Israel has recognized Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia, reportedly in exchange for establishing a military base there. Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud made the allegation, warning that the move could heighten the risk of conflict in the region. He stated that Somalia would not accept any Israeli presence in its territory, according to TRT World.

In interviews with TRT World and Al Jazeera, Mohamud described Israel’s recognition of Somaliland as unexpected and strange. Citing intelligence reports, he claimed Somaliland agreed to host Israeli military facilities and to resettle Palestinians. Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991, operates autonomously but lacks international recognition. Mogadishu continues to regard Somaliland as part of Somalia and views any direct foreign engagement with it as a violation of national sovereignty.

Mohamud also said Somaliland had accepted participation in the 2020 Abraham Accords involving Israel and several Arab states. Reports suggest Israel seeks to strengthen its strategic position along key waterways such as the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House late last month to discuss the possibility of launching another military strike on Iran. Reports from international media said the talks focused on Iran’s nuclear program, missile capabilities, and regional security concerns, which have intensified in recent weeks.

According to Anadolu Agency, Netanyahu raised Israel’s concerns over Iran’s nuclear and missile development and mentioned Hezbollah’s efforts to rebuild its long-range missile stockpile in Lebanon. Axios reported, citing a U.S. official, that a potential second round of attacks on Iran in 2026 was discussed. The previous June saw a 12-day conflict involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran, targeting Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure. Trump had then warned that any renewed Iranian nuclear activity would be met with destruction.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has warned of a strong response to any aggression, while Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi urged Trump to return to dialogue under a “respectful environment.”

Israeli forces on Wednesday demolished at least 25 buildings in the Nur Shams refugee camp in the northern occupied West Bank. The buildings had housed around 100 families. The Israeli military said the operation was part of an effort to eliminate armed groups operating in the area.

Nur Shams camp has long been a flashpoint for clashes between Palestinian fighters and Israeli forces. According to reports, bulldozers and cranes were used in the early morning to destroy the structures, filling the air with thick dust as residents watched from a distance. Resident Mutaz Mahr described the destruction as deeply painful, saying the occupying forces were trying to exhaust and pressure them.

Nihaya al-Jundi, a member of the camp’s popular committee, said hundreds of families had already been displaced earlier in the year before the latest military operations began. She added that more than 1,500 families still cannot return to their homes, calling the situation a major disaster and a severe humanitarian crisis for Palestinian refugees.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a New Year’s Eve address, declared his belief that Russia will win the war in Ukraine. He urged support for the soldiers fighting in Ukraine, calling them heroes, and stated that the outcome of the conflict remains undecided amid ongoing peace talks and intense fighting. Putin’s remarks came as Europe voiced concern that the war could expand beyond Ukraine’s borders if it continues.

In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv seeks peace but will not sign any “weak” agreement. He emphasized that Ukraine wants the war to end but not at the cost of its sovereignty. Zelensky acknowledged the exhaustion of his nation but affirmed that surrender is not an option.

Zelensky also revealed that a peace agreement mediated by the United States was about 90 percent complete, though unresolved issues remain. He said the remaining 10 percent would determine the fate of peace and significantly affect the future of Ukraine, Europe, and people’s daily lives.

The year 2025 witnessed widespread armed conflicts across multiple regions, with major wars breaking out between India and Pakistan, and Israel and Iran. The report highlights that Israeli attacks on Gaza continued throughout the year, while the Russia-Ukraine conflict remained unresolved. In South Asia, India launched air and missile strikes on Pakistan on May 6 following a deadly shooting in Kashmir, prompting a four-day war that ended on May 10 after U.S. President Donald Trump mediated a ceasefire.

In the Middle East, Israel launched a surprise assault on Iran on June 13 under “Operation Rising Sun,” killing top Iranian military leaders and nuclear scientists. Iran retaliated with “Operation Wadae Sadeq-3,” before both sides agreed to a ceasefire announced by Trump on June 23, which took effect on October 24. Meanwhile, the Russia-Ukraine war entered its third year without resolution despite U.S. mediation efforts.

Elsewhere, Thailand and Cambodia clashed twice over border disputes, Sudan’s civil war persisted, and Israel carried out strikes in Lebanon and Syria. The report warns that new conflicts may emerge in various regions in the coming year.

