More than 150 migrants are feared dead after a boat sank off the coast of Senegal while heading toward Spain’s Canary Islands. The incident occurred on Wednesday, according to Helena Maleno Garzón, head of the NGO Caminando Fronteras, who shared the news on social media on Friday. Senegalese newspaper Le Soleil reported that the vessel carried about 200 passengers, of whom 30 were rescued alive. Twelve deaths have been confirmed so far, with several victims identified by relatives.

The boat reportedly departed from the Diamniadio area of the Saloum Islands on December 22. Le Soleil said both engines failed, prompting the captain to attempt reaching a nearby beach and instructing passengers to fetch a smaller boat. Some passengers entered the water, leading to chaos and multiple drownings. Senegalese authorities have launched an investigation into the tragedy.

The route to the Canary Islands is known as one of the world’s most dangerous migration paths. Caminando Fronteras estimated that around 9,757 people died on this route in 2024. Spain’s Interior Ministry said sea arrivals to the Canary Islands have significantly decreased this year compared to last year.

At least eight people were killed and eighteen others injured in an explosion at a mosque in the central Syrian city of Homs during Friday prayers, according to the country’s health ministry. The blast occurred at the Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib Mosque on Al-Khodari Street in the Wadi Al-Dahab neighborhood. Emergency and ambulance services responded immediately, and officials warned that the death toll could rise.

The Syrian Interior Ministry confirmed that security units were dispatched to the scene and that an investigation had begun. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far. The Syrian Foreign Ministry described the bombing as an attempt to destabilize the country and vowed to hold those responsible accountable.

In a statement posted on social media platform X, the ministry condemned the act as a cowardly assault on human and moral values, asserting that its purpose was to undermine Syria’s security and stability.

An Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldier drove a vehicle over a Palestinian man who was praying in the West Bank on Thursday, December 25, 2025. Video footage of the incident spread widely on social media, sparking global condemnation. The video showed a man in civilian clothes carrying a gun and driving an ATV, suddenly ramming into the praying Palestinian before shouting at him to leave the area. The IDF confirmed that the driver was a reserve soldier and later suspended him from duty.

The victim, identified as Majdi Abu Mukho, was taken to a hospital after the attack. His father said that although he is now home, he continues to suffer severe pain in both legs and alleged that the soldier also sprayed pepper spray into his son’s eyes. According to United Nations data, 2025 has seen record levels of violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank, marking it as a particularly violent year.

The report also noted that since October 7, 2023, Israeli aggression in Gaza has killed more than 71,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children.

Tensions between Israel and Turkey have intensified following reports that Turkey is deploying radar systems inside Syria. According to Western intelligence sources cited by i24News, the deployment aims to enhance Turkey’s monitoring capabilities in the region. The move is expected to significantly restrict Israel’s freedom of movement in Syrian airspace and could also affect its ability to conduct operations in Iran and other nearby areas using Syrian routes.

Reports from Middle East Monitor indicate that the new Turkish radar installations will allow Ankara to track Israeli aircraft operating over Syria, as well as those en route to missions in Iraq or Iran. Israeli security sources described the potential establishment of Turkish military bases in Syria as a “possible threat,” warning that such developments could further limit Israel’s operational freedom in the region.

The situation underscores growing regional friction as both countries expand their strategic presence in and around Syria, with implications for future military coordination and airspace control.

A total of 170 doctors have completed their graduation in war-torn Gaza, holding a ceremony on Thursday in front of the destroyed Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. Once the largest hospital in the Palestinian territory, Al-Shifa suffered extensive damage during Israeli attacks that left most of its buildings and equipment destroyed or unusable.

The graduates continued their studies and hospital work during two years of famine, displacement, and mass violence. Some were injured or arrested during this period. Gaza’s Health Ministry official Yusuf Abu al-Reish described the event as earning degrees “through bombardment, rubble, and rivers of blood.” One graduate, Dr. Ahmed Basil, said achieving an advanced degree amid destruction sent a message that Palestinians cherish life and remain committed to scientific progress.

Empty chairs displaying photos of healthcare workers killed during the war were placed at the ceremony, symbolizing the loss suffered by Gaza’s medical community.

