Hamas urges US pressure on Israel over Gaza truce
Palestinian Territories - Hamas called on the United States Thursday to "exert real pressure" on Israel to reach a Gaza...Geostrategy
Yemen’s Houthis blew up stranded oil tanker: video
Rebel chief Abdul Malik al-Houthi on Thursday said his forces had "stormed" the tanker earlier this week. He added in...Geostrategy
Iran declares 41 percent voter turnout in key elections
Tehran, Iran - Iran on Monday announced a turnout of 41 percent in last week's elections for parliament and a key..."Around 25 million people participated, with a turnout of 41 precent," Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi told a press conference in Tehran.
The vote was the first since nationwide protests broke out following the September 2022 death in custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini.
Western countries shelve plans to censure Iran at UN nuclear meet
Western powers will not censure Iran over its lack of cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog at its Board of...The issues include expanding its nuclear work, deactivating agency surveillance devices for monitoring Iran's nuclear program and barring senior inspectors.
The so-called E3 group -- France, Germany and the United Kingdom -- initially planned to censure Iran for its lack of cooperation with the agency.
UNRWA head seeks General Assembly support after backlash
The head of the UNRWA is set to defend his organization's work at the General Assembly, after crippling backlash over...The UNRWA's ability to carry out its mandate is "seriously threatened," Lazzarini said.
The agency has been at the center of controversy since Israel accused about a dozen of its employees of involvement in the October 7 attack.
Diplomacy the ‘only way’ to end Israel-Hizbollah clashes: US envoy
"A diplomatic solution is the only way to end the current hostilities" and achieve "a lasting fair security arrangement between Lebanon...Israel and Hizbollah movement have been exchanging near-daily fire since October, raising fears all-out conflict could spread across the region.
Hochstein held talks with other senior officials including Prime Minister Najib Mikati and army chief Joseph Aoun in a push to halt violence along the border with Israel.
Israel destroys home of Palestinian accused of killing settlers
Israel routinely demolishes the homes of Palestinians accused of carrying out attacks, arguing that such measures act as a deterrent, while critics say it...The apartment of Moaz al-Masry, who was killed by Israeli forces following the April 7 attack, was demolished in the early hours
Masry, along with two others, was accused of shooting dead Israeli settler Leah Dee and her daughters Maia and Rina
UN says ‘delusional conspiracy theories’ behind global violence
Geneva, Switzerland - The pernicious "'great replacement' conspiracy theories" spreading in many countries are "delusional" and racist and are directly spurring...United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk also took aim at the "war on woke", which he stressed was "really a war on inclusion"
Turk insisted that racially mixed and multicultural societies were not something to fear but should be seen as a benefit to people everywhere
US Vice President calls for ‘immediate ceasefire’ in Gaza
Taking an unusually sharp tone, Harris demanded Israel "do more to significantly increase the flow of aid" into Gaza, where...Kamala Harris's comments on Sunday came as Washington led a push to lock in a truce before Ramadan
According to a senior US official, Israel has broadly accepted the terms of proposal to pause the five-month-old war
Gaza truce talks in Cairo as heavy fighting rages
An Israeli siege on Gaza has sparked UN warnings of famine, and France's foreign ministry said Israel is "clearly responsible"...Envoys from the United States, Qatar and Hamas arrived in Cairo, Egyptian state-linked media reported Sunday, the latest effort towards a six-week truce
But sticking points remained, including a Hamas demand that Israeli forces entirely withdraw from the Gaza Strip after almost five months of devastating war
Saudi Arabia to imprison, fine people for helping, employing illegal immigrants
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – The Directorate of Public Security stressed that anyone who facilitates the entry, transfer or employment of...The means of transportation used for bringing illegal immigrants will be confiscated.
The housing unit used to shelter illegal immigrants will be confiscated, as per the law.
Polls for Iraq Kurd parliament postponed to June
Iraqi Kurds announced that polls to elect a new parliament in the autonomous region would be held in June, after...Regional president Nechirvan Barzani signed the order for the elections to be held on June 10, a presidency statement said.
In August last year, authorities announced polling would take place on February 25 after consultation with the parties.