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As a US envoy heads to Moscow to negotiate over a complex blueprint for peace in Ukraine, Russian Nobel Peace Prize winner Dmitry Muratov says a vital element is missing from the agenda. Borders, security guarantees, the fate of frozen Russian assets and the prospects for joint US-Russian investment ventures are all expected to be on the table when President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff sits down with President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin today. But Muratov is worried about the fate of people — above all, the hundreds imprisoned in Russia under censorship laws passed after the invasion of Ukraine in 2022 that made it a crime to “discredit” the Russian army or spread “deliberately false information”. Monday he and 15 other past winners of Nobel prizes for peace, literature and the sciences sent an open letter to Putin, Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the European Union, calling for a release or exchange of political prisoners to form part of the proposed deal. “Look, they’re talking about money, deals, rare earth metals, borders, but have you ever heard anyone talk about people?” Muratov, a newspaper editor who continues to live and work in Russia despite being labelled a “foreign agent” by the authorities, told Reuters in a video interview. “I really don’t know what’s going on in Putin’s head, forgive me... I only know that people are dying in prisons, and they need to be saved,” he said. During the conversation, he held up before and after photographs showing how several prominent Russian dissidents, including activist Alexei Gorinov, theatre director Zhenya Berkovich and saxophonist Andrei Shabanov, have visibly aged in prison and suffered damage to their health. “I will show you what (these) people look like now. So that no-one has any doubt that many simply will not survive. They will die if the international community — Zelensky, Putin, Trump and the European Union — don’t decide the fate of these people now,” Muratov said. “How many faces do I have to show (you) so that politicians at the negotiations will say ‘yes, let’s also talk about the human rights to life, dignity, and freedom?’” The Kremlin does not comment on individual cases. It says Russia needs to uphold its laws to deal with people engaged in what it regards as subversive activity against the state, and that they are appropriately treated in the penal system. Trump has not publicly called for the release of political prisoners in Russia. That stands in contrast with his stance on Belarus, where he has urged President Alexander Lukashenko, an ally of Putin, to free more than 1,000 people he describes as hostages. He has, however, stated a commitment to bring home American citizens jailed in Russia, of whom several have been released during his second presidency. In a major East-West prisoner exchange last year under Trump’s predecessor Joe Biden, 16 people — including US citizens Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan and Alsu Kurmasheva, as well as some prominent Russian dissidents — were released from Russian and Belarusian jails, while Moscow got back eight prisoners held in the West. In their appeal, the 16 Nobel laureates said they were hopeful the current negotiations could bring an end to the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War Two. “We are confident that if Messrs. Putin and Zelensky demonstrate goodwill and mutually pardon at least a few dozen prisoners who are imprisoned merely for expressing their personal opinions and who have not committed violent crimes, this will hasten the advent of a lasting and just peace,” they said. The letter referred to more than 1,000 people held in Russian prisons for political crimes. It did not put a figure on the number jailed in Ukraine, who include people sentenced for treason or for collaborating with Moscow. The signatories included peace laureates Jose Ramos-Horta, Jody Williams, Maria Ressa and Yan Rachinsky and literature winner Svetlana Alexievich. “Until we put people at the centre of politics, wars will continue,” said Muratov. He said he hoped US First Lady Melania Trump — who has intervened with Putin to seek the repatriation of Ukrainian children whom Kyiv accuses Russia of abducting — would support the initiative to free political prisoners, which he said was in the tradition of Russian-American relations dating back decades. He told Reuters he believed that the negotiators would listen. “I am confident that they will hear this letter, and then we will see how they act. We will monitor their actions.” 

