Putin speaks to Israel, Iran leaders to help ‘de-escalate’ the situation: Kremlin
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday held calls with the leaders of Israel and Iran, the Kremlin said, offering mediation amid...
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Trump reposts suggestion that Rubio become next Cuba leader
President Donald Trump reposted a social media message on Sunday suggesting that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, born to Cuban...
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Geostrategy
US, Israel hold talks as Gaza truce plan fails at UN
Israel plans to send troops into Gaza's Rafah even without US support, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Antony Blinken, as...
- US has repeatedly blocked ceasefire resolutions at the UN Security Council but tried to pass a text mentioning an "immediate ceasefire as part of a hostage deal".
- World leaders including staunch allies of Israel backed the renewed diplomatic push.
Geostrategy
Libya to continue Tunisia border closure till end of smuggling
Tripoli, Libya - Libya's shutdown of its main border crossing with Tunisia this week will remain in force until authorities put...
- Authorities aim to "ensure the security of the borders and combat crime and smuggling," Interior Minister Imad Trabelsi said.
- The crossing was shut down on Tuesday after clashes between armed groups and security forces on the Libyan side the night before.
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Israel seizes 800 hectares of land in West Bank on Blinken’s arrival
Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich declared as "state lands" the area in the northern Jordan Valley. Israeli settlement watchdog Peace...
- Settlements in the Palestinian territories are illegal under international law. Smotrich, who heads the extreme-right Religious Zionism party, lives in a settlement.
- They are now home to more than 490,000 Israelis, who live alongside around three million Palestinians in the territory.
Geostrategy
Finland to resume funding to UN agency for Palestinian refugees
Australia, Canada and Sweden, which were among those states, announced earlier this month they were resuming aid. Ten percent of...
- Finland suspended its yearly funding of five million euros in January, following Israel's allegations that 12 of the UN agency's 30,000 employees were involved in the Hamas attack
- Finland's minister Tavio said in a statement that preventing misconduct and initiating close monitoring give sufficient guarantees at this point for resuming the support
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Middle East oil policies not dictated by US, says Russia
MOSCOW, RUSSIA – US will no longer be able to dictate oil prices in the Middle East, Director of the...
- The US cannot dictate prices, although they would like to as the world is becoming a multipolar one, a Russian official said.
- "This multipolarity is expressed in particular in the existence of the group of countries known as OPEC+," he added.
Geostrategy
UK, Australia call for ‘immediate cessation of fighting’ in Gaza
Adelaide, Australia--Britain and Australia declared the need for an "immediate cessation of fighting" in Gaza, as diplomatic pressure built on Israel...
- The allies issued a statement that stressed the "urgency of an immediate cessation of fighting in Gaza to allow aid to flow and hostages to be released"
- The UK's call for an "immediate cessation of fighting" is a sign that Britain is also growing anxious about the toll of what Israel calls Operation Swords of Iron.
Blinken heads to Israel to press for ‘immediate’ truce in Gaza war
After talks in Saudi Arabia and Egypt, Blinken flies to Israel on Friday, his sixth trip to the region since...
- United States said it would submit for a vote on Friday a draft to the Security Council on the need for an "immediate ceasefire as part of a hostage deal."
- Fighting in Gaza this week has centered around Al-Shifa hospital, with Israel also vowing to launch a new ground assault in overcrowded Rafah
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Israel spy chief to return to Qatar for Gaza truce talks
The Israeli prime minister's office said that Benjamin Netanyahu approved an Israeli delegation led by Mossad head David Barnea to...
- Barnea is to meet CIA director, Qatari prime minister and Egypt's intelligence chief
- Israel believes about 130 remain in Gaza, including 33 who are presumed dead
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Death toll in Israeli attack on West Bank refugee camp rises to 4
"Palestine Red Crescent ambulance teams have just transported an 18-year-old young man who was killed by the Israeli occupation forces...
- Two of the four Palestinians were killed by an air strike and two by live bullets, the Red Crescent said.
- More than 430 Palestinians have been killed in the territory by Israeli troops or settlers since Oct 7.
Business
Russia not in danger of trading oil at a loss, says Lavrov
MOSCOW, RUSSIA – Russia does not see the risk of trading oil at a loss due to the redistribution of...
- Lavrov expressed confidence that Moscow is not frightened of relying on countries that will buy Russian oil and gas.
- OPEC+ regulates the market and prices in an equitable manner, taking into account the interests of consumers, the minister said.
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Putin speaks to Israel, Iran leaders to help ‘de-escalate’ the situation: Kremlin
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday held calls with the leaders of Israel and Iran, the Kremlin said, offering mediation amid...
Geostrategy
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Iran says killed six ‘terrorists’ linked to Israel in Sistan-Baluchistan province
Iranian forces have killed six militants in a raid in the restive southeast, state media reported Saturday, saying they were...
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Syria postpones selection of lawmakers from Druze, Kurdish-held areas
A Syrian official said Saturday that the selection process planned for a transitional parliament next month will be postponed in...
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‘Far too late’: Clutching pots and buckets, Palestinians despair after UN declares famine in Gaza
"We have no home left, no food, no income... so we are forced to turn to charity kitchens, but they...
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Iran to meet Britain, France and Germany on its nuclear programme as snapback sanctions loom
The move would reimpose sweeping UN sanctions lifted under the 2015 agreement unless Iran agrees to curb its uranium enrichment...
- The Islamic republic suspended cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency in July in the wake of its 12-day war with Israel
- The European trio -- parties to the landmark 2015 Iran nuclear deal -- have threatened to trigger a "snapback mechanism" by the end of August
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ATP and Saudi Arabia’s PIF launch new tennis tech platform
NEW YORK and RIYADH — The ATP Tour, in a landmark partnership with the Public Investment Fund (PIF), has unveiled...
- Next-generation analytics platform set to revolutionize player performance and level the playing field across all levels of the sport.
- Groundbreaking partnership with PIF accelerates the development and scale of ATP Tennis IQ, ushering in a new era of data-driven excellence.
Geostrategy
United Nations declares famine in Gaza, first ever in Middle East
Tom Fletcher, the UN's emergency relief coordinator, blamed Israel, accusing it of "systematic obstruction" of aid deliveries to the war-ravaged...
- The assessment of famine was made by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification Initiative (IPC), a coalition of monitors tasked by the UN to warn of impending crises.
- It defines famine as occurring when 20 percent of households have an extreme lack of food; 30 percent of children under five are acutely malnourished.