Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday that he plans to meet US President Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday, as part of efforts to push forward a peace plan aimed at ending the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, CNN reported. Speaking to reporters, Zelenskyy said the meeting could help move discussions closer to a settlement, though he cautioned that no final agreement should be expected immediately. He said both sides would focus on completing as many unresolved points as possible. Zelenskyy also added that the 20-point peace plan proposed by US and Ukrainian officials is 90 per cent ready. He added that talks with Trump would centre on long-term security guarantees for Ukraine and the role of its allies in ensuring stability after the war. CNN reported that there was no immediate confirmation from the White House about the proposed meeting. Zelenskyy's comments come amid renewed diplomatic activity, with Kyiv signalling openness to discussions on issues that have stalled previous negotiations. Earlier in the day, Zelenskyy said in a post on X that Ukraine and the US had agreed to hold a high-level meeting soon, adding that significant decisions could be taken before the New Year. Zelenskyy wrote on X after the latest round of discussions between Ukrainian and US negotiators, "We have agreed on a meeting at the highest level - with President Trump in the near future. A lot can be decided before the New Year." These developments followed talks held on Thursday, when the Ukrainian leader met Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and the US president's son-in-law Jared Kushner as part of ongoing consultations. Updating on the substance of those discussions, Zelenskyy noted that several documents forming part of a broader framework aimed at ending the conflict and supporting Ukraine's reconstruction were "nearly ready" while others were "fully prepared". This diplomatic activity comes after Zelenskyy earlier this week presented a 20-point draft peace plan, which he described as the principal framework for ending the war. While the plan envisages Ukraine receiving security guarantees to deter future Russian aggression, there has been no agreement between Ukraine and the US on territorial issues, as Moscow continues to demand that Kyiv cede territory. In addition to territorial questions, the issue of control over the occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant remains unresolved and subject to further discussions. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
27 December,2025 11:17 AM IST | Kyiv | ANIThree women were stabbed at different Paris metro stations on Friday, causing panic among commuters. The attacks took place within a short span of time on Metro Line 3, French authorities said, Euro News reported. According to the prosecutor's office, the man attacked three women with a knife at Republique, Arts et Metiers and Opera stations around 4 pm. All three victims were given medical treatment and are safe. Police said the suspect was identified and tracked using CCTV footage from the metro stations and location data from his mobile phone. He was later arrested in the Paris region. The Paris public transport operator RATP said firefighters reached the stations quickly, police teams secured the area, and additional security staff were deployed on the affected metro line to reassure passengers. France's Interior Minister Laurent Nunez praised the police and security agencies for quickly identifying and arresting the suspect. "I congratulate the investigators and police officers of the regional transport police of the @prefpolice who identified and then apprehended, along with the #ValdOise police officers, the alleged perpetrator of the knife attacks committed in the Parisian metro this afternoon, particularly thanks to the video surveillance camera network and their exceptional knowledge of the terrain," he wrote in an X post. Transport police have registered a case of attempted homicide and assault with a weapon. The police are now trying to establish the motive behind the attacks. Security remains tight across France, especially during the New Year as the festivities begin. European capitals are on high alert due to past violent incidents and threats targeting public places and festive gatherings. Last week, Minister Nunez had already asked officials to maintain "maximum vigilance" across the country. He cited a very high terror threat level and the risk of public disorder, and directed authorities to increase visible security presence to deter attacks, France 24 reported. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
27 December,2025 11:15 AM IST | Paris | AgenciesTurkish security forces have detained 115 suspected members of the ISIS terrorist group during nationwide operations linked to possible attacks planned around Christmas and New Year celebrations, CNN reported. According to a statement issued by the Istanbul Prosecutor's Office on Thursday, arrest warrants were issued for 137 suspects after investigators found that ISIS operatives were preparing to carry out attacks in Turkey during the year-end holiday period. The prosecutors said intelligence inputs suggested that the group was targeting the country during upcoming festive events, with a particular focus on non-Muslim individuals. Authorities also said the suspects were in contact with conflict zones as part of their activities linked to the terrorist organisation, CNN reported. "Information was found that the ISIS Armed Terrorist Organisation was planning to carry out actions targeting our country, especially non-Muslim individuals, within the scope of the upcoming Christmas and New Year events," the statement said. Police carried out coordinated raids at 124 locations across different parts of Turkey. During the operations, security teams seized pistols, ammunition and documents believed to be linked to the group's activities. Efforts are continuing to locate and arrest the remaining 22 suspects named in the warrants. Turkey usually increases counter-terrorism measures towards the end of the year, especially after a deadly ISIS attack at the Reina nightclub in Istanbul during New Year celebrations in 2017, in which dozens of people were killed. Deadly stabbing and shooting attacks are happening around the world as the New Year nears. Earlier this month, at least 15 people died in a horrific shooting at Australia's Bondi Beach after a father-son duo opened fire at innocent poeple celebrating Hanukkah. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