President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that the outlines of a draft peace plan discussed by the United States and Ukraine could become the basis of future deals to end the war in Ukraine, but that if not Russia would fight on.Diplomatic efforts to defuse Europe's deadliest and most devastating conflict since World War Two have been stepped up in recent weeks, with various peace plans emerging from different sides, including the United States and Europe."In general, we agree that this can be the basis for future agreements," Putin told a news conference in Kyrgyzstan, adding that the variant of the plan discussed by Washington and Kyiv in Geneva had been passed to Moscow.US and Ukrainian negotiators held talks on the latest US-backed peace plan in Geneva on Sunday.Putin said the United States was taking into account Russia's position, but that some things still needed to be discussed. If Europe wanted a pledge from Russia not to attack it, then Russia was willing to give such a pledge, he said.Russia, Putin noted, was being told that it should cease the fighting but needed Kyiv's forces to pull back before it could do so."Ukrainian troops must withdraw from the territories they hold, and then the fighting will cease. If they don't leave, then we shall achieve this by armed means. That's it," Putin said.Russian forces were advancing in Ukraine at a faster pace now, he added.With another winter approaching in the nearly four-year war, Russian forces control almost one-fifth of Ukraine — in its east and south — and are pushing forward while bombarding Ukrainian energy infrastructure.Putin said he considered the Ukrainian leadership to be illegitimate and so it was legally impossible to sign a deal with Kyiv.It was therefore important, he said, to ensure that any agreement was recognised by the international community — and that the international community recognised Russian gains in Ukraine."Therefore, broadly speaking, of course, we ultimately want to reach an agreement with Ukraine. But right now, this is practically impossible. Impossible legally," Putin said.He said that the Crimean peninsula, which Russia seized from Ukraine and annexed in 2014, and Ukraine's eastern Donbas region should be a topic for discussions with Washington.Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff plans to visit Moscow next week.Commenting on the leak of a recording of a call between top advisers to Trump and Putin, the Kremlin chief rejected the suggestion that Witkoff had shown himself to be biased towards Moscow in peace talks over Ukraine, describing it as nonsense.Bloomberg News published the transcript of an October 14 telephone call in which Witkoff advised Putin's foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov on how to pitch a Ukraine peace plan to Trump. 

OilOil prices eased about 1% on Friday to settle at one-month low as the US pushed for a Russia-Ukraine peace deal that could boost global oil supplies, while uncertainty over US interest rates curbed investors' risk appetite.Brent crude futures settled at $62.56, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude finished at $58.06. For the week, Brent fell by 2.8% and WTI fell by 3.4%. Market sentiment turned bearish as Washington pushed for the Ukraine-Russia peace plan, even as sanctions on Russian oil producers Rosneft and Lukoil were set to take effect on Friday.Russia was the second-biggest producer of oil in the world after the US in 2024. Meanwhile, a stronger US dollar also weighed on oil prices. The greenback hit a six-month high versus a basket of other currencies, making dollar-priced oil more expensive for many global buyers.GasAsian spot liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices rose slightly this week but remained around the $11 area on well-stocked inventories and weak demand. The average LNG price for December delivery into northeast Asia held at $11.66 per million British thermal units (mmBtu), industry sources estimated.Asian spot gas prices built up their premium to European gas prices for near months at the TTF hub, mainly to account for an increase in spot charter rates that meant drawing cargoes over longer distances to Asia rather than Europe would cost more. In Europe, Dutch and British gas prices edged lower on Friday as expectations of stronger wind power output and warmer temperatures curbed gas demand.Prices rose earlier last week as a cold spell drove heating demand higher. The Dutch TTF price settled at $10.20 per mmBtu, recording a weekly loss of 3.4%.

