Rabia Ali
18 November 2025•Update: 18 November 2025
ISTANBUL
Here is a rundown of all the news you need to start your Tuesday, including the UN Security Council adopting a resolution establishing a Gaza Board of Peace and stabilization force, US President Donald Trump saying that he is considering approving the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, and fugitive Bangladeshi ex-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina being sentenced to death in absentia over crimes against humanity by the Dhaka-based International Crimes Tribunal.
TOP STORIES
- UN Security Council adopts resolution establishing Gaza Board of Peace, stabilization force
The UN Security Council adopted a US-drafted resolution establishing a new transitional Board of Peace and authorizing an International Stabilization Force (ISF) to oversee governance, reconstruction and security efforts in the Gaza Strip.
The resolution received 13 votes in favor, with China and Russia abstaining.
Speaking before the vote, US envoy to the UN Mike Waltz told the Council that "today, we have the power to douse the flames and light a path to peace."
"That path is the draft UN Security Council resolution before us -- a bold, pragmatic blueprint born from President (Donald) Trump's 20-point comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict, forged in the fires of diplomacy with Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Türkiye, Pakistan and Indonesia," he said.
- US will sell F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia
US President Donald Trump said he is considering approving the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, just hours before Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is set to visit the White House on Tuesday.
"I will say that we will be doing that. We’ll be selling F-35s," Trump told reporters when asked if he is planning to sell the advanced fighter jets to Saudi Arabia.
Trump said Friday that Riyadh has shown a strong interest in purchasing the advanced aircraft made by Lockheed Martin.
"They wanna buy a lot of jets," he said. "They’ve asked me to look at it. They want to buy a lot of ‘35,’ but they want to buy actually more than that, fighter jets."
His comments came as several US media outlets reported he is leaning toward supporting the sale.
- Fugitive Bangladeshi ex-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sentenced to death over crimes against humanity
A court in Dhaka sentenced to death in absentia fugitive Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, finding her guilty of crimes against humanity committed last year during mass demonstrations against her government.
The Dhaka-based International Crimes Tribunal pronounced the verdict against Hasina and her former aides.
Hasina fled to India on Aug. 5 last year at the height of a mass uprising against her government, which led to the deaths of up to 1,400 people.
She was later charged with crimes against humanity, among other cases.
The mass student-led uprising last year ousted Hasina's Awami League government, which had ruled the South Asian country for over 15 years.
NEWS IN BRIEF
- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Türkiye is continuing humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza despite “various disruptions caused by Israel” and warned that regional security is at risk as long as the occupation in Palestine continues.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his country has placed an order to acquire 100 Dassault Rafale fighter jets as part of a deal he signed with French President Emmanuel Macron.
- US President Donald Trump refused to rule out sending American troops to Venezuela while adding that he will “probably” talk to President Nicolas Maduro.
- Germany announced that it will lift restrictions on arms exports to Israel, citing a "stabilized ceasefire" in Gaza and recent diplomatic progress in the region.
- India said it has signed a "historic" deal to import Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) from the US, according to an official announcement.
- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the European Union must transform into a European defense union amid growing international security challenges.
- Bangladesh's fugitive former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina described the death sentence against her as “distasteful" and "politically motivated.”
- Indonesia and Japan held a joint meeting of their foreign and defense ministers in Tokyo, with the two sides agreeing to strengthen bilateral cooperation.
- The European Council approved new rules that will make it easier for the bloc to suspend visa-free short-stay travel for citizens of non-EU countries, particularly in cases of human rights violations.
- Israeli forces staged three raids in the countryside of Syria’s southwestern province of Quneitra, violating the nation’s sovereignty, local media reported.
- Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission announced late that the Reconstruction and Development coalition led by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has topped the final results of parliamentary elections, securing 46 seats out of the 329-seat legislature.
- An Israeli-run entity is behind mysterious flights transporting Palestinians from the Gaza Strip abroad through Ramon Airport in southern Israel, the Israeli daily Haaretz reported.
- UN Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Joyce Msuya warned the Security Council that escalating violence in conflict zones is driving severe hunger and leaving millions of civilians at risk.
- Several Palestinians were injured in fresh attacks by illegal Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, witnesses and local officials said.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government survives budget vote
Canada’s Liberal government survived by a white-knuckle two-vote margin on its proposed CAN$141 billion ($100 billion) budget, meaning the country will be spared the turmoil of a federal election.
It was the slimmest of wins – 170 to 168 – for Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberals and it may have failed if a Conservative lawmaker had not abandoned his party ahead of the vote and “crossed the floor” to join the Liberals. There are 343 seats in Parliament, and debate raged back and forth up to the Monday vote.
- Saudi tanker carrying 650,000 barrels of crude oil arrives at Syria port
An oil tanker from Saudi Arabia carrying 650,000 barrels of crude oil has arrived at Syria’s Baniyas port in Tartous governorate, Syrian media reported.
State-run Alikhbariah TV said the shipment is “the first of its kind, provided as support to the Syrian government.”
Earlier on Monday, the channel reported on a government project to build a new oil refinery to replace the old one in Homs, with a capacity of 150,000 barrels per day.
