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Israel agrees to reopen Rafah crossing only for Gaza pedestrians

Israel said Monday it would only allow pedestrians to travel through the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt as part of its "limited reopening" once it has recovered the remains of the last hostage in the Palestinian territory.

Reopening Rafah, a vital entry point for aid into Gaza, forms part of a truce framework announced by US President Donald Trump in October, but the crossing has remained closed since Israeli forces took control of it during the war in the Palestinian territory.

A Palestinian boy searches for recyclable material at a landfill against the backdrop of destroyed buildings in Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip on January 25, 2026. Since October 10, a fragile US-sponsored truce in Gaza has largely halted the fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas, but both sides have alleged frequent violations.

Israel to reopen Rafah crossing after search for last hostage body ends

Jan 25 (Reuters) - Israel will reopen Gaza's Rafah crossing with Egypt for the passage of people only after an operation to locate the body of the last remaining Israeli hostage in the enclave is completed, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said late on Sunday.

(Reporting by Hatem Maher, editing by Deepa Babington)

Egyptian soldiers stand guard near the Rafah Crossing at the Egypt-Gaza border, in Rafah, Egypt, July 4, 2024. REUTERS/Amr Alfiky

Zelenskiy says security guarantees document from US is 100% ready

VILNIUS, Jan 25 (Reuters) - A U.S. document on security guarantees for Ukraine is completely ready and Kyiv is waiting for a time and place for it to be signed, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Sunday, indicating that weekend talks with Russia in Abu Dhabi made some progress.

"For us, security guarantees are first and foremost guarantees of security from the United States. The document is 100% ready, and we are waiting for our partners to confirm the date and place when we will sign it," Zelenskiy told a news conference during a visit to Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attends a press conference with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda and Polish President Karol Nawrocki at the Presidential Palace in Vilnius, Lithuania, January 25, 2026. REUTERS/Kuba Stezycki

Life-saving aid reaches Kurdish-majority town: UN

A UN humanitarian convoy arrived Sunday in the Kurdish-majority town of Kobane, which has been filled recently with people displaced by clashes in northern Syria, a spokesperson told AFP.

Earlier Sunday, Syria's military said it had opened a humanitarian corridor to the town, also known as Ain al-Arab in Arabic and once a symbol of Kurdish fighters' victory against Islamic State group (IS) jihadists.

The aid came as the Syrian authorities and Kurdish forces extended a ceasefire agreement after Kurdish forces relinquished swathes of territory to government troops.

Earlier this week, residents in Kobane told AFP the enclave was flooded with people who had fled the Syrian army's advances

US climber scales Taiwan's tallest building Taipei 101 without ropes

TAIPEI, Jan 25 (Reuters) - U.S. climber Alex Honnold scaled the Taipei 101 skyscraper without ropes or safety netting on Sunday, watched by thousands of cheering and waving fans as he clambered up one of the world's tallest buildings.

"Sick," Honnold said as he got to the top spire of Taiwan's tallest building after his 91-minute "free solo" ascent, which was organised and broadcast live by Netflix.

"What a beautiful way to see Taipei," he told reporters after his mission, which was postponed by a day due to wet weather.

Climber Alex Honnold free soloing Taipei 101 Skyscraper in Taipei, Taiwan, January 25, 2026 REUTERS/Ann Wang

Saudi Arabia's UAE 'mudslinging' threatens new Gulf crisis

A Saudi Arabian media campaign targeting the UAE has deepened the Gulf's worst row in years, stoking fears of a damaging fall-out in the financial heart of the Middle East.

Fiery accusations of rights abuses and betrayal have circulated for weeks in state-run and social media after a brief conflict in Yemen, where Saudi air strikes quelled an offensive by UAE-backed separatists.

The United Arab Emirates is "investing in chaos and supporting secessionists" from Libya to Yemen and the Horn of Africa, Saudi Arabia's Al-Ekhbariya TV charged in a report this week.

The row between Saudi Arabia and the UAE was triggered by a brief conflict in Yemen, following an advance by UAE-backed separatists

Pakistani court jails rights activist and husband for 10 years

A Pakistani court on Saturday jailed a prominent rights activist and her husband for 10 years over "anti-state" social media posts.

Imaan Mazari, a 32-year-old lawyer and vocal critic of Pakistan's military, "disseminated highly offensive" content on her X account, according to an Islamabad court.

A court statement said Mazari and her husband, fellow lawyer Hadi Ali Chattha, "will have to remain in jail for 10 years".

Human rights lawyer Imaan Mazari (R) with her husband and fellow lawyer Hadi Ali Chattha (L) were handed 10-year prison terms for anti-state social media posts

UK's Starmer discusses need for enhanced security in Arctic in call with Trump

Jan 24 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump by telephone on Saturday, with the leaders discussing the need for bolstered security in the Arctic, 10 Downing Street said in a statement.

Starmer referred to the subject as an absolute priority for his government, the statement said.

FILE PHOTO: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks to the media in the briefing room of 9 Downing Street in central London, Britain, after U.S. President Donald Trump's threats to ramp up tariffs until a deal is reached for the U.S. to buy Greenland. January 19, 2026. Jordan Pettitt/Pool via REUTERS//File Photo

Trump praises UK troops as brave warriors after widespread condemnation

LONDON, Jan 24 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday praised "brave" British soldiers, calling them warriors, a day after remarks he made about NATO troops in Afghanistan were described as "insulting and appalling" by Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Trump provoked widespread anger in Britain and across Europe after he said European troops had stayed off the front lines in Afghanistan.

FILE PHOTO: A man rides an e-bike across the road as U.S. flags and British flags line The Mall in front of Buckingham Palace ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump's state visit to the UK, in London, Britain, September 16, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy/File Photo