27 December,2025 10:46 AM IST | Istanbul | ANIWhen it comes to celebrating the holiday season, Josef Kardinal can get a bit obsessive. The German man has ramped up his Christmas spirits by owning more than 11,000 snow globes — the largest collection in the world. Kardinal first earned his Guinness World Record back in 2002 when he owned a mere 6100 of them — and kept on amassing the winter treasures, which have since grown to 11,017. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
27 December,2025 10:44 AM IST | Berlin | AgenciesFour astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) — NASA’s Mike Fincke, Zena Cardman and Chris Williams, and Kimiya Yui of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency — sent a video Christmas card home from 400 km above Earth. “Greetings to Earth, all of our friends and family, from aboard the ISS, flying high above,” mission commander Fincke says in the video. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
27 December,2025 10:42 AM IST | Texas | AgenciesRussia has unveiled its plans to build a nuclear power plant on the Moon within the next 10 years to support its lunar program and a Russian-Chinese research station for future deep-space missions. The proposal, confirmed by the country’s state space agency Roscosmos, would provide a sustained energy source for surface infrastructure, including rovers, scientific equipment, as well as a planned joint lunar research base with China. The announcement followed as the US, India, Japan as well as several European nations increased efforts to establish a permanent presence on Earth’s only natural satellite. The renewed interest was prompted by the 2009 discovery of water ice on the lunar surface. Power generation remains a great challenge for sustained lunar operations due to the two-week-long nights that restrict solar power. However, a nuclear power plant could offer continuous power regardless of lighting conditions, temperature extremes, or dust accumulation. For the 2036 project, Roscosmos revealed that it has signed a contract with the Lavochkin Association, a Russian aerospace firm with decades of experience in planetary spacecraft development. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
27 December,2025 10:38 AM IST | Moscow | AgenciesA man was arrested after stabbing eight people and injuring seven others with what was believed to be bleach at a rubber factory in central Japan on Friday, officials said. Eight people were taken to hospitals after being stabbed by the man with a knife at the Yokohama Rubber Company in the city of Mishima, in the Shizuoka prefecture, west of Tokyo, according to the Fujisan Nanto Fire Department. The department told The Associated Press that five of the people who were stabbed were in serious condition but other details were not available. Shizuoka prefectural police said the attacker, a 38-year-old man, was arrested for alleged attempted murder at the factory, but did not give further details. Seven others were also injured by the bleach thrown at them during the attack, the fire department said. No other details were immediately known. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
27 December,2025 10:35 AM IST | Tokyo | AgenciesA 20-year-old Indian doctoral student was shot dead near the University of Toronto Scarborough campus, with authorities investigating the incident as a homicide, officials said. The shooting occurred on Tuesday, and Toronto police on Wednesday identified the victim as Shivank Avasthi, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, reported news agency PTI. Police were alerted to the Highland Creek Trail and Old Kingston Road area at around 3:30 pm on Tuesday after receiving a report of an injured person lying on the ground, Duty Inspector Jeff Allington told reporters at the scene. When officers arrived, they found a person with a gunshot wound. The individual was pronounced dead at the scene. The police are investigating the case as a homicide. "Our immediate focus is on preserving evidence at the scene, determining what happened, and notifying this individual's next of kin. Because of that, there is very little information I am able to share with you tonight," Allington said, reported PTI. Toronto police said the suspect fled the area prior to their arrival. No suspect description has been released. Meanwhile, India's Consulate in Toronto expressed “deep anguish” over the student's “tragic death.” "We express deep anguish over the tragic death of a young Indian doctoral student, Shivank Avasthi, in a fatal shooting incident near the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus. The Consulate is in touch with the bereaved family during this difficult time and is extending all necessary assistance in close coordination with the local authorities," the Consulate posted on X. A UTSC spokesperson said the university was “extremely saddened” to learn about the death near their campus, but did not confirm if he was a student, CP24 Television reported. “We cannot comment on the identity of the victim at this time,” the spokesperson said in a statement Wednesday evening."We are grateful to our Campus Safety team, Toronto Police Service, and emergency medical service personnel for their immediate response and action." According to PTI, the University of Toronto Scarborough campus (UTSC) issued a safety alert advising anyone indoors to stay inside and anyone outdoors to leave the area. In a social media post, the school said the police investigation is focused on the Highland Creek Valley at UTSC. It added that pathways into the valley remain closed and people are advised to avoid the area until police reopen it. (With PTI inputs)
26 December,2025 12:41 PM IST | Toronto | mid-day online correspondentA Hindu man was lynched in Bangladesh over alleged extortion, media reports said on Thursday, days after another man from the minority religion was lynched in the country. The incident took place on Wednesday in Rajbari town's Pangsha upazila, The Daily Star newspaper quoted police as saying. The deceased, identified as Amrit Mondal, had allegedly formed a criminal gang and was involved in extortion and other criminal activities. The interim government led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus "strongly condemned" the killing while asserting that it was not a communal attack. On the day of the incident, Mondal was beaten up by locals when he, along with his group members, tried to extort money from a resident's house, the report said. Upon receiving information about the incident, police rushed to the spot and rescued Mondal in a critical condition. He was taken to a hospital where doctors declared him dead around 2:00 am, Assistant Superintendent