Ukraine says latest peace talks with U.S., Europe "productive
Ukraine's talks with U.S. and European partners over the past three days in the U.S. state of Florida were "productive and constructive," Ukraine's top peace negotiator Rustem Umerov said on Sunday.
In a Facebook post, Umerov said discussions between Ukraine and the U.S. focused on further development of a 20-point peace plan, aligning positions on multilateral and U.S. security guarantee frameworks for Ukraine, and further development of an economic and prosperity plan.
The sides also discussed timelines and the sequencing of next steps.
Israel to establish 19 new settlements in West Bank
Israel's security cabinet has approved the establishment of 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, bringing the number of settlements legalized or approved over the past three years to 69, an official said on Sunday.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a pro-settler politician, said in a statement that Israel's security cabinet approved the proposal that he "advanced together with Defense Minister Israel Katz to declare and authorize 19 new settlements," without specifying when the approval was granted.
The approvals cover both entirely new settlements and the retroactive authorization of settlements built without permits from Israeli authorities.
Israeli air strikes reportedly kill 3 Palestinians in Gaza
The Israeli military said its air force carried out several strikes near the "yellow line" in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, hitting five people, while Palestinian media reported that at least three people were killed.
An Israeli military spokesperson said Israeli forces struck "several suspects" in northern Gaza, who were gathering near the so-called "yellow line," a demarcation marking areas where Israeli troops remain deployed despite a ceasefire that took effect on Oct. 10. And in two additional incidents in northern Gaza, the air force struck two other individuals who crossed the demarcation line.
Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that at least three Palestinians were killed early on Sunday in the Shuja'iyya neighborhood, east of Gaza City. It said one civilian was killed in a drone strike on a group of residents, while two others were killed in separate drone strikes near a gas station in the area.
According to the authorities' Thursday update, Israeli military operations since October 2023 have killed at least 70,669 Palestinians and injured more than 171,165 others.
U.S. "in active pursuit" of a third oil tanker near Venezuela
The U.S. is "in active pursuit" of a third oil tanker in international waters off the coast of Venezuela, U.S. news outlets reported Sunday.
"The United States Coast Guard is in active pursuit of a sanctioned dark fleet vessel that is part of Venezuela's illegal sanctions evasion. It is flying a false flag and under a judicial seizure order," a U.S. official told NBC News.
Bloomberg News reported earlier on Sunday that the tanker, called the Bella 1, was boarded by U.S. personnel while en route to Venezuela to load cargo.
If caught, the oil tanker will be the third one linked to the oil-rich South American nation and intercepted by the U.S. in less than two weeks.
On Dec. 16, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a "total and complete blockade" of sanctioned tankers entering or leaving Venezuela, announcing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government had been designated as a "foreign terrorist organization."
Venezuela has accused Washington of seeking regime change and military expansion in Latin America, condemning the interception of oil tankers as "piracy."
France to build new aircraft carrier
French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Sunday the launch of development and construction work on the French Navy's future aircraft carrier, a move he described as a decisive step to reinforce the country's maritime power.
"In accordance with the last two military programming laws and after a thorough and careful review, I have decided to equip France with a new aircraft carrier. The decision to launch this major program was made this week," Macron said while addressing French armed forces stationed in the United Arab Emirates.
The future aircraft carrier is intended to replace the existing Charles de Gaulle and is scheduled to enter service in 2038, reported French daily Le Figaro.
Thai PM says military controls nearly all target areas bordering Cambodia
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Sunday said that Thai forces have taken control of nearly all target areas and are now compelling Cambodian forces to withdraw, with the areas being closely monitored to prevent any renewed clashes.
Anutin said in an interview with Thai media in Surin province that he has instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to clarify Thailand's position at the ASEAN foreign ministers' special meeting on Monday, stressing that Thailand is neither in breach of any agreements nor the aggressor, and that all actions taken are intended to safeguard national sovereignty and security.
He added that Thailand has consistently adhered to the principles of international law and strives to contain the situation without further escalating the conflict.
The latest round of Thailand-Cambodia conflict has resulted in the deaths of 34 Thai civilians, Thai Ministry of Defense spokesperson Surasant Kongsiri told a press conference on Sunday, adding that with the intensity of border clashes gradually declining, residents in some areas have begun returning home, and the number of shelters has decreased.
According to Thai media reports, Cambodian forces were still shelling border areas in Thailand's Sa Kaeo province on Sunday afternoon, prompting authorities in Aranyaprathet district to issue an urgent notice for residents to relocate to safer areas.■