Education Above All (EAA) Foundation, in collaboration with Al Sadd Sports Club and with the support of the Ministry of Social Development and Family, held the “Peace Tournament”, a community football event dedicated to children, youth, and Gaza families hosted by the State of Qatar and residing in Al Thumama Complex. The tournament took place on Thursday, 20 November 2025, at 8:00 PM at Al Sadd Sports Club fields.The initiative formed part of the community partnership between Education Above All Foundation and Al Sadd SC, and aligned with EAA’s efforts to enhance the psychosocial well-being of children and youth and to support crisis-affected communities through sports activities that strengthened social cohesion, built bonds of solidarity, and reinforced positive community values.The one-day tournament brought together children, youth, and adults from Gaza across three age groups, following an approach that ensured fair and inclusive participation for all.Sheikh Khalifa bin Khalid Al Thani, CEO of Al Sadd Football Club Company: "Al Sadd Club participation in organizing the Peace Tournament, in collaboration with Education Above All Foundation and with the support of the Ministry of Social Development and Family, stems from our social responsibility and our national role in supporting initiatives that strengthen human and community cohesion. We believe that sport, and football in particular, has a unique ability to bring people together, restore hope, and create moments of joy, especially for children and youth who have endured difficult experiences. At Al Sadd Club, we were keen to provide all the necessary resources to ensure the success of this tournament, which we are proud to present as a message of solidarity from Qatar to our brothers and sisters from Gaza who are guests of the country. We will continue to support initiatives that harness the power of sport to serve humanity and promote the values of unity and generosity."On this occasion, Ms. AlAnood Al-Attiyah, Director of the Al Fakhoora Programme at Education Above All Foundation, stated: “At Education Above All, we believe in the transformative power of sport to build confidence, strengthen resilience, and restore hope, especially for communities facing profound humanitarian challenges. This tournament was not merely a sporting activity; it was a safe space that offered children and youth an outlet for expression and an opportunity to build positive relationships that enhanced community cohesion. We were pleased to collaborate with Al Sadd SC and the Ministry of Social Development and Family through initiatives that embody the values of giving, solidarity, and supporting children and youth wherever they may be.”Education Above All Foundation continued its efforts in Qatar and around the world to create safe, inclusive, and supportive educational and social environments for children and youth. Through collaborative partnerships with national, sports, and community institutions, EAA worked to provide equal opportunities for all and contributed to improving the quality of life in the most vulnerable communities.For more information about EAA Foundation, visit www.educationaboveall.orgFor media inquiries, please contact:Mohamed Al-AmriSenior Media Relations [email protected]+974-5000-9960Patience RusareSenior Media [email protected]+974-5993-1560

The UN Security Council will vote Monday on a resolution endorsing US President Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan, diplomats said. Last week the Americans officially launched negotiations within the 15-member Security Council on a text that would follow up on a ceasefire in the two-year war between Israel and Hamas and endorse Trump's plan. **media[382089]** A draft of the resolution "welcomes the establishment of the Board of Peace," a transitional governing body for Gaza -- that Trump would theoretically chair -- with a mandate running until the end of 2027. **media[382087]** It would authorise member states to form a "temporary International Stabilisation Force (ISF)" that would work with Israel and Egypt and newly trained Palestinian police to help secure border areas and demilitarise the Gaza Strip. **media[382088]** Unlike previous drafts, the latest mentions a possible future Palestinian state.

