ISTANBUL 

Here’s a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Sunday, including Türkiye’s president advising his Venezuelan counterpart to keep dialogue open with the US, Israel killing six more Palestinians despite a ceasefire, and a fire in India killing 23 people.

TOP STORIES

• Keeping dialogue channels open with US essential, Erdogan tells Venezuelan leader

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro that keeping dialogue channels open with the US is essential.

In a phone call, the two leaders discussed bilateral relations and key regional developments.

Erdogan expressed hope that the current tensions between the US and Venezuela would ease.

• 6 Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza despite ceasefire

The Israeli army killed six Palestinians and injured others in airstrikes, artillery shelling, and gunfire in the Gaza Strip despite a ceasefire reached nearly two months ago.

Earlier Saturday, the Israeli military launched a series of heavy airstrikes and conducted demolitions in several areas under its control across the Gaza Strip.

• 23 killed in Indian nightclub fire

At least 23 people died in a fire which broke out at a nightclub in the western Indian tourist state of Goa.

The incident took place at midnight Saturday in the Arpora district.

Pramod Sawant, Goa’s chief minister, said he had ordered an inquiry after visiting the site of the blaze.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa warned that any attempt by Israel to change the 1974 Disengagement Agreement or create a buffer zone would make the region dangerous.
• Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip would be incomplete without the West Bank.
• Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty called for deploying an international stabilization force “as soon as possible” along Gaza’s so-called “yellow line” to verify the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.
• Russia withdrew from three military cooperation agreements with Canada, France, and Portugal.
• French President Emmanuel Macron announced that he will travel to London for high-level talks with the leaders of Ukraine, the UK, and Germany to assess the situation in Ukraine.
• Azerbaijan and Armenia discussed the peace process between the two countries.
• The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said that the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant containment structure was damaged in a drone strike and is no longer fully performing its safety function.
• At least 12 people were killed by unknown gunmen in a shooting at an unlicensed bar in Saulsville, South Africa.
• At least 23 people died in a fire at a nightclub in Goa, India.
• A magnitude 7.0 earthquake took place near the Alaska-Canada border.
• Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates said artificial intelligence will fundamentally transform creativity, education, healthcare, and economic development worldwide

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Turkic Investment Fund launches operational phase

The board of governors of the Turkic Investment Fund (TIF) announced that its financial institutions has begun their operational activities, setting the start of activities in the first quarter of 2026.

The decision, which came after a board meeting in Kyrgyzstan's capital Bishkek, signifies the fund's shift from its establishment phase to the operational phase of its financing activities, the TIF said in a Friday statement.