ISTANBUL 

Here is a rundown of all the news you need to start your Sunday, including US lawmakers passing a bill to avoid a government shutdown, UK-US airstrikes targeting Yemen and the latest death toll in Gaza.

TOP STORIES

• US Senate passes pivotal short-term spending bill to avert shutdown

The US Senate passed pivotal legislation to fund the government through March 14 and avoid a government shutdown, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden's desk to sign it into law.

The bill saw widespread support in the chamber for the American Relief Act of 2025, mirroring an earlier vote in the House of Representatives that also enjoyed bipartisan support.

• Houthis report UK-US airstrikes target Yemeni capital of Sanaa

The Houthi group said a US-UK coalition launched an aerial assault on the Yemeni capital of Sanaa.

"US-UK aerial assault targeted Attan area in Sanaa,” Houthi-affiliated Al-Masirah channel reported.

• Gaza death toll tops 45,220 as Israel kills 21 more Palestinians

At least 21 more Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip, bringing the death toll since late last year to 45,227, according to the Health Ministry in the enclave.

A statement added that 107,573 others have been injured in the onslaught.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Türkiye ‘condemns’ car attack at Christmas market in Germany

• Magnitude 6.1 earthquake strikes South Pacific island of Vanuatu

• China sends new peacekeeping team to Lebanon

• 20 injured as Houthi missile strikes central Israel

• Trump appoints vocal critic of the pope, Brian Burch, as Vatican envoy

• 16 soldiers killed in Pakistan terror attack

• 2 witchdoctors arrested for attempt to ‘bewitch' president in Zambia

• Israel struggles to counter Houthi attacks: Report

• Death toll from deadly car attack in Germany rises to 5

• Russia claims to have taken control of another settlement in Ukraine

• HTS leader urged lifting of sanctions on Syria

• Suspect behind German Christmas market attack Islamophobic, supporter of Zionism

• Syrian interim government appoints new foreign minister

• Hamas says Gaza cease-fire agreement ‘imminent’ unless Israel imposes new conditions

• Protests erupt in South Korea over president’s martial law declaration

• US airstrikes hit Iran-backed Houthi facilities in Yemen

• Nationwide protests erupt in Israel to demand Netanyahu’s resignation

• Israeli government still far from reaching prisoner swap agreement with Hamas: Report

• Slovenia requests Israel's exclusion from Eurovision 2025 song contest: Report

• Trump names The Apprentice creator Mark Burnett as UK special envoy

• US Navy fighter jet hit by 'friendly fire' incident above Red Sea

SPORTS

• Turkish judoka Emre Yazgan killed in avalanche at ski resort

Emre Yazgan, a Turkish judoka, was killed in an avalanche at a Türkiye ski resort, officials confirmed.

Yazgan, an 18-year-old black belt in judo, died in the avalanche as he was training at the Palandoken Ski Resort in the eastern Turkish province of Erzurum, Turkish Judo body chief Sezer Huysuz wrote on X.

• King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival concludes in Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Falcon Club’s King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival 2024, held from Dec. 3 - 19, featured a prize pool of Saudi riyal 36 million ($9.6 million), the largest in the history of the event.

The event, organized in Malham, north of Riyadh, attracted 1,032 falconers from nine countries -- Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar, Syria, Italy and Ireland. Among them were 160 international falconers competing with 3,322 falcons, alongside 49 youth participants.

BUSINNESS & ECONOMY

• Biden signs $100B government funding bill, avoiding shutdown

US President Joe Biden signed a government funding bill into law, averting a potential government shutdown.

“This agreement represents a compromise, which means neither side got everything it wanted,” Biden said in a statement.

• Syria's new administration seeks lifting of energy sanctions to revive economy

The overthrow of the 61-year Baathist regime in Syria has brought to the forefront concerns about how the Syrian population will meet its energy needs following Iran's decision to halt crude oil shipments to Damascus, and raised questions about the future trajectory of sanctions in the region.