Turkey said on Monday its military hit dozens of Syrian government targets after eight Turkish military personnel were killed by shelling in Idlib in northwest Syria, where fighting threatens to test ties between Ankara and Moscow. Turkey and Russia are on opposing sides in the fighting in Idlib and, though ... Read More »
U.N.-brokered Libya military talks begin in Geneva
Military officers from rival factions in Libya’s conflict began U.N.-led talks in Geneva on Monday aimed at securing a ceasefire after 10 months of fighting on the outskirts of the capital, Tripoli. The so-called “Libyan Joint Military Commission” includes five senior officers from eastern commander Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army ... Read More »
Arab League rejects Trump’s Middle East plan
The Arab League has completely rejected US President Donald Trump’s Middle East plan during an emergency meeting in Egypt’s capital, saying it would not lead to a just peace deal. In a statement on Saturday, the pan-Arab bloc said it “rejects the US-Israeli ‘deal of the century’ considering that it does not meet the ... Read More »
Jimmy Carter: Trump deal breaches international law
Former US president, Jimmy Carter, announced on Friday that current US President Donald Trump’s “deal of the century” breaches international law, CNN and other international agencies reported. According to Carter, Trump’s deal: “Breaches international law regarding self-determination, the acquisition of land by force, and annexation of occupied territories.” In a ... Read More »
Draft of Lebanese financial rescue plan promises ‘painful’ steps
Lebanon’s new government will look to reduce interest rates and recapitalise banks as part of a broad plan that includes taking “painful” steps to escape a deep financial crisis, according to a draft policy statement seen by Reuters. The 17-page statement, which may still be amended, will form the basis ... Read More »
Coronavirus: Chinese stocks plunge as markets reopen
The Shanghai Composite index fell nearly 9% before recovering slightly, while commodity prices also slumped. Manufacturing, materials, and consumer goods companies are among the hardest hit, as healthcare shares soar. The fall came despite China’s central bank announcing new measures to ease the impact of the outbreak. The People’s Bank ... Read More »
Japan sends warship to Gulf to protect oil tankers as US-Iran tensions simmer
A Japanese warship