Fitch lowers Israel’s credit rating amid economic strain from Gaza conflict
San Francisco, United States - US credit rating agency Fitch downgraded Israel a notch on Monday, warning that its ongoing conflict...Geostrategy
Hamas names Sinwar new chief as region braces for Iran retaliation against Israel
Iran blames Haniyeh's death on Israel and has vowed to avenge him, while Hamas's Lebanese ally Hizbollah has also pledged...Geostrategy
Twitter bans account linked to Khamenei for Trump video threat
The account, @KhameneiSite, this week posted an animated video showing an unmanned aircraft targeting former US president Donald Trump, who...Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's main accounts in various languages remain active
Last year, Twitter suspended a similar account over a post also appearing to reference revenge against Donald Trump
Lebanon’s Hezbollah ready to return to cabinet meetings
Lebanese group Hezbollah and its ally the Amal movement said Saturday they were ready to return to government meetings after...The return to government meetings is in "response to the needs of the citizens", say Hezbollah and its ally
The three months of political deadlock has exacerbated the Lebanon's economic crisis
Extradition of row-hit mom, son puts Cyprus in politically-charged battle
The mother, 61, and her son, 39, were arrested on December 8 under a warrant issued by the Chinese authorities...US-based right-wing lobby groups alleges the charges against row-hit Chinese mother and son are politically motivated
The China pair has been described as members of New Federal State of China, lobbying against the Chinese government
Iran, Syria to establish joint free zone, joint bank
Qasemi, who headed a high-ranking delegation to Syria, met with senior officials from Syria.The decisions for the establishment of the mentioned entities were made during a three-day visit of the Iranian minister to Syria
Iranian Transport and Urban Development Minister Rostam Qasemi announced a joint committee is set to be formed between Iran and Syria
Explosion rocks Baghdad, heightens security fears
An explosion from a hand grenade hit the headquarters of Iraqi parliament speaker Mohammed Halbousi’s Taqaddum party in Baghdad early...The blast caused damage to the building’s doors and windows, police said
No group claimed responsibility and there was no comment from Halbousi or the Iraqi government immediately for the incident
Iran and China push for fulfillment of 25-year agreement
More than fifty years after establishing diplomatic ties, China and Iran accelerate implementation of the Iran-China 25-year cooperation program, which...The two sides enjoy common stances on several regional and international issues such as efforts to contain coronavirus, production of joint vaccines, fight against terrorism
The Chinese and Iranian foreign ministers met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Dushanbe, Tajikistan
US envoy to visit Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Ethiopia
David Satterfield and Assistant Secretary of State Molly Phee will travel to Riyadh, Khartoum, and Addis Ababa from January 17...In Riyadh, the envoy will meet the Friends of Sudan, a group calling for the restoration of the country's transitional government
In Khartoum, they will meet pro-democracy activists, women's and youth groups, civil organizations, and military and political figures
UN calls for release of UAE-flagged ship seized by Yemen rebels
The Saudi-led military coalition backing Yemen's internationally-backed government against the rebels said the Rwabee was returning from a mission to...The Saudi-led military coalition backing Yemen's internationally-backed government against the rebels said the Rwabee was returning from a mission to set up a field hospital
The Iran-backed Huthis released images of what they said were military jeeps and weapons on board the vessel, which was captured off the key rebel-held Red Sea port of Hodeida
Tunisians defy ban on gatherings to protest against president in capital
As the country marks 11 years since the late dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali fled into exile, police deployed...President Kais has since virtually ruled by decree, to the outrage of his opponents, including the powerful Islamist-inspired Ennahdha party
Ennahdha supporters have compared Saied to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, whose crackdown on Islamist demonstrators in 2013 left hundreds dead
EU foreign policy chief says renewed nuclear deal with Iran ‘possible’
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Friday that a renewed deal with Iran on curtailing its nuclear program remained...The 2015 deal -- agreed by Iran, the US, China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany -- offered Tehran sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program.
US president Donald Trump withdrew the US in 2018 and reimposed biting sanctions, prompting Tehran to begin rolling back on its commitments.
