Shanghai Cooperation Organisation ‘strongly condemns’ civilian toll in Gaza
The 10-member SCO said they also strongly condemned US and Israeli strikes on Iran in June, in the statement issued...Geostrategy
Lebanon parliament speaker calls for dialogue over Hezbollah weapons
Beirut, Lebanon -- Lebanon's Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, an ally of the Iran-backed Hezbollah, called on Sunday for dialogue...Geostrategy
Hamas armed wing releases video showing hostage alive
Hamas's armed wing released a video on Saturday showing a hostage alive in Gaza, whom Israeli media widely identified as...The Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades published the more than three-minute clip showing the hostage seated in a small, enclosed space
During a recent ceasefire that ended on March 18 when Israel resumed air strikes on Gaza, militants released 33 hostages, among them eight bodies
Diplomatic flashpoint: US-Iran nuclear talks amid sanctions, military warnings and mutual suspicion
Iran seeks a "real and fair" agreement with Washington on its nuclear programme, a senior aide to supreme leader Ayatollah...Longtime adversaries Iran and the United States are set to hold talks on Saturday aimed at reaching a deal on Tehran's nuclear programme
US President Donald Trump last month wrote to Khamenei urging negotiations, but warning of possible military action if Iran refuses
Gaza rescuers say family of 10 killed in Israel strike
A UN rights office report also warned that expanding Israeli evacuation orders were resulting in the "forcible transfer" of people...Ten people, including seven children, were killed in an Israeli air strike that targeted the Farra family home in central Khan Yunis, Gaza civil defense officials said.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan denounced Israel, saying: "If this is not barbarism, I ask you, what is it?"
UN shipping body approves first global carbon pricing system
From 2028, all ships will be required to use a less carbon-intensive fuel mix, or face financial penalties -- but...Those who do not meet the guidelines will have to pay annually for every ton of greenhouse gas emissions that exceeds the targets set.
A majority of members, 63 states, voted for the carbon pricing system, including the European Union, Brazil, China, India and Japan.
In skies, as on land, European forces face gaps if US pulls back
Leeuwarden, Netherlands - Fighter jets from the United States, France, Finland and Germany roar into the skies from a Dutch...Since returning to office, US President Donald Trump has sowed doubt over Washington's commitment to underpinning European security
But if Trump does decide to withdraw US forces, there are fears that could leave European militaries struggling to plug gaps in key areas
Bridges in the Gulf: wealthy states mediate crisis after crisis
Dubai, United Arab Emirates - When US and Iranian negotiators meet in Oman on Saturday they will be just the...Oman is a long-established venue for Iranian talks, while promoting peace is a pillar of Qatar's foreign policy and even enshrined in its constitution
More recently Saudi Arabia has caught on, hosting Ukraine ceasefire talks including the latest round in a lavish hotel in Riyadh last month
Trump warns of military option; Iran threatens to end UN nuclear inspections before Oman talks
Last month, Trump sent a letter to Khamenei, who has the final say in matters of state in Iran, calling...A senior adviser to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that Iran could expel UN nuclear watchdog inspectors over "threats."
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio voiced hope Thursday that the US-Iran nuclear talks in Oman this weekend could lead to "peace."
European Union and UAE agree to launch trade deal negotiations
Emirati President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan "and I just decided to launch negotiations on an EU-UAE free trade agreement,"...Sheikh Zayed said that the CEPA would create new avenues for cooperation between the UAE and EU, increase trade and investment flows.
The EU is the UAE’s second-largest trading partner, accounting for 8.3 percent of the UAE’s total non-oil trade, which hit $67.6 billion in 2024.
Turkey opposition to fight Erdogan ‘until the end’: leader tells AFP
The Turkish opposition will fight "until the end" against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the leader of the opposition CHP party...Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Ozgur Ozel demanded snap polls that would show the "biggest no confidence vote in history" against Erdogan
Imamoglu's arrest sparked the biggest opposition protests to grip Turkey since 2013 although the rallies have dipped in intensity over the past 10 days
US reiterates support for Morocco on Western Sahara
Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday renewed US support for Morocco's sovereignty and political plan for Western Sahara, a...Trump, during his first term in office, in 2020 recognized Morocco's claim to the vast desert territory after the kingdom normalized relations with Israel
Morocco mostly controls the former Spanish colony but has been challenged for decades by the Algeria-backed Polisario Front