In a significant step forward for the peace process, the Doha Framework Agreement for Peace between the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Congo River Alliance (AFC/M23) was signed Saturday during a special ceremony at the Sheraton Doha.The signing took place in the presence of His Excellency Dr Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh al-Khulaifi, Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. His Excellency Dr al-Khulaifi affirmed that the framework agreement represents an important milestone in efforts to consolidate peace and stability in eastern DRC.**media[381877]**He reiterated Qatar’s commitment to supporting the peace process until a comprehensive and lasting settlement is achieved for the Congolese people. Speaking at a press conference alongside Massad Boulos, US Senior Adviser for Arab and African Affairs, His Excellency the Minister highlighted the genuine political will and responsible engagement demonstrated by both parties, noting that these qualities made the agreement possible.**media[381882]**He also expressed appreciation for their confidence in Qatar’s role in facilitating and advancing the peace efforts. His Excellency Dr al-Khulaifi recalled that Qatar’s mediation efforts began when His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani hosted President Félix Tshisekedi of the DRC and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda in Doha, and when President Tshisekedi subsequently opened the door for dialogue with the AFC/M23 movement.This latest agreement marks a new and important milestone in the ongoing peace process led by Qatar, building on the progress made with the Doha Declaration of Principles signed on 19 July. The Framework reaffirms the parties’ shared commitment to addressing the root causes of the conflict through structured dialogue, confidence-building measures, and a phased approach to de-escalation and stabilisation.**media[381878]**It emphasises the protection of civilians, respect for human rights, the safe and dignified return of displaced persons, and the promotion of national reconciliation and unity.Serving as the foundational reference document for the broader peace process, the Doha Framework sets the stage for a series of forthcoming protocols, annexes, and technical arrangements that the parties have agreed to develop.**media[381880]**These instruments will address operational details such as ceasefire consolidation and verification, troop disengagement modalities, humanitarian access, reintegration mechanisms, and support for national dialogue.Once adopted, these protocols and annexes will form an integrated and harmonised part of the Doha Framework for Peace, ensuring coherence, clarity, and phased implementation. Qatar commended the constructive engagement of both parties and expressed appreciation for the cooperation of regional and international partners supporting the process.**media[381881]**In particular, Qatar acknowledged the contributions of the US, Togo, and the African Union Commission, whose sustained support has played a key role in advancing the peace efforts.

Joao Neves’ late winner returned Paris Saint-Germain to the top of Ligue 1 as they beat Lyon 3-2 on Sunday, while Emanuel Emegha netted a brace as Strasbourg defeated Lille.PSG had gone into the weekend’s action in top spot, but were knocked off it by archrivals Marseille who beat Brest 3-0 on Saturday to edge ahead by a point.The chance to restore their lead seemed to have slipped by Luis Enrique’s side until Neves’ 95th-minute header at the Groupama Stadium.Reigning champions PSG now sit on 27 points, two clear of second-placed Marseille.“Resilience is a word I like,” said PSG coach Luis Enrique.He added: “We showed the right mentality to win this match. It’s important because in adversity, we win, and we are first in Ligue 1.”This win acted as a pick-me-up for PSG after their midweek Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich.Late defeat condemned Lyon to seventh spot, seven points off the leaders. The visitors went ahead on 26 minutes as Warren Zaire-Emery raced onto Vitinha’s ball over the top.Lacking options in the middle for a square pass, the 19-year-old instead decided to unleash a rasping drive which flew past Dominik Greif at his near post.Lyon responded four minutes later as Afonso Moreira sprung the PSG offside trap with a run from deep, before slotting past Lucas Chevalier.But the hosts’ joy turned to fury inside three minutes as PSG retook the lead via a crisp Khvicha Kvaratskhelia finish.Lyon players swiftly gathered around the referee to protest Vitinha’s challenge on Tanner Tessman to win the ball back, before teeing up the Georgian.The Portuguese seemed to go straight through the back of Tessman, but after a VAR review the strike was validated.A decision which resulted in assistant coach Jorge Maciel earning himself a yellow card for his reaction.“We need to talk about video refereeing. French football has an incredible league, but to have a real product, you need three teams on the pitch doing their job,” Maciel fumed after the match.Nicolas Tagliafico struck the PSG woodwork four minutes before the interval as Lyon went into the break bemoaning their luck.But Ainsley Maitland-Niles soothed those frustrations five minutes into the second half with a superb lofted finish from Tyler Morton’s ball over the top.The match then tightened up after that 24-minute flurry, which resulted in four goals, as both sides rang the changes.PSG suddenly found themselves on red alert on 80 minutes as Chevalier and his defence were required to pull off some last-ditch heroics to deny Lyon.Tagliafico was dismissed in injury time after picking up a second yellow for tussling with Lee Kang-in off the ball.The resulting free-kick went behind for a corner, and from that set-piece the diminutive Neves popped up to stun the hosts.After missing Strasbourg’s last five league outings with a thigh issue, Emegha returned with a bang as he fired the hosts to 2-0 victory over Lille.His goals either side of half-time lifted Liam Rosenior’s side to fourth place on 22 points.Lille dropped to fifth after falling to their fourth defeat of the campaign, and now trail Strasbourg by two points.“This match was similar to some of our recent matches,” Lille coach Bruno Genesio said.“You can’t say that we played very badly or that the opposition were superior to us. We made mistakes that cost us dearly and we lacked variety and initiative.”Emegha gave the hosts the lead three minutes after the half-hour as he adjusted well to knee home Diego Moreira’s cross which had just cleared the head of defender Nathan Ngoy.A catastrophic backpass by French 2018 World Cup winner Olivier Giroud on 62 minutes sent Emegha through one-on-one and the 22-year-old made no mistake.Elsewhere, Lorient and Toulouse played out a 1-1 draw in Brittany with both sides scoring from the penalty spot.Metz beat Nice 2-1 and bottom-side Auxerre lost 2-0 at Angers.

