Belarusian President Lukashenko:

If Maduro wished to come to Belarus, our doors are open for him here.

But we have never talked about this.

Maduro is not the kind of person who would leave everything and run away. He is a strong person.

Belarusian President Lukashenko:

I see the interest of the United States of America in Venezuela. Venezuela is close, like Ukraine is close to Russia. Therefore, there is interest in many issues.

Belarusian President Lukashenko:

Drugs flow from the Asian East through Russia, through Belarus, into enlightened Europe.

Why do they go there? Because they are in high demand there.

Belarusian President Lukashenko:

Europeans are strangling me, and I’m supposed to protect them against drugs?

Why should I?

Belarusian President Lukashenko:

If you want all Venezuelans to rally around Maduro, then you will start a war against Venezuela.

This must not be done under any circumstances.

Belarusian President Lukashenko:

You cannot defeat drugs with missiles.

Senator Lindsey Graham:

To all those who think that we can't afford to help Israel, you're an idiot.

NEW: Israel is increasingly concerned as Qatar joins Saudi Arabia and Türkiye in advanced talks with the U.S. to purchase F-35 jets. Israeli officials fear these deals could undermine the Israeli Air Force’s qualitative military edge in the Middle East.

In response, Israel’s defense establishment is preparing a compensation package to seek from Washington, including two new fighter squadrons—one of F-35s and another of the advanced F-15IA—as well as large quantities of advanced munitions.

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Turkish President Erdogan:

More than 200,000 tons of bombs were dropped on Gaza; Gaza was razed with bombs totaling 14 times the amount dropped on Hiroshima.

Turkish President Erdogan:

Despite Israel’s increasing violations, the ceasefire is largely being maintained thanks to Hamas’s calm and level-headed stance.

Turkish President Erdogan:

The number of refugees returning from our country to Syria has reached 580,000.

Turkish President Erdogan:

As the only NATO ally that fought ISIS face to face, we are providing all kinds of support to the Syrian government.

Turkish President Erdogan:

We have been here for a thousand years; we are together, we are neighbors, and God willing we will remain here until the Day of Judgment and continue to live together.

Turkish President Erdogan:

The recent reciprocal attacks pose a serious threat to the safety of navigation in the Black Sea.

Targeting commercial and civilian vessels brings no benefit to anyone.

We are clearly conveying our warnings to both sides on this matter.

Turkish President Erdogan:

We are advancing our normalization processes with Armenia.

Starting from the beginning of next year, we will take some symbolic steps.

NEW: Russia rejects a proposed “Christmas ceasefire,” as well as earlier ideas for an energy truce and an election-related pause, saying it wants a full peace on its own terms, not temporary breaks that would help Ukraine regroup.

This marks the third ceasefire proposal in a week.

Russia also points out that in 2023 the West and Ukraine mocked its own Christmas truce proposals, but are now calling for one themselves.

Zelensky:

Every Russian war crime must have consequences for those who committed them, we hope the Tribunal for Russian Aggression will truly begin its work.

Indian officials have identified Sajid Akram (50), one of the two attackers in the Bondi Beach shooting in Sydney that killed at least 16 people, as a Hyderabad native who last visited India in 2022.

He migrated to Australia in 1998 on a student visa and made only a few brief visits to India, officials said.

Nigeria: ISWAP says it executed eight people accused of spying for the army and CJTF, including a police officer, in Borno State.

Zelensky:

The Russians always blame others and always try to explain their wars through someone else’s actions.

As if the reason for their aggression is never in Moscow but always in their neighbours’.

Despite the announced withdrawal from Uvira, reports say AFC/M23 is moving reinforcements along the Kipese–Kirumba axis in Lubero territory.