Trump says Israel, Hezbollah agree to halt hostilities; Lebanon says deal could expand nationwide
Beirut was bracing for a possible Israeli bombardment on Monday after Israel announced plans to strike the city's southern suburbs,...
Geostrategy
Xi and Putin reaffirm alliance days after Trump’s Beijing visit
Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing on Wednesday, days after US President Donald Trump visited...
Geostrategy
Murderer of Palestinian-American boy sentenced to 53 years
Washington, United States - An Illinois man was sentenced to 53 years in prison on Friday for the murder of...
- Joseph Czuba, 73, was convicted in February of fatally stabbing Wadea Al-Fayoumi and attacking the boy's mother, Hanan Shaheen
- Czuba was the family's landlord and the attack took place a week after the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023
Geostrategy
Israel launches new Syria strikes amid Druze tensions
Israel launched more than 20 air strikes inside Syria late Friday, a war monitor said, following up an attack near...
- The strikes came amid Israeli warnings to the Damascus government not to harm the Druze minority, following recent sectarian clashes
- An Israeli military statement said its forces had "struck a military site, anti-aircraft cannons and surface-to-air missile infrastructure in Syria."
Geostrategy
Israel says intercepts missile fired from Yemen
The Israeli military said Friday it intercepted a missile fired from Yemen, where Huthi rebels recently claimed responsibility for a...
- Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi rebels have not claimed responsibility for the Friday launch, but said Sunday they had launched a "hypersonic missile" at the Nevatim air base
- The Huthis are part of Iran's "axis of resistance" against Israel and the United States, portraying themselves as defenders of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip amid the ongoing war
Geostrategy
Israel strikes near Damascus presidential palace over Druze violence that kills over 100 people
Israel has since then attacked hundreds of Syrian military sites and on Friday announced its "fighter jets struck adjacent to...
- Israel has attacked hundreds of Syrian military sites and on Friday announced its "fighter jets struck adjacent to the area of the palace" in the capital Damascus
- Israel sees the new forces in Syria as jihadists and has warned them to protect the Druze minority, with Defence Minister Israel Katz saying his country could otherwise respond."
Geostrategy
How much blood is enough to satisfy ‘political objectives’: WHO on Gaza
"We are breaking the bodies and the minds of the children of Gaza. We are starving the children of Gaza,...
- Israel strictly controls all inflows of international aid vital for the 2.4 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
- It halted aid deliveries to Gaza on March 2, days before the collapse of a ceasefire that had significantly reduced hostilities after 15 months of war.
Economy
Slower growth expected in MENA region in 2025: IMF
"Growth is still projected to increase in 2025 and 2026, but at a considerably slower pace than anticipated last October,"...
- The lender lowered growth projections from 4 percent to 2.6 percent for 2025, and from 4.2 percent to 3.4 percent for 2026.
- In 2024, average growth in the region slowed to 1.8 percent -- from 2.1 percent the year before -- due to "ongoing conflicts and extended voluntary oil production cuts".
Geostrategy
UAE to lift three-year Lebanon travel ban: statement
Dubai, United Arab Emirates -- The United Arab Emirates will lift a ban on its citizens travelling to Lebanon that...
- The decision was announced a day after Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met with his UAE counterpart Mohamed bin Zayed in Abu Dhabi.
- In 2021, the UAE imposed a travel ban on its citizens and withdrew diplomats from Beirut in solidarity with Riyadh after a Lebanese minister criticized Saudi intervention in Yemen.
Geostrategy
Two-State solution nearing point of no return: UN chief
He renewed calls for an immediate and lasting ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages, and full humanitarian access. He...
- Guterres expressed deep concern over the worsening crisis in Gaza, where nearly 2,000 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire collapsed in March
- He renewed calls for an immediate and lasting ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages, and full humanitarian access
Geostrategy
US imposes sanctions to curb Iran oil despite talks
The United States said Wednesday it was imposing sanctions on seven companies involved in selling Iranian oil, tightening pressure despite...
- The United States said it was targeting five trading companies -- four based in the United Arab Emirates and one in Turkey
- The move comes just after Iran announced a fourth round of talks with President Donald Trump's administration to take place Saturday in Rome
Geostrategy
UAE says foils bid to transfer weapons to Sudan army
"The security services succeeded in preventing the transfer of a quantity of military equipment to the Sudanese Armed Forces following...
- The UAE statement said members of the cell included former Sudanese intelligence chief Salah Gosh an ex-adviser to the finance minister and political figure close to army chief.
- It said the arrests were made "during an inspection of ammunition in a private aircraft" loaded with around five million machine gun rounds.
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Trump says Israel, Hezbollah agree to halt hostilities; Lebanon says deal could expand nationwide
Beirut was bracing for a possible Israeli bombardment on Monday after Israel announced plans to strike the city's southern suburbs,...
Geostrategy
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The armed groups clashing with Hamas in Gaza
Shortly after a ceasefire took effect in Gaza, clashes erupted between armed groups, some backed by Israel and others loyal...
Geostrategy
Afghanistan, Pakistan seek to firm up truce in Istanbul talks
Afghan and Pakistani negotiators were locked in talks to hammer out a lasting ceasefire Saturday, with Islamabad warning that if...
Geostrategy
Trump heads for Asia and Xi trade talks
US President Donald Trump left on Friday for Asia and high-stakes trade talks with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping -- adding...
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Geostrategy
Rubio seeks quick deployment of international Gaza force
He confirmed that Israel would enjoy vetoes on the force composition, amid reports Israel has objected to participation by Turkey.
- Turkey, a NATO member and one of the region's strongest militaries, was the first Muslim-majority country to recognize Israel.
- Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim-majority state, has said it is ready to send troops to Gaza.
Geostrategy
Trump heads to Asia and high-stakes meeting with Xi
US President Donald Trump embarks on a major trip to Asia this week with all eyes on a meeting with...
- Trump said Wednesday he was making a "big trip" to Malaysia, Japan and South Korea, his first visit to the region since he returned to the White House
- The highlight will be his talks with Xi in South Korea, which Trump's spokeswoman confirmed would take place on October 30 on the sidelines of an APEC summit
Geostrategy
Trump issues stark warning to Israel over annexing West Bank as Rubio begins visit
"It won't happen," Trump said when asked about calls in Israel to annex the Palestinian West Bank which has been...
- Trump's remarks were made to Time magazine by telephone on October 15, just days after the Gaza ceasefire plan he spearheaded took effect, but were only published on Thursday
- "It won't happen," Trump said when asked about calls in Israel to annex the Palestinian West Bank which has been occupied by Israel since 1967. "It won't happen."