Slovenian President Dr Nataša Pirc Musar has reiterated her call to abolish the United Nations (UN) Security Council’s absolute veto power, arguing that the privilege 'corrupts absolutely' and has left the UN in a 'big struggle' to uphold its mission of global peace and security.“When you do have something absolute, it is always a problem,” she said. “You know what the saying is?, ‘Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely’. It is so true, also in politics,” Pirc Musar said in her lecture, titled “The Realities of Multipolarism vs the Need for Multilateralism”.She was speaking at Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s Minaretein Auditorium Monday, addressing global governance, artificial intelligence, and gender equity. The event forms part of her official visit to Qatar and reflected HBKU’s ongoing efforts to foster international dialogue on diplomacy and leadership.Elected in 2022 as Slovenia’s first woman head of state, Pirc Musar used the platform to make an appeal for UN reform, particularly targeting what she described as the “hybrid war” within the Security Council, where five permanent members – the United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia, and China – hold veto powers.The Slovenian president noted that while France and the United Kingdom have refrained from using the veto since 1986, other permanent members continue to use, and in some cases, abuse the power, stalling collective action in times of global crisis. “For 25 years we have been discussing UN reform. For 25 years we didn’t make any steps,” she added.Pirc Musar outlined three proposals to curb the Security Council’s unchecked authority: Restricting voting rights of countries under discussion in the Council; banning the use of vetoes in cases involving mass atrocities, crimes against humanity, or genocide; and subjecting veto decisions to review by the UN General Assembly, where a two-thirds majority could overrule or confirm them.The Slovenian president cited her September address at the UN General Assembly, where Slovenia urged the body to seek an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on the legality and limits of the veto power in cases of humanitarian crises. “Now is the time to discuss this really very important topic,” she said, adding that “we don’t have another 25 years to waste.”Pirc Musar also touched on the interconnectedness of global issues, from wars in Ukraine, Palestine, and Sudan to the ethical implications of artificial intelligence: “Everything is interconnected,” she stressed, adding that knowledge-sharing and cultural dialogue are vital to overcoming political egoism and sustaining multilateral co-operation.“Knowledge is to be shared and not a single country on this planet has all the knowledge it needs,” she said. “If you only stick to your own country and are not willing to share, that is egoistic.”Pirc Musar also tackled the theme of gender equity, linking it to the broader struggle for fairness and inclusion in global governance.Echoing her faith in multilateralism, she described the UN as “the only multilateral body covering the whole planet,” insisting that it “should be the diamond of international politics.”

