Israel military says controls 40 percent of Gaza City, the largest urban centre in the Palestinian territory
In a televised briefing, Israeli military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin said that "we hold 40 percent of the territory...Geostrategy
With Kim, Putin at his side, Xi says world “faced with a choice of peace or war”
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russia's Vladimir Putin flanked Xi Jinping at a massive parade of military might...Geostrategy
2023 hottest recorded year as Earth nears critical threshold
PARIS, FRANCE - The year of 2023 was the hottest on record, with the increase in Earth's surface temperature nearly crossing...Climate change intensified heatwaves, droughts and wildfires and pushed the global thermometer 1.48 C in 2023 above the preindustrial benchmark.
Nearly half of 2023 exceeded the 1.5C limit, beyond which climate impacts are more likely to become self-reinforcing and catastrophic, said scientists.
Israel is starving Gaza residents, says NGO
RAMALLAH, PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES - Everyone in Gaza is going hungry and about 2.2 million people are surviving day by day...The NGO said that Gaza Strip was already in the throes of a humanitarian crisis before the war, mainly due to Israel’s 17-year blockade.
Given this starting point, it is clear as to why the Gaza Strip plummeted into a full-blown catastrophe so quickly.
Blinken returns to Israel as Gaza death toll rises to 23, 210
The US secretary of state -- on his fourth Middle East tour since the war broke out -- was back...Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh called on Muslim states "to support the resistance with weapons, because this is... not the battle of the Palestinian people alone".
At least 23,210 people have been killed in the Palestinian territory due to relentless Israeli bombardment, 126 deaths in the past 24 hours alone.
GCC head and EU top diplomat review relations in Riyadh
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia--Jasem Mohamed Al Budaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and Josep Borrell, High Representative of...The two discussed the latest developments in regional and international arenas, including the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip
Al Budaiwi noted the importance of collaboration and unity in efforts to halt the continuous Israeli attacks against Gaza
Blinken discusses Israel normalization in tented Saudi talks
US top diplomat Antony Blinken also said all the leaders on his tour, which took him to six countries before...In just three days, Blinken has visited Turkey, Greece, Jordan, Qatar and the UAE on his fourth regional tour since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict
He said there was "broad agreement" on security for Israel, united Palestinian leadership for the occupied West Bank and Gaza and an eventual independent Palestinian state
China’s ties with US ‘stabilized’ last year, says Wang Yi
In an attempt to lower recriminations in the relations between the two countries, President Joe Biden met Chinese counterpart Xi...Wangi Yi said that China and US have restructured communication and dialogue
Both have also bickered over China's increasingly assertive policy in the South China Sea
Israel faces Gaza ‘genocide’ case at UN top court
South Africa wants the ICJ to impose "provisional measures", or emergency actions, while the broader case is being considered --...In an 84-page submission to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), South Africa urged judges to order Israel to "immediately suspend its military operations" in Gaza
South Africa alleges that Israel "has engaged in, is engaging in, and risks further engaging in genocidal acts against the Palestinian people in Gaza".
Iran supports Baghdad pledge to expel US-led forces from Iraq
"We have repeatedly expressed our views to the authorities of the countries of the region, including Iraq, and declared that...Iran is confident that its neighbor has "the ability, strength and authority necessary to maintain security" on its territory alone, Iranian official Kanani said
US and other coalition forces in Iraq, deployed since 2014 in the fight against the IS, have come under regular attack since Gaza war
Private US lunar lander mission imperiled by technical snag
Washington, United States -- An historic private mission to land on the Moon was facing potential failure Monday due to...Astrobotic's Peregrine Lunar Lander blasted off overnight from Florida's Cape Canaveral, then successfully separated from its launch vehicle around an hour later.
But teams at ground control found they were unable to point the unmanned spacecraft correctly at the sun.
Saudi Arabia, Belarus ink MoU to boost trade, investment
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - The Federation of Saudi Chambers and the National Center for Marketing and Price Study at the...Under the pact, the two parties will exchange information related to trade, business environment, investment, production and export opportunities.
The two parties will organize joint research activities pertaining to marketing to enhance trade prospects and explore ways of improved cooperation.
