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
UK expresses concern over UN court decision on Gaza
The British government said it had "considerable concerns" about a ruling by the United Nation's top court that Israel should..."Israel has the right to defend itself against Hamas in line with IHL (international humanitarian law)," the British spokesperson said.
The Foreign Office, however, added that it welcomed the ICJ's call for the immediate release of hostages and to get more aid into Gaza.
Baghdad, Washington to discuss removal of foreign troops from Iraq
Baghdad, Iraq - Iraq and the United States on Saturday held a "first round" of talks on the future of American...Washington had said that it had agreed with Baghdad on the launch of "expert working groups of military and defense professionals".
The talks, planned for months, come at a time of heightened tensions in Iraq and the region linked to the war between Israel and Hamas.
Firing by gunmen in Iran leaves nine foreign nationals dead
Tehran, Iran - Gunmen in southeastern Iran near the Pakistan border killed nine foreign nationals on Saturday, Iranian media reported, more...Mehr news agency said unknown armed men killed nine non-Iranians in a house in the Sirkan neighborhood of Saravan city in Sistan-Baluchistan province.
The Sistan-Baluchistan province has seen persistent unrest involving cross-border drug-smuggling gangs and rebels from the Baluchi ethnic minority.
Biden talks to Qatar’s emir on efforts to free Hamas hostages
The exchange came as the head of the CIA is to meet in Europe with his counterparts from Israel and...Qatar, Egypt and the United States are attempting to negotiate a new truce, and Biden's Middle East envoy Brett McGurk is already in the region for talks.
The news outlet Axios has reported that Israel offered Hamas a two-month pause in fighting in Gaza in exchange for the release of all hostages.
Israel says will seek to stop UN agency’s activities in Gaza after war
UNRWA said Friday it had sacked several employees accused by Israel of involvement in Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attack, prompting...Israel was aiming to ensure "UNRWA will not be a part of the day after", Foreign Minister Israel Katz said adding that he would try to gather support from the donors to the agency
Hamas on Saturday slammed Israeli "threats" against UNRWA, urging the UN and other international organizations not to "cave in to the threats and blackmail."
Australia, Canada stop UN agency funding after Israeli allegations
Australia and Canada have suspended their funding to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, after Israel accused several employees of..."We are speaking with partners and will temporarily pause disbursement of recent funding," Australian Foreign Minister wrote on social media platform X.
Canada's International Development Minister announced that Ottawa had “temporarily paused any additional funding to UNRWA”.
End to war: World reacts to Gaza-Israel ruling
The reactions to the top UN court's ruling Friday in the Israel-Gaza case were split along the lines of the..."Today marks a decisive victory for international rule of law and a significant milestone in the search for justice for Palestinian people," said South Africa
Qatar's foreign ministry "welcomed the provisional measures" ordered by the ICJ, calling them a "victory for humanity... and international justice"
Yemen’s Houthis claim attack on British oil tanker
US and British forces have launched two rounds of joint strikes aimed at reducing the Houthis' ability to target vessels...It came the same day the US military said one of its warships shot down a missile fired at it by the group, which says it is acting in support of Gaza amid the Israel-Hamas war
In the incident involving the US Navy vessel, the Houthis fired an anti-ship ballistic missile from Yemen towards the destroyer USS Carney in the Gulf of Aden, said CENTCOM
Washington approves sale of F-16 warplanes to Turkey
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken led an intense diplomatic effort to broker the deal, telling the Turkish president three...As required by US law, the State Department notified Congress of the agreement, as well as a separate $8.6 billion sale of 40 F-35s to Greece
Turkey will get 40 new F-16s and upgrades to 79 of the jets in its existing fleet, the State Department said in a news release
Education campaigners alarmed as homeschooling rises in England
LONDON, UK - Education campaigners demanded government action on Friday after new figures revealed that the number of children in England...Nearly a quarter of parents involved said they were keeping children at home primarily as a "lifestyle choice" or for "philosophical or preferential reasons".
These were the most commonly given main reasons, ahead of mental health factors (eight percent) and general dissatisfaction with the school (six percent).