The United States will share a draft resolution on President Donald Trump's peace plan for Gaza with the 10 elected members of the United Nations Security Council, a US official said. Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas agreed a month ago to the first phase of Trump's 20-point plan for Gaza: a ceasefire in their two-year war and hostage-release deal.The United States has drafted a UN Security Council resolution that would approve a two-year mandate for a Gaza transitional governance body and an international stabilization force in the Palestinian enclave, according to the text seen by Reuters.A resolution needs at least nine votes in favour and no vetoes by Russia, China, the US, Britain or France to be adopted.It was not immediately clear if the US has yet shared a copy of the draft resolution with Russia and China. The two-page text seen by Reuters would authorize a Board of Peace transitional governance administration to establish a temporary International Stabilisation Force (ISF) in Gaza that could "use all necessary measures" - code for force - to carry out its mandate.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has denied reports suggesting the existence of an agreed-upon "12-point peace plan" to end the war with Russia."It's important in this matter whether I, as the President of Ukraine, have seen this plan. I haven't. I think that answers all the questions. There are different European thoughts and proposals regarding a peaceful settlement," Zelenskyy said in remarks cited by Ukrainian National News Agency (Ukrinform).He also expressed surprise at claims regarding Russia's alleged participation in possible negotiations, saying: "It's strange to hear that Russia is at the negotiating table, since currently no European leader or the US president can force them to do so."Zelensky stressed that any further progress toward a peace settlement must involve the United States, emphasizing that moving to a diplomatic stage is impossible without Washington's political and military support."Our position is this: there are now consultations among advisers, several different discussions are ongoing, but there is no concrete, finalized plan on the table yet," he added.

Jordan and Germany said on Saturday that an international force expected to support a future Palestinian police in Gaza under US President Donald Trump's post-war governance plan should have a UN mandate.Under the US-brokered ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, a coalition of mainly Arab and Muslim nations is expected to deploy forces in the Palestinian territory, which has been devastated by the war that broke out on October 7, 2023 with Hamas's attack on Israel.The so-called international stabilisation force is supposed to train and support vetted Palestinian police in the Strip, with backing from Egypt and Jordan, as well as secure border areas and prevent weapons smuggling to Hamas."We all agree that in order for that stabilisation force to be able to be effective in getting the job done, it has to have a Security Council mandate," Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said.Jordan, however, will not be sending its own forces to the Strip."We're too close to the issue and we cannot deploy troops in Gaza," Safadi said, adding his country was nonetheless ready to cooperate with the international force.Safadi was speaking at the IISS Manama Dialogue conference in Bahrain alongside his German counterpart Johann Wadephul, who also supported a UN mandate for the force, saying it would "need a clear basis in international law"."We understand that this is of utmost importance to those countries who might be willing to send troops to Gaza and for the Palestinians. Germany would also want to see a clear mandate for this mission," Wadephul said.The idea of the stabilisation force has drawn some criticism, with UN experts last month warning it would "replace Israeli occupation with a US-led occupation, contrary to Palestinian self-determination".The UN has mandated international peacekeeping forces in the region for decades, including UNIFIL in southern Lebanon, which is currently working with the Lebanese army to enforce a November 2024 ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel.

Nasser Medical Hospital in the Gaza Strip received Friday the bodies of 30 martyrs released by Israeli occupation forces.According to local sources, cited by the Palestinian News Agency (WAFA), the bodies were transferred to the hospital via the International Committee of the Red Cross.This marks the fifth batch of martyrs' bodies handed over by the Israeli occupation since the ceasefire agreement in Gaza took effect.Most of the bodies bore signs of torture, burning, and execution. Many were found with bound hands and blindfolded eyes, their features severely disfigured, making identification by families nearly impossible.The handover is part of a prisoner and detainee exchange deal under the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli entity, which came into force on Oct 10.Under the truce, Israel is to return the remains of 15 Palestinians for every deceased Israeli hostage returned by Hamas. Friday's transfer brings the number returned to Gaza to 225. Hamas has already returned 20 surviving hostages.Hamas insists it is committed to the ceasefire plan but is struggling to find the remaining dead because two years of Israeli bombardments have erased Gazan landmarks.Egyptian recovery teams equipped with earth-moving equipment have joined the effort to search for the bodies.