The second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement is expected to begin in early January, according to Israeli media citing a senior Israeli official. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff reportedly informed Israel and mediators that the next stage of the Gaza deal would start at the beginning of the new year. Israeli officials have expressed concern that U.S. President Donald Trump may proceed with the next phase without ensuring the disarmament of Hamas.

The ceasefire was originally agreed on October 9 under Trump’s peace plan, mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey. However, Gaza’s Health Ministry stated that Israeli violations of the agreement and delays in implementing the second phase have resulted in the deaths of more than 400 Palestinians. Since October 2023, Israeli attacks in Gaza have killed over 71,000 people, most of them women and children, and injured more than 171,000 others.

The report, citing TRT World, suggests that the coming phase will test the durability of the ceasefire and the effectiveness of international mediation efforts.

The nonprofit organization Open Doors reported that more than 60 attacks on Christians occurred across India during the Christmas period. Incidents included vandalism of churches, destruction of decorations, and threats against people celebrating the holiday. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India condemned the assaults, attributing them to extremist Hindu nationalist groups and urging the Home Minister to ensure legal protection for Christians.

Among the most criticized incidents was one in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, where a local BJP leader, Anju Varghava, was seen harassing and assaulting a visually impaired Christian woman during a Christmas event. The viral video drew widespread criticism, prompting the local BJP unit to issue a show-cause notice. Varghava denied wrongdoing, and police said no complaint had been filed. Videos from Odisha and Delhi also showed extremist youths harassing Christmas vendors and women in festive attire.

The United Christian Forum reported that at least 600 attacks on Christians occurred across India this year, raising concerns about the safety and religious freedom of minority communities.

Ukraine has carried out a missile strike on a Russian oil refinery using British-supplied Storm Shadow cruise missiles, according to the country’s armed forces. The attack targeted the Novoshakhtinsk refinery in Russia’s southern Rostov region, where multiple explosions were reported. Ukraine’s General Staff said its air force units successfully hit the target with air-launched missiles.

The military described the Novoshakhtinsk refinery as a key energy facility supplying diesel and aviation fuel to Russian forces. Ukrainian authorities stated that the strike was part of an intensified campaign against energy and infrastructure sites inside Russia, in response to ongoing Russian missile and drone attacks.

The report noted that Ukraine has previously used Storm Shadow missiles against targets within Russia, signaling a continued escalation in cross-border strikes amid the conflict.

At least three people were killed in an armed clash along the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border, according to Tajik officials. The incident occurred on Tuesday in Kavo village of Shamsiddin Shohin district when three individuals allegedly crossed the border from Afghanistan. The confrontation began after the group reportedly refused to surrender to Tajik border guards.

Tajik authorities described the infiltrators as terrorists who resisted arrest and planned an armed attack on a border post. The border guards launched an operation in which all three were killed. Officials said the group had crossed into Tajik territory before the clash erupted.

Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the site, including three M-16 rifles, one Kalashnikov assault rifle, three foreign pistols with silencers, ten hand grenades, a night-vision scope, explosives, and other military equipment, according to the officials.

The Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture reported that Israeli military operations and attacks by illegal settlers destroyed more than 8,000 olive trees across the West Bank within a week, resulting in an estimated loss of about $7 million. The most severe damage occurred in the northern and central regions, including the uprooting of 5,000 trees in Silat al-Harithiya (Jenin) and 3,000 in Turmus Ayya (Ramallah). Additional destruction was recorded in Tulkarem, Qalqilya, Salfit, Bethlehem, and East Jerusalem.

The ministry said agricultural infrastructure also suffered extensive damage, with 13 wells and farmhouses destroyed, irrigation systems harmed, water pumps stolen, 82 beehives ruined, and livestock poisoned. It described the attacks as part of a “systematic policy” aimed at seizing Palestinian land and displacing residents.

According to the report, violence in the West Bank typically intensifies during planting and harvest seasons. Since October 2023, Israeli forces and settlers have killed at least 1,100 Palestinians, injured around 11,000, and detained 21,000. In July 2024, the International Court of Justice declared Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem illegal and called for the evacuation of all settlements.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared that Israel will never withdraw from Gaza and announced plans to establish a wide security perimeter around the enclave as well as authorize settlements in its northern region. Katz made the remarks on Thursday during a public event, according to Anadolu Agency. Earlier in the week, he had made similar comments regarding settlement construction in northern Gaza.

