While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, Dec 29, 2025
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US President Donald Trump greets Russian President Vladimir Putin at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, on Aug 15.
PHOTO: AFP
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Trump says has ‘productive’ talks with Putin before Zelensky meet
Donald Trump said Dec 28 he had “productive” talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin hours before the US president meets Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky, in a year-end sprint to seal a deal to end the war.
Mr Trump’s renewed upbeat tone comes despite wide skepticism in Europe about Putin’s intentions after Russia carried out another massive bombardment of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv just as Mr Zelensky was heading to Mr Trump’s Florida estate.
“I just had a very good and productive telephone call with President Putin of Russia,” Mr Trump announced on his Truth Social platform.
One dead, two missing in southern Spain after flooding
PHOTO: EPA
One person was found dead and two were missing after torrential rains caused flooding in southern Spain, authorities and rescue services said on Dec 28, calling for extreme caution.
Spain has been exceptionally strongly affected by climate change in recent years, resulting in longer heatwaves and more frequent episodes of heavy rain.
Heavy flooding killed more than 230 people in Oct 2024, mostly in the Valencia region in the east of the country, with the government at the time coming under heavy criticism for its handling of the catastrophe.
Israel army ends crackdown on West Bank town after attack
PHOTO: EPA
The Israeli military said on Dec 28 it had ended its operation in a town in the occupied West Bank that it had sealed off after a Palestinian from the area killed two Israelis.
Around 50 residents of Qabatiya were briefly detained during the two-day operation, the official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported, quoting the town’s mayor Ahmed Zakarneh.
The attacker’s father and two brothers remained in custody, it added.
Iran says launches three satellites into space from Russia
PHOTO: AFP
Iran launched three domestically built observation satellites into space from Russia on Dec 28, state television reported, marking a new step for Tehran’s space programme despite Western sanctions.
The country maintains that its aerospace industry is peaceful and complies with UN Security Council resolutions imposed over its nuclear programme.
“Three Iranian satellites, Zafar-2, Paya and Kowsar 1.5, were launched into space by a Soyuz rocket from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia,” Iranian television reported.
Gray’s first senior goal earns Spurs gritty 1-0 win at Palace
PHOTO: REUTERS
Archie Gray’s first senior goal gave Tottenham Hotspur a vital 1-0 Premier League win at Crystal Palace on Dec 28, ending Spurs’ poor away run and easing the pressure on their manager Thomas Frank.
Spurs thought they were ahead against the run of play when Richarlison tapped in Pedro Porro’s inviting cross, but the goal was disallowed for offside.
Jean-Philippe Mateta should have put Palace in front but headed over from close range after Maxence Lacroix nodded a free kick across the face of goal.
