Ukraine, Russia to hold first direct talks since 2022
War rivals Ukraine and Russia are set to go into their first direct talks in more than three years on...Geostrategy
Trump welcomed grandly as Saudis invest big in US arms
Under imposing chandeliers, Trump welcomed a promise by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who effectively rules the kingdom due to...Geostrategy
Turkey FM warns of escalation in nuclear arms race
Tehran, Iran-- Expressing deep concern over Israel's possession of nuclear weapons, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has warned of a...Fidan said the failure to denuclearize the region will ramp up the nuclear arms race in the region and the wider world, leading to increased nuclearization in the area
The foreign minister said the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation were playing crucial roles in addressing the Gaza crisis on the international stage
No deal between Israel and Hamas on hostages: US
The Washington Post, citing unnamed sources, said all parties would halt combat operations for at least five days while some...A White House official said they were continuing to work hard to get to a deal
Times of Israel quoted PM Benjamin Netanyahu as saying that "as of now there is no deal"
Gaza, West Bank should be ‘reunited’ under Palestinian Authority: Biden
Israel's top ally Washington has given its full backing to the country's response to the October 7 shock attack by..."A two-state solution is the only way to ensure the long-term security of both the Israeli and Palestinian people", Joe Biden wrote
Netanyahu did not reject Biden's plan, but said the Palestinian Authority "in its current form is not capable of receiving responsibility for Gaza
‘Significant’ pause in Gaza war if hostages freed: US official
The White House said Biden and Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani discussed "the urgent need for all hostages...Brett McGurk said there will be a surge in humanitarian relief once hostages are released
Jordan's FM said it was "unacceptable" to link humanitarian pauses to release of hostages
War in Gaza represents serious setback for efforts to reduce tension: Gargash
Manama, Bahrain-- The ongoing war in Gaza represents a serious setback for the efforts to reduce tension in the region...The diplomatic adviser to the UAE president expressed concern that the violence in the Gaza Strip will only fuel further extremism and instability in the region
He said a two-state solution is the only "viable path" to peace for both the Palestinian and Israeli peoples, and it demands strong and sustained international participation
WHO calls Gaza’s Al-Shifa hospital death zone
The UN health agency said that it led an assessment mission to the hospital and determined it was a "death...The team could only spend an hour inside the hospital due to the security situation
WHO said that there were 32 babies in the hospital "in extremely critical condition"
GCC leads in climate action despite fossil fuel reliance
The UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar outperform 17 other countries in key areas of green investment, sustainable infrastructure, and energy...The UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar outperform 17 other countries in key areas of green investment, sustainable infrastructure, and energy transition, says a report.
Leading the green transformation is the UAE, which has been proactively funding a variety of clean energy projects, including solar, wind, and nuclear energy.
EU chief says union against ‘forced displacement’ of Palestinians
Cairo, Egypt - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Saturday said she was opposed to the "forced displacement of...Visiting Egypt, Von der Leyen "thanked Egypt for its key role in providing and facilitating humanitarian aid to vulnerable Palestinians"
She discussed with Egyptian president "the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza" and a "political horizon based on a two-state solution"
Manama Dialogue helps in addressing political, security challenges, says GCC
MANAMA, BAHRAIN – Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi has said that the hosting of...The conference brings together global senior officials and experts to exchange ideas and theories about common challenges.
It will help in understanding and analyzing issues, promoting security, peace, prosperity and supporting sustainable development.
Palestinian refugees in Lebanon fear for their families in Gaza
Beirut, Lebanon - In a ramshackle Palestinian refugee camp here, Hayat Shehadeh wrings her hands as she watches the Israel-Hamas war....In her Lebanon's refugee camp, Palestinian Fatima al-Ashwah, 61, is glued to television, praying her family members in Gaza are not among those being pulled dead from the rubble.
Fighting back tears, she recounted how she had visited Gaza in July, and how the family greeted her and another relative with drums and dancing in celebration at the Rafah crossing
