U.S. Intelligence Briefly Curtailed Information Sharing With Israel Amid Gaza War Concerns 
Hong Kong Democratic Party Disbands After Member Vote Amid Security Crackdown 
Global Leaders Condemn Deadly Antisemitic Shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach During Hanukkah 
U.S. Soldiers Killed in ISIS Attack in Palmyra, Syria During Counterterrorism Mission 
U.S. Special Forces Intercept Ship Carrying Military Components Bound for Iran 
Colombia’s Clan del Golfo Peace Talks Signal Mandatory Prison Sentences for Top Leaders 
Thailand Vows Continued Military Action Amid Cambodia Border Clash Despite Trump Ceasefire Claim 
California, 18 States Sue to Block Trump’s $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee 
International Stabilization Force for Gaza Nears Deployment as U.S.-Led Planning Advances 
Israeli Airstrike in Gaza Targets Senior Hamas Commander Amid Ceasefire Tensions 
Russian Drone Attack Hits Turkish Cargo Ship Carrying Sunflower Oil to Egypt, Ukraine Says 
Air Force One Delivery Delayed to 2028 as Boeing Faces Rising Costs 
Trump Signals Two Final Candidates for Fed Chair, Calls for Presidential Input on Interest Rates 
Belarus Frees Opposition Leaders Maria Kalesnikava and Viktar Babaryka in U.S.-Brokered Deal 
Ukraine’s NATO Concession Unlikely to Shift Peace Talks, Experts Say 
International Outcry Grows Over Re-Arrest of Nobel Laureate Narges Mohammadi in Iran 
Supporters Gather Ahead of Verdict in Jimmy Lai’s Landmark Hong Kong National Security Trial 
Hamas officials arrived in Egypt on Sunday for renewed negotiations with Israel, a move Washington hopes will lead to an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of remaining hostages. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that “the next days are critical,” noting the talks will reveal whether Hamas is serious about peace.
Israeli negotiators, led by Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, were expected to join the discussions in Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday. The talks form part of U.S. President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace initiative aimed at ending the nearly two-year Gaza war, freeing hostages, and shaping Gaza’s future.
Trump said negotiations were “advancing rapidly,” urging all sides to “move fast” to complete the first phase this week — the exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners. Hamas’ delegation, led by Gaza’s exiled chief Khalil Al-Hayya, arrived in Egypt late Sunday, marking his first visit since surviving an Israeli strike in Doha last month.
While Hamas has agreed to several key elements of Trump’s plan, it continues to reject demands for disarmament. Trump, however, praised Hamas’ response, saying it signaled readiness for “a lasting peace,” and called on Israel to halt its strikes on Gaza — which have continued, killing at least 19 people on Sunday, according to Gaza health officials.
Negotiators in Egypt are now focused on achieving a comprehensive agreement before enforcing a ceasefire, avoiding the phased approach that caused past talks to collapse. Rubio warned the process “cannot take weeks or even multiple days.”
Despite the ongoing violence, optimism is growing in Israel. The shekel hit a three-year high and Tel Aviv stocks reached record levels. While right-wing ministers oppose ending the war, opposition leader Yair Lapid vowed to support the Trump-led deal to ensure it succeeds.
Since Hamas’ October 2023 attack that killed 1,200 Israelis, Israel’s military campaign has claimed over 67,000 lives in Gaza, deepening its global isolation.
