US envoy in Beirut says ‘real opportunity’ to end Israel-Hezbollah war
US special envoy said he was in Beirut because he saw "real opportunity" to end the Israel-Hezbollah warGeostrategy Uncategorized
UN nuclear chief heads to Iran for crucial talks
International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi is set to visit Tehran on Wednesday for crucial talks on Iran's nuclear...Geostrategy
Washington seeks ‘de-escalation’ in Middle East, says top US official
Davos, Switzerland - The United States wants a "de-escalation" in the Middle East despite its strikes on Houthi positions in Yemen,..."We seek to stop the spread of conflict and to create the conditions for de-escalation," Sullivan said at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Sullivan said the course of the conflict with the Iranian-backed rebels depended on "those with influence in Tehran and influence in other capitals in the Middle East".
WTO hopes to finalize fishing agreement
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND - The head of the World Trade Organization's fisheries talks voiced optimism  on Tuesday about striking an agreement on...The 164 WTO members kicked off a month of negotiations this week at the global trade body's headquarters in Geneva.
The draft text is intended to help members reach agreement on a so-called "clean text" for submission to ministers in Abu Dhabi.
Shell halts Red Sea shipments over attack fears, say report
WASHINGTON, US - British oil giant Shell has paused transit through the key Red Sea shipping route indefinitely, over fears of...The worries of escalation grew after United States and United Kingdom strikes on scores of sites in rebel-held Yemen.
The Houthis have been targeting what they deemed Israeli-linked vessels, but after the strikes, they declared US and British interests "legitimate targets."
In Davos, Chinese premier takes aim at trade ‘barriers’
Li's remarks came as the World Economic Forum's (WEF's) 54th annual conference is preoccupied with a slew of global risks,...Li did not name any countries but Beijing has tussled with the United States and the European Union over trade in recent years, particularly on high-tech and clean energy.
US-China trade tensions soared under the presidency of Donald Trump and have continued under President Joe Biden.
Iraq recalls Iran envoy in rebuke to ally over deadly strikes
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had destroyed the "Zionist regime's spy headquarters in the Kurdistan region of Iraq." The strike...Iraq challenged Iran's claim that the strikes targeted Israel's intelligence services in response to recent Israeli assassinations of Iranian and pro-Iranian commanders
Iran defended its missile strikes in Iraq and Syria, saying they were a "targeted operation" and "just punishment" against those who breach the Islamic republic's security
Intensive phase of war in south Gaza ‘will end soon’: Gallant
Israel had four divisions operating in Gaza before Monday's announced withdrawal, though it was unclear how many soldiers were involved...The army had stepped up military operations in the Khan Yunis and Rafah in recent weeks
It said an entire division of soldiers had completed their withdrawal from Gaza on Monday
Iran Guards hit ‘terrorist’ targets in Iraq, Syria
The IRGC also hit targets in Syria with ballistic missiles, including the "gathering places of commanders and main elements related...The attacks destroyed "a spy headquarters" and a "gathering of anti-Iranian terrorist groups" in Arbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan, IRGC said
Four people including prominent businessman Peshraw Dizayee were killed and six others wounded in the attack, according to Iraq's Kurdistan security council
Big win in Iowa moves Trump closer to Biden re-match
The extent of his victory demonstrated the 77-year-old's success in turning his prosecutions into a rallying cry that has galvanized...The former president has led polling for more than a year, but the contest offered the clearest insight yet into his ability to convert that advantage into a White House return
Major US networks took just half an hour to call the race, with Trump taking 51 percent of the vote and opening an unprecedented 30-point gap over Ron DeSantis
Iran, India reach final agreement on Chabahar Port
Tehran, Iran – Iran and India on Monday finalized an agreement for the development of the strategic Chabahar port in...Chabahar Port, Iran's sole oceanic port on the Gulf of Oman, holds strategic importance both strategically and economically
In May 2016, India, Iran, and Afghanistan signed a trilateral agreement for the Chabahar port, facilitating New Delhi's access to Kabul and Central Asia
Turkish strikes leaves hundreds of Syrian villages without electricity
Qamishli, Syria - Hundreds of northeast Syrian villages and towns have lost power after Turkish strikes pounded electricity stations and infrastructure,...The Kurdish administration said Turkey launched a slew of strikes since Friday, mostly concentrated on infrastructure including power stations and oil refineries
The semi-autonomous Kurdish administration listed hundreds of villages and towns facing blackouts due to the Turkish strikes in a statement Monday