The report states that Israel, with U.S. support, launched a major war in Gaza in October 2023, resulting in over 71,000 Palestinian deaths and injuries, most of them women and children. A ceasefire proposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump took effect on October 10, but Israel has allegedly violated it daily, causing 411 additional Palestinian deaths.

Katz further said that Israel would eventually establish the Nahal outpost in northern Gaza and exercise what he described as “de facto sovereignty” similar to its control in the occupied West Bank. The Palestinian Authority accused Israel of intensifying annexation efforts in the West Bank through demolitions, forced displacement, and settlement expansion, warning that such actions undermine the UN-backed two-state solution.

A recent Pentagon report has shown that China has rapidly become a major global arms supplier, with Pakistan emerging as its closest partner in aerial warfare. According to the report, China has already delivered 20 J-10C multirole fighter jets to Pakistan, and two additional orders will raise the total to 36. Pakistan is also jointly producing the JF-17 Thunder aircraft with China, which is already in service with the air forces of Azerbaijan, Myanmar, and Nigeria, while Iraq has expressed interest in the model.

Beyond aircraft, China has supplied Pakistan with advanced attack-capable unmanned aerial vehicles, including the Caihong and Wing Loong series. In the naval sector, Pakistan received four frigates from China in 2017 and 2018, and it is expected to remain a key partner in China’s future naval exports.

The Pentagon report attributes the growing popularity of Chinese weapons to competitive pricing, flexible financing, and the absence of political conditions. It describes Pakistan’s relationship with China as a comprehensive partnership involving joint development, production, and long-term strategic cooperation.

United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrived in Islamabad on Friday for his first official state visit to Pakistan. According to Pakistan’s Foreign Office, this marks his first formal visit as president, though it is his second trip to the country this year. Earlier in January, he met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Rahim Yar Khan. During the visit, Sheikh Mohamed and Prime Minister Sharif are expected to review bilateral relations and discuss key regional and international issues.

The Foreign Office described the visit as an important opportunity to further strengthen the longstanding fraternal ties between Pakistan and the UAE. It said the trip reflects both nations’ shared commitment to deepening cooperation in trade, investment, energy, development, and regional stability. The UAE is one of Pakistan’s largest trading partners and a major source of remittances, with thousands of Pakistanis working across various sectors in the Emirates.

In April, the two countries signed several memorandums of understanding to enhance cultural cooperation, establish a joint consular committee, and form a UAE–Pakistan Joint Business Council between their chambers of commerce.

The Gaza Civil Defense Department reported that 25 bodies, including that of female journalist Heba al-Abadla and her mother, were recovered from the rubble of a house in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. The victims were killed in Israeli attacks in January 2024, according to the statement cited by Anadolu Agency.

The department said that rescue operations are being carried out with limited equipment due to Israel’s ongoing blockade of the enclave. Despite a ceasefire agreement that took effect on October 10, Israel has reportedly prevented the entry of heavy machinery needed to clear debris, hindering recovery efforts. Families are identifying victims by clothing or physical features because of a lack of specialized medical equipment.

Gaza authorities have repeatedly accused Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement. Since the war began in October 2023, more than 71,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 171,000 injured, according to Gaza officials.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry has accused the United States of reviving piracy in the Caribbean Sea through its naval blockade against Venezuela. The ministry expressed hope that US President Donald Trump would make the right decision to prevent a crisis. The statement was reported by TRT World on Thursday.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said the situation in the Caribbean had descended into chaos, with piracy and robbery re-emerging. She reiterated Moscow’s call for de-escalation and urged Washington to seek a mutually acceptable solution within international legal frameworks. Zakharova reaffirmed Russia’s support for Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s efforts to safeguard his country’s sovereignty, national interests, and stable development.

She added that the issue of the US military presence in the Caribbean was discussed at a UN Security Council meeting earlier in the week, where most countries criticized Washington’s actions. Zakharova said such measures violated international maritime law and freedom of navigation, calling on the US to respect the region as a “zone of peace.”