World Bank estimates Syria reconstruction costs at $216 billion
"The conflict has damaged nearly one-third of Syria’s pre-conflict gross capital stock, with direct physical damages to infrastructure, residential buildings, and...Geostrategy
Southern EU countries call for ‘immediate release’ of Gaza aid
Countries of the so-called MED9 group -- Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain -- met on...Geostrategy
Israeli forces kill 69 Palestinians in Gaza, including those sheltering in a school
They included 38 people waiting for humanitarian aid at three separate locations in central and southern Gaza and a child...Another 15 people, "the majority of them children and women", were killed and several others wounded in an Israeli air strike on a school-turned-shelter in Gaza City.
Israel has recently expanded its military operations in Gaza, creating dire humanitarian conditions and displaced nearly all of the territory's population of 2 million.
Syria state media says talk of peace deal with Israel ‘premature’
Syrian state media reported Wednesday that statements on signing a peace deal with Israel were "premature", days after Israel said..."Statements concerning signing a peace agreement with the Israeli occupation at this time are considered premature," state TV reported an unidentified official source as saying
"It is not possible to talk of the possibility of negotiations over a new agreement unless the occupation fully adheres the 1974 disengagement agreement," it added.
Iran ends cooperation with UN nuclear watchdog after Israel, US strikes
It came after last month's 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel, which saw unprecedented Israeli and US strikes on Iran's...It came after last month's 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel, which saw unprecedented Israeli and US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities
On June 25, a day after a ceasefire took hold, Iranian lawmakers voted overwhelmingly to suspend cooperation with the Vienna-based IAEA
Netanyahu vows to uproot Hamas as ceasefire proposals are discussed
The Israeli leader had yet to comment on US President Donald Trump's claim that Israel had backed a plan for...The Israeli leader had yet to comment on Trump's claim that Israel had backed a plan for a 60-day truce in its offensive against Hamas in the war-ravaged territory
Nearly 21 months of war have created dire humanitarian conditions for the more than two million people in the Gaza Strip, where Israel has recently expanded its military operations
Hamas says discussing Gaza ceasefire proposals from mediators
It said it sought "to reach an agreement that guarantees ending the aggression, achieving the withdrawal (of Israel from Gaza)...Qatar and Egypt have been mediating efforts to end the conflict that erupted in October 2023, when a deadly Hamas attack on Israel prompted a devastating Israeli offensive.
The new proposal "includes a 60-day truce, during which Hamas would release half of the (22) living Israeli captives in the Gaza Strip.
US halting some shipments of military aid to Ukraine
The White House said Tuesday it is halting some key weapons shipments to Ukraine that were promised under the Biden...Stopping the delivery of munitions and other military aid including air defense systems likely would be a blow to Ukraine as it contends with Russia's missile and drone attacks
The curtailment of military aid signals a possible shift in the priorities of US President Donald Trump, who has pressed for Russia and Ukraine to speed up stalled peace talks
Macron, Putin discuss Iran, Ukraine in first talks since 2022
One week after a ceasefire ended Israel's 12-day war with Iran, the two men also discussed Tehran's nuclear programme, with...One week after a ceasefire ended Israel's 12-day war with Iran, the two men also discussed Tehran's nuclear programme
Fighting still raged on the ground in Ukraine over three years after Russia's full-scale February 2022 invasion of its neighbour
Israel expands Gaza campaign ahead of Netanyahu’s US visit
The intensified operations came after days of mounting calls for a ceasefire, with US President Donald Trump -- whom Netanyahu...The intensified operations came after days of mounting calls for a ceasefire, with US President Donald Trump -among those urging Israel to strike a new deal to halt the war
Israel's campaign to destroy the Palestinian militant group Hamas has raged on unabated, however, with Gaza reporting Israeli forces killed at least 20 people killed
Gaza mourns those killed in Israeli strike on seafront cafe
Once a bustling seafront spot where young people could hope for a rare respite from war, Gaza City's al-Baqa cafe...The strike triggered a fresh outpouring of grief in the Palestinian territory already devastated by more than 20 months of war.
Tributes have also poured in for Ismail Abu Hatab, described by friends as a journalist and videographer.
Eight-country coalition aims to tax luxury air travel
Seville, Spain -- Countries including France, Kenya, Barbados and Spain on Monday launched a coalition to push for taxes on...The coalition said it would work to increase the number of countries taxing plane tickets, including business-class travel, and private jets.
Greenpeace welcomed an "important step" to raise more money from "the most elite and polluting form of travel", which has remained "undertaxed".