The United States has carried out another strike on a vessel accused of drug trafficking, resulting in at least five deaths. The attack was announced in a statement by the US military’s Southern Command on Wednesday, though the location of the operation was not specified. Previous similar strikes had taken place in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean, according to Al Jazeera. The US Coast Guard has been directed to conduct search and rescue operations at the site, but no evidence supporting the attack has been presented.

The statement detailed that three alleged traffickers were killed in the first operation, while others from two additional boats jumped into the water to escape. Those boats were later sunk in a subsequent strike, which killed two more people. The military said the Coast Guard was instructed to activate its search and rescue system. A similar incident in September had drawn heavy criticism after reports that survivors were targeted, with some Democratic lawmakers and legal experts calling it a crime, while the Trump administration and some Republican lawmakers defended it as lawful.

Israel has decided to revoke the licenses of 37 organizations providing humanitarian assistance in Palestine, citing their failure to meet new registration requirements. According to Israeli authorities, the groups did not submit complete personal data of their staff as required under the updated regulations. The suspension, affecting well-known international NGOs such as ActionAid, the International Rescue Committee, and the Norwegian Refugee Council, will take effect on January 1, with operations to cease within 60 days.

The move has drawn sharp criticism from ten countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Canada, and Japan, which described the new rules as excessively strict and unacceptable. In a joint statement, their foreign ministers warned that forced closures of international NGOs would severely disrupt access to essential services such as healthcare in Gaza, where humanitarian conditions remain catastrophic. They urged Israel to allow NGOs to continue sustainable operations.

The UN-supported Humanitarian Country Team previously warned that Israel’s new registration policy poses fundamental risks to NGO activities in Gaza and the West Bank, calling the system arbitrary and politically driven, with conditions that could undermine humanitarian principles.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres delivered a strong message to global leaders ahead of 2026, calling for unity and a shift away from divisive politics and warfare. In a New Year video address, he urged leaders to focus on protecting people and the planet amid growing global instability, conflict, and uncertainty.

According to UN sources cited by AFP, Guterres said the world stands at a critical crossroads marked by division, violence, climate disasters, and widespread violations of international law. Referring to ongoing wars, including in Ukraine, he emphasized that reducing human suffering and taking effective action against climate change should be the top priorities for 2026.

Guterres criticized excessive military spending, noting that global defense expenditure rose by about 10 percent this year to 2.7 trillion dollars—13 times higher than global development spending and equal to Africa’s total GDP. He warned that the current scale of warfare has not been seen since World War II and argued that investing in poverty reduction would make the world safer. The year 2026 will mark his final year as UN Secretary-General.

As 2025 draws to a close, countries worldwide are preparing to welcome the new year with celebrations despite a backdrop of turmoil. The year was defined by Donald Trump’s tariff policies, a fragile ceasefire in Gaza, failed peace efforts in Ukraine, and the intensifying effects of climate change. Sydney, known as the “New Year capital,” observed a minute of silence before midnight to honor victims of a recent shooting, while millions gathered globally for festivities from New York to Rio de Janeiro.

The year 2025 was among the hottest on record, with wildfires in Europe, severe droughts in Africa, and deadly rains in Southeast Asia. Global events included the return of K-pop group BTS, the election of a new Pope, and the death of primatologist Jane Goodall. Trump’s tariffs unsettled markets, and economists warned of continued instability into 2026.

Looking ahead, NASA plans to send humans around the Moon in 2026 under the Artemis-2 mission, while investors show caution toward artificial intelligence. The world enters 2026 seeking peace, stability, and renewed hope after a year of heat, conflict, and uncertainty.

Outgoing UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi has voiced deep concern over the growing divisions and conflicts worldwide. Speaking to AFP, Grandi said that increasing geopolitical fragmentation is intensifying crises and fueling hostility toward people fleeing violence and war. He reflected on his decade-long tenure at the UN refugee agency, describing the current global situation as one of the most troubling he has witnessed.

Grandi, an Italian diplomat, emphasized that geopolitical divisions have triggered numerous crises and are preventing the world from resolving conflicts. He warned that the inability to establish peace reflects a broader failure of the international community to unite in addressing global challenges.

