Author: Daily Sabah With Reuters
The Kremlin said on Tuesday that the Ukraine war would continue until the goals set by President Vladimir Putin were achieved by military action or by negotiation. Putin has demanded that Ukraine abandon its ambition to join NATO and withdraw fully from four regions of the country that Russia has claimed as its own – terms Kyiv has rejected as tantamount to surrender. “The special military operation will end when all the objectives set by the president and commander-in-chief have been achieved,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, using Moscow’s term for the conflict. “These goals can be achieved as…
An Israeli military spokesperson said on Tuesday Israel was not intervening in Syria beyond taking steps to protect its borders and preventing strategic weapons from falling into hostile hands, and he denied that Israeli forces had advanced towards Damascus. Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani said Israeli forces had remained in the demilitarized zone between Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights apart from “a few additional points” in the vicinity of the buffer zone.
Lewis Hamilton raced for Mercedes one final time on Sunday, capping off one of Formula One’s most successful driver-team partnerships in a cloud of tire smoke, heartfelt radio exchanges and a performance befitting a seven-time world champion. The 39-year-old Briton, set to join Ferrari next season, arrived at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit in red, bidding an emotional farewell as tributes flooded the airwaves. Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton performs a burn out after the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, UAE, Dec. 8, 2024. (AFP Photo) “We dreamed a lot, but together…
Former Portugal and Manchester United winger Nani announced his retirement on Sunday at the age of 38. Nani joined United in 2007, making 230 appearances and scoring 41 goals. He won the Champions League in his debut season and added four Premier League titles and two League Cups during his eight-year stint at the club. “The time has come to say goodbye. I have decided to finish my career as a professional player,” Nani wrote on social media. “It’s been an amazing ride, and I want to thank every single person who has helped and supported me through the highs…
Israel is now more optimistic about a possible hostage deal in Gaza, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on Monday, amid reports that Hamas had asked for lists of all still held by resistance groups in the Palestinian enclave. He said indirect negotiations were underway about the return of about 100 hostages and that, while it was still too early to be sure, prospects had improved. “We can be more optimistic than before but we are not there yet. I hope we will be there,” Saar told a press conference in Jerusalem, reiterating Israel’s position that the hostages still held in…
Israel’s military said on Monday four of its soldiers had been killed in fighting in southern Lebanon. The army said they “fell during combat”, without providing further details on the incident. Lebanon’s health ministry said on Saturday that Israeli strikes on two southern villages had killed six people in the latest potential challenge to a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah that has been in place for less than two weeks.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was hoping for a call with U.S. President Joe Biden in the coming days to discuss Kyiv’s call for an invitation to join the NATO military alliance. Speaking at a news conference with Germany’s visiting opposition leader Friedrich Merz on Monday, he added that there was little point in raising the matter with President-elect Donald Trump, since he was not yet in office. “I intend to call President Biden in the coming time to discuss the question of an invitation to join NATO,” he told reporters through an interpreter. “He is the current president…
Australia bounced back in the five-test series against India with a dominant 10-wicket win in Adelaide on Sunday, reclaiming the lead in the World Test Championship standings. The hosts had crumbled to a comprehensive defeat by a depleted Indian side in the series opener in Perth that dented the pride of the reigning WTC champions. However, led by their inspirational captain Pat Cummins, Australia steamrolled a full-strength India, reinforced by the return of their captain Rohit Sharma and batter Shubman Gill, in a little over two days to level the series at 1-1. Mitchell Starc menaced with the pink ball…
Australia bounced back in the five-test series against India with a dominant 10-wicket win in Adelaide on Sunday, reclaiming the lead in the World Test Championship standings. The hosts had crumbled to a comprehensive defeat by a depleted Indian side in the series opener in Perth that dented the pride of the reigning WTC champions. However, led by their inspirational captain Pat Cummins, Australia steamrolled a full-strength India, reinforced by the return of their captain Rohit Sharma and batter Shubman Gill, in a little over two days to level the series at 1-1. Mitchell Starc menaced with the pink ball…
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump called on Sunday for an immediate ceasefire and negotiations between Ukraine and Russia to end “the madness”, prompting Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky and the Kremlin to list their conditions. Trump made his comments just hours after meeting Zelenskiy in Paris for their first face-to-face talks since Trump won last month’s U.S. election. Trump has vowed to bring about a negotiated end to the conflict, but so far has not provided details. “Zelensky and Ukraine would like to make a deal and stop the madness,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social, adding that Kyiv…