Britain reestablishes full Syria ties as FM David Lammy visits Damascus
In 2011, Britain was among the first countries to acknowledge rebel groups as the official Syrian government after then-president Bashar...Geostrategy
Russia brushes off talks after largest ever drone and missile barrage on Ukraine
Russia on Friday said that it sees no immediate diplomatic way out of the war in Ukraine, hours after pummelling...Geostrategy
UAE discusses temporary Gaza governance with US, Israel, seeks two-state solution assurance: report
Discussions led by the UAE include provisional administration, PA leadership overhaul, and Gaza reconstruction, requiring extensive international cooperation and adherence...According to sources familiar with the talks, the discussions include the UAE, the US, and other nations overseeing governance, security, and reconstruction of Gaza
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had suggested that the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and other nations could assist in governing Gaza after the war
In a change of tone, Syria’s new leader urges US to pressure Israel for withdrawal
Julani’s appeal comes as Syria signals a shift in its diplomatic tone. Maher Marwan, Damascus’ new governor, told NPR that...The report, published by Kan 11, said that Israeli authorities have denied receiving any formal communication on the matter
A senior security official has stated that Israel "will not compromise its security" in response to the alleged request
US proposes $8B arms deal with Israel; Biden plans strikes on Houthis as Gaza aid faces Trump-era cuts
The US proposes an $8 billion arms deal with Israel, plans intensified strikes on Yemen's Houthis, while Israel considers cutting...According to sources cited by Axios, the arms deal requires formal approval from both the House and Senate committees
A US official emphasized that the arms sale aligns with the administration’s commitment to Israel's security
Palestinian Authority suspends Al Jazeera broadcasts
The Palestinian Authority on Wednesday ordered the suspension of broadcasts by Qatar-based Al Jazeera across the Palestinian territories, accusing the...Militant group Hamas condemned the decision to ban the network
Tensions between the two sides followed recent coverage of clashes between Palestinian security forces and militants in Jenin
‘Numb’ New Orleans grapples with horror of deadly truck attack
New Orleans, United States - The celebratory atmosphere of Bourbon Street in New Orleans, long an American byword for indulgence and...A deadly truck attack on New Year's crowds in New Orleans' French Quarter left at least 15 dead, shaking the heart of the city's famed Bourbon Street
Residents and visitors mourn the tragedy, calling for stricter security as New Orleans faces major upcoming events like Mardi Gras and the Super Bowl
Syria Foreign Minister in Saudi Arabia, hopes the visit opens ‘new, bright page’
Last week, in an interview with Saudi-owned Al Arabiya television, Sharaa said Saudi Arabia "will certainly have a large role...Syrian state media said the top delegation had come to the kingdom "at the invitation of the Saudi foreign minister", quoting a foreign ministry source.
Saudi Arabia severed ties with Assad's government in 2012 and backed Syrian rebels seeking to overthrow him early in the country's civil war
UN: Israel’s strikes on Gaza hospitals may constitute war crimes, urges independent probe
The UN's 23-page report, "Attacks on Hospitals During the Escalation of Hostilities in Gaza," documented 136 strikes on 27 hospitals...The world body's 23-page report, entitled "Attacks on hospitals during the escalation of hostilities in Gaza", looked at the period from October 7, 2023 to June 30, 2024
The report said attacks on hospitals typically involved missile strikes on hospital buildings, the destruction of facilities, shooting of civilians, and sieges.
South Korea’s Yoon: from star prosecutor to president facing arrest
Yoon is under investigation for his martial law declaration and faces criminal charges of insurrection, which could result in life...Investigators sought an arrest warrant against Yoon which a court issued on Tuesday.
If arrested, Yoon would become the first S.Korean president detained before impeachment procedures
UN experts demand Israel face consequences for alleged Gaza war crimes and genocide claims
The experts called for urgent, independent and thorough investigations into alleged serious violations of international law, saying Israel's continued impunity...Israel's retaliatory military campaign has killed more than 45,500 people in Gaza, a majority of them civilians
The experts highlighted alleged crimes against humanity committed by Israel "including murder, torture, sexual violence.'
Former US president Jimmy Carter dies aged 100
Carter had been in hospice care since mid-February 2023 at his home in Plains, Georgia -- the same small town...Carter died "peacefully" at his home in Plains, "surrounded by his family," the Carter Center said in a statement
Carter was the longest-lived US president -- an outcome that seemed unlikely back in 2015 when the Southern Democrat revealed he had brain cancer