According to Grandi, the deepening divisions not only hinder peace efforts but also exacerbate suffering for displaced populations, underscoring the urgent need for renewed global cooperation and solidarity.

U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed a 20-point peace plan aimed at resolving the Russia-Ukraine war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Kyiv and Moscow are expected to sign the agreement in January. Following a meeting with Trump in Florida, Zelensky said he hopes Ukraine, the United States, Russia, and Europe will reach consensus on the document soon.

According to details, Zelensky sought U.S. security guarantees in exchange for a ceasefire with Russia, a condition accepted by Washington. The fifth point of Trump’s plan includes a 15-year U.S. security guarantee for Ukraine, though Zelensky is negotiating to extend it to 50 years. He stated that only U.S. troops would remain in Ukraine after the ceasefire, and the Trump administration would provide Patriot air defense systems for national security.

Zelensky also highlighted postwar reconstruction efforts, noting that Trump emphasized rebuilding war-torn Ukraine. He said U.S. and European companies would invest in reconstruction and other sectors, aiming to raise citizens’ average income after the war.

The United States has announced new sanctions targeting Iran and Venezuela, accusing them of assisting in drone and ballistic missile trade. The measures, announced on Tuesday, apply to ten individuals and entities from both countries. According to the report, the Trump administration stated that such trade poses a threat to the United States and its allies in the Middle East.

The sanctions include a Venezuelan company and its chairman, accused of purchasing Iranian drones, as well as three Iranian nationals allegedly involved in procuring chemicals used in ballistic missile production. Several Iran-based individuals and organizations linked to the previously sanctioned ‘Rayan Fan Group’ were also named. The US Treasury Department said the sanctions aim to restore UN restrictions related to Iran’s nuclear activities and increase economic pressure on Tehran.

The Treasury further stated that Iran’s supply of conventional weapons to Venezuela threatens US interests in the Western Hemisphere and pledged to take all necessary measures to halt such trade.

The United States has signed a defense agreement with Israel to strengthen the latter’s military capabilities. According to the Pentagon, the deal, valued at $8.6 billion, involves the supply of 25 F-15IA fighter jets manufactured by Boeing. The aircraft will be designed, integrated, tested, and produced in Missouri, with final delivery to Israel scheduled for December 31, 2035. The announcement followed a meeting in Florida between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during which Netanyahu also held a closed-door discussion with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The report noted that since the Gaza conflict began two years ago, the United States under both the Biden and Trump administrations has provided Israel with at least $21.7 billion in military assistance. This support includes unconditional arms aid, annual privileges, additional wartime funds, and limited congressional oversight, which have collectively bolstered Israel’s defense sector.

The new F-15IA deal further deepens US-Israel defense cooperation and underscores Washington’s continued commitment to Israel’s military modernization.

Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met in Dhaka on Wednesday at the residence of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to pay their final respects. According to Geo News, this was the first such meeting between senior officials of the two countries since their conflict in May 2025.

The meeting took place against the backdrop of recent hostilities between India and Pakistan. India had blamed Pakistan for a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, in Indian-administered Kashmir, an allegation Islamabad has consistently denied. Following the attack, India launched strikes inside Pakistan, prompting retaliatory action from Islamabad. The confrontation ended after a ceasefire brokered by the United States.

The Dhaka meeting, marked by a cordial handshake between the two leaders, symbolized a rare moment of contact between the neighboring nations after months of tension.

Israel has warned that it will suspend the operations of several donor and humanitarian organizations working in the war-torn Gaza Strip, accusing them of failing to comply with new regulations. According to the report, the restrictions are set to take effect from Thursday and will affect more than 30 groups, including Doctors Without Borders, the Norwegian Refugee Council, CARE International, the International Rescue Committee, Oxfam, and Caritas. Israel claims these organizations did not meet requirements to share information about their staff, funding, and activities.

Tel Aviv further alleged that some staff members of Doctors Without Borders were cooperating with Hamas and that the organization failed to clarify their roles. Doctors Without Borders denied the accusations and warned that Israel’s decision would have a devastating impact on its medical work in Gaza. International organizations described Israel’s new rules as arbitrary, while Israeli authorities stated that permits for 37 groups had not been renewed.

The dispute underscores growing tensions between Israel and international aid agencies over operational transparency and humanitarian access in Gaza.