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.
Geostrategy
Rubio says Israel annexation moves in West Bank, settler violence ‘threatening’ Gaza peace deal
Israeli lawmakers voted Wednesday to advance two bills on annexing the occupied West Bank, barely a week after President Donald...
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Geostrategy
‘Time for peace’ in Sudan, Darfur: Rapid Support Forces envoy
The conflict broke out in the capital Khartoum on April 15 and spread to Darfur, leaving at least 3,000 dead...
- Youssef Ezzat made his remarks in the West African nation of Togo where he was attending talks
- Togo talks came after rights campaigners in Darfur blamed RSF and allied Arab militias for reported atrocities
Geostrategy
Iraqi forces seize million captagon pills as drug trade surges
Authorities in Iraq -- a key conduit for the amphetamine-type drug -- regularly announce such operations in which large hauls...
- Forces arrested "a foreign narcotics trafficker" and seized large quantities of the drug hidden in a truck.
- On July 16, the interior ministry reported the discovery of a rare captagon manufacturing lab in the country's south.
Geostrategy
Israel lawmakers approve key judicial reform clause as protests flare
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his coalition allies approved the bill in a Knesset vote boycotted by opposition lawmakers, some...
- Netanyahu's coalition government, which includes far-right and ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties, argues that the proposed changes are needed to ensure a better balance of power.
- The reform package has triggered one of the biggest protest movements in Israel's history since it was unveiled by the government in January.
Geostrategy
US president calls on Israel to postpone ‘divisive’ judicial reforms
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeks to bring his controversial proposal to curb the power of judges to a vote...
- US President Joe Biden said, "It doesn't make sense for Israeli leaders to rush this — the focus should be on pulling people together and finding consensus"
- Some 20 legislators have lined up to speak against the bill, which would limit Supreme Court judges' ability to strike down government decisions
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Iraqi Kurds hold demonstration in support of jailed journalist
On Sunday, around 300 people demonstrated in the region's second city Sulaimaniyah against the new sentence imposed on Sherwani. NGO...
- Sherwan Sherwani had been due for release in September following a presidential decree reducing his sentence
- In Thursday, the CPJ said, Sherwani was given a four-year prison term for "falsification" in connection with a petition prepared in jail
Economy
New Middle East forum aims to combat drug smuggling
The forum was agreed during talks between Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus earlier...
- The Syrian delegation was headed by Defence Minister General Ali Mahmud Abbas and General Intelligence Director, Major General Husam Louka
- The talks "went over the issue of the parties that organise, run and carry out smuggling operations across borders to Jordan
Geostrategy
UAE vows $100m to tackle migration, climate change
"The UAE believes in the importance of joint action, integration of efforts, and promotion of economic development for countries facing...
- The UAE has pledged $100 million at the International Conference on Development and Migration
- The country emphasizes climate change and its impact on migration and development challenges
Geostrategy
UAE president meets with Arab and EU leaders in Italy
The president met with a string of leaders from the Arab world and the European Union and discussed ways to...
- The UAE has announced a contribution of US$100 million to support developmental projects in countries affected by irregular migration
- The heads of the European Commission and the European Council, and the Tunisian president and Lebanese PM applauded the UAE for the aid
Geostrategy
Italy calls Med migration conference on Tunisia model
Italy and the European Commission have sought to step up engagement with Tunisia, promising funding if the country undertakes to...
- Italy's far-right PM is expecting leaders from the region, the European Union and international financial institutions to meet in the capital
- Giorgia Meloni has confirmed the presence of Tunisian President Kais Saied while the PM of Egypt and Malta have both said they will attend
Geostrategy
Netanyahu to have pacemaker fitted ahead of vote on judicial reforms
His latest health scare comes with lawmakers set to debate the reforms bill in parliament on Sunday to be followed...
- The prime minister will undergo the procedure at Tel Hashomer hospital, a statement from his office said
- A week ago Netanyahu, 73, had been discharged from the same medical centre after a night of hospitalisation
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.
Geostrategy
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Blinken returns to Mideast in push for truce
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Trump says ‘there will be bombing’ if Iran fails to make ‘peace deal’
Trump's language represented a sharpening of his comment a few days earlier that if Tehran refused to negotiate a new...
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Trump says ‘very angry, pissed off’ with Putin over Ukraine
"If Russia and I are unable to make a deal on stopping the bloodshed in Ukraine, and if I think...
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Netanyahu offers Hamas leaders Gaza exit but demands group disarm amid strikes on the Palestinian territory
A senior Hamas official stated on Saturday that the group had approved a new ceasefire proposal put forward by mediators...
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‘Day of funerals,’ Gazans mark grim Eid under Israeli strikes
At dawn, many Gazans gathered across different parts of the territory to offer traditional morning Eid prayers, an AFP correspondent...
- Many prayed beside makeshift tents sheltering tens of thousands of displaced Gazans, living in dire humanitarian conditions.
- At the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, several residents visited the graves of loved ones killed in the war.
Geostrategy
First orbital rocket launched from Europe crashes seconds after blast-off
Oslo, Norway -- The first orbital rocket launched from continental Europe crashed seconds after blast-off Sunday, in a closely watched...
- Isar Aerospace, which had said it did not expect to reach orbit with the launch, said the two-stage rocket fell into the sea, adding that "the launch pad seems to be intact".
- The 28-metre (92-foot) tall, two-meter diameter rocket has a one-ton carrying capacity, but was unloaded for the test flight.
Geostrategy
Hamas says agrees to new Gaza truce proposal received from mediators but warns its weapons a ‘red line’
The talks in Doha started a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened to seize parts of Gaza if...
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed it had also received a proposal from the mediators and had submitted a counter-proposal in response
- The fragile truce that had brought weeks of relative calm to the Gaza Strip ended on March 18 when Israel resumed its bombing campaign across the territory