of Police (Pangsha Circle) Debrata Sarkar said, according to the report. Mondal's body was sent to Rajbari Sadar Hospital morgue for an autopsy, Sarkar said. Most of his associates fled after the incident, but police arrested one man and recovered firearms from his possession. According to the police, Mondal had at least two cases filed against him, including a murder case. Condemning the killing, the interim government said in a statement that it "does not support any kind of illegal activities, mass beatings or violence," the state-run BSS news agency reported. In a statement, the government said that the incident was not a communal attack but one stemming from a violent situation arising from extortion and terrorist activities. Legal action will be taken against everyone directly or indirectly involved in the incident, it said. The incident comes a week after another Hindu man, Dipu Das, was lynched and his body set on fire over blasphemy allegations in Mymensingh. Police and other law enforcement agencies have made 12 arrests in the case so far. Das' killing sparked widespread protests by factory workers, students and rights groups in Dhaka and elsewhere in Bangladesh, and India expressed its concerns as well. The interim government has said it would take care of Das' minor child, as well as his wife and parents. The Hindu population in Bangladesh has been affected by a series of incidents against minority communities in the country after the ouster of then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina in August last year. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
26 December,2025 09:03 AM IST | Dhaka | PTIIstanbul police launched scores of simultaneous raids on Thursday, detaining over a hundred suspected members of the militant Islamic State group who were allegedly planning attacks against Christmas and New Year's celebrations, authorities said. A statement from the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office said police were tipped off that the extremist group had called for action -- particularly against non-Muslims -- during the celebrations. The office had issued warrants for 137 suspects, of whom 115 were detained. Officers also seized many firearms, cartridges and documents during the raids. It said 124 locations were raided. The arrests come days after the Trump administration launched widespread military strikes in neighbouring Syria to "eliminate" Islamic State fighters and weapons' sites in retaliation for an ambush blamed on the group that killed two US troops and an American civilian interpreter. Syrian security forces have also launched operations against IS in recent days, including two raids on the outskirts of Damascus, the Syrian capital. In those raids, Syrian officials said Taha al-Zoubi, identified as the IS leader in the Damascus area, was captured and Mohammed Shahadeh, a senior IS commander in Syria, was killed. Top Turkish officials visited Syria earlier this week to discuss counterterrorism efforts against IS, among other issues. At its peak in 2015, IS controlled a swath of territory across Iraq and Syria half the size of the United Kingdom. It was notorious for its brutality against religious minorities as well as Muslims who do not follow the militants' extreme interpretation of Islam. After years of fighting, the US-led coalition broke the group's last hold on territory in late 2019, but IS cells in multiple countries continue to carry out periodic attacks. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
26 December,2025 08:59 AM IST | Istanbul | APUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday (local time) said that some documents of the peace deal are "fully prepared" after he held a discussion with United States envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. In a video message on X, Zelenskyy stated that the two nations must resolve the "sensitive issues" to reach a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia. "It is important if we succeed in organising what we discussed today with President Trump's envoys. Some documents, as I see it, are nearly ready, and some documents are fully prepared. Of course, there is still work to be done on sensitive issues. But together with the American team, we understand how to put all of this in place. The weeks ahead may also be intensive. Thank you, America," the Ukrainian President said. Earlier on Thursday, Zelenskyy, joined by Ukrainian envoys, held a discussion with US counterparts Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, and stated that there are "good ideas" for the lasting peace. Expressing gratitude towards the US envoys, he wrote on X, "Today we had a very good conversation with President Trump's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff @SEPeaceMissions and @jaredkushner. I thank them for the constructive approach, the intensive work, and the kind words and Christmas greetings to the Ukrainian people. We are truly working 24/7 to bring closer the end of this brutal Russian war against Ukraine and to ensure that all documents and steps are realistic, effective, and reliable." "We discussed certain substantive details of the ongoing work. There are good ideas that can work toward a shared outcome and lasting peace. Real security, real recovery, and real peace are what all of us need - Ukraine, the United States, Europe, and every partner who helps us. I hope that today's Christmas understandings and the ideas we discussed will prove useful," he added. Zelenskyy also extended Christmas greetings to US President Donald Trump. "During the conversation, I was joined by Rustem Umerov, Andrii Hnatov, Andrii Sybiha, Sergiy Kyslytsya, Ihor Brusylo, and Oleksandr Bevz. Our entire diplomatic team is doing their utmost. We agreed that Rustem will speak again today with Steve and Jared. We believe this is the right approach - not to lose a single day or a single opportunity that can bring the result closer. May today's conversation become another step toward peace. I also asked the guys to pass along our Christmas greetings to Donald Trump and the entire Trump family. Thank you," the X post read. Earlier, wishing Ukrainians on the occasion of Christmas, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for peace while also slamming Russia for launching a massive attack on the eve of the festival. In his Christmas address, he said, "We are happy when we hear the music of Christmas, but even happier when we do not hear the music of evil, when we do not hear drones and missiles flying overhead." This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
26 December,2025 08:55 AM IST | Kyiv | ANIADVERTISEMENT
