Belarus Frees Opposition Leaders Maria Kalesnikava and Viktar Babaryka in U.S.-Brokered Deal 
U.S. Soldiers Killed in ISIS Attack in Palmyra, Syria During Counterterrorism Mission 
Special Prosecutor Alleges Yoon Suk Yeol Sought North Korea Provocation to Justify Martial Law 
Colombia’s Clan del Golfo Peace Talks Signal Mandatory Prison Sentences for Top Leaders 
Thousands Protest in Brazil Against Efforts to Reduce Jair Bolsonaro’s Prison Sentence 
U.S. Intelligence Briefly Curtailed Information Sharing With Israel Amid Gaza War Concerns 
Tunisia Protests Grow as Opposition Unites Against President Kais Saied’s Rule 
New Epstein Photos Surface Showing Trump as Lawmakers Near Document Release Deadline 
Trump Signals Two Final Candidates for Fed Chair, Calls for Presidential Input on Interest Rates 
Preservation Group Sues Trump Administration to Halt $300 Million White House Ballroom Project 
Korea Zinc Plans $6.78 Billion U.S. Smelter Investment With Government Partnership 
Hong Kong Democratic Party Disbands After Member Vote Amid Security Crackdown 
Supporters Gather Ahead of Verdict in Jimmy Lai’s Landmark Hong Kong National Security Trial 
U.S. Special Forces Intercept Ship Carrying Military Components Bound for Iran 
Global Leaders Condemn Deadly Antisemitic Shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach During Hanukkah 
Ukraine’s NATO Concession Unlikely to Shift Peace Talks, Experts Say 
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged on Sunday that Israel’s global standing has been severely damaged by the ongoing Gaza war, despite Washington’s continued diplomatic backing. Speaking on CBS News’ Face The Nation, Rubio said, “Whether you believe it was justified or not, you cannot ignore the impact this has had on Israel’s global standing.” His comments came in response to former President Donald Trump’s remarks that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had “gone too far” in Gaza, costing Israel significant international support.
Over the past two years, the United States has used its U.N. Security Council veto six times to block resolutions critical of Israel’s military operations in Gaza. The most recent veto, cast last month, opposed a draft calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, leaving Washington isolated as the only dissenting vote among the 15-member council. While the U.S. did support a statement condemning recent airstrikes in Qatar’s capital, the document notably omitted Israel’s name.
At the U.N. General Assembly, the U.S. and Israel have faced overwhelming opposition. Multiple resolutions demanding a ceasefire and humanitarian access to Gaza have passed with large majorities, including one that received 158 votes in December 2024. Although non-binding, these resolutions reflect the growing global consensus against the war’s toll on civilians.
Rubio also noted that key allies—France, the U.K., Australia, and Canada—have recognized a Palestinian state, signaling a major diplomatic shift. Recent international summits have endorsed “timebound, irreversible steps” toward a two-state solution. Despite this, Israeli leadership remains firmly opposed to Palestinian statehood, while the U.S. insists it can only be achieved through direct negotiations.
The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people. Israel’s response has killed over 67,000 Palestinians, according to local health authorities. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the humanitarian devastation has eroded Israel’s moral and diplomatic standing worldwide.
