annually on 21 December.

2025-12-20T16:44:58.519477+00:00 IST

Asia

Inqilab Moncho issues 24-hour ultimatum to Bangladesh Home Min

With the final prayers for the funeral service for the slain Inqilab Moncho convenor, Sharif Osman Hadi, concluded on Bangladesh's Dhaka University campus on Saturday, the organisation rallied towards the Shahbagh area, issuing a 24-hour ultimatum to the country's Home Ministry, demanding a report on the progress of arrests of the killers of Osman Hadi.

2025-12-20T16:40:55.087984+00:00 IST

US sanctions Maduro's family, allies amid ongoing pressure on Ven

In a statement issued by the US Department of the Treasury on Friday, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated relatives and associates of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, further pressuring the Latin American country over corruption and narcotics-related activities.

2025-12-20T16:09:30.144824+00:00 IST

Europe

UN's top court to hear Rohingya genocide case

The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, will hold public hearings in the case concerning allegations of genocide against Myanmar over its treatment of the Rohingya community in January 2026.

2025-12-20T14:35:30.088991+00:00 IST

Asia

Pakistan: Audit flags multi-billion rupee financial irregularites

Financial irregularities amounting to billions of rupees have been detected in Pakistan's local government institutions across the southern region of the Punjab Province, The Express Tribune reported, citing the Auditor General of Pakistan's audit report for the financial year 2022-23, released on Saturday.

2025-12-20T13:54:47.441279+00:00 IST

Middle East

UN Anti-Corruption Conference in Doha concludes

The world's largest anti-corruption gathering concluded in Doha today with the adoption of the 'Doha Declaration 2025: strengthening international cooperation and technical assistance and seizing the opportunities provided by artificial intelligence systems in preventing and combating corruption'.

2025-12-20T13:44:35.942352+00:00 IST

Asia

Pakistan poorly prepared to deal with HPAI threat, experts warn

Experts have warned that Pakistan lacks the scientific, institutional and technical capacity required to monitor and respond to the growing threat posed by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A (HPAI), as the virus continues to spread globally across wildlife, livestock and, in limited cases, humans, The Express Tribune reported.

2025-12-20T13:44:12.090379+00:00 IST

Middle East

UAE health sector strengthens leadership

The UAE's health sector recorded a series of landmark achievements in 2025, reinforcing the country's position as a global hub for medical innovation and enhancing the readiness of its healthcare system across diagnostic, therapeutic, and research domains.

2025-12-20T13:43:40.600885+00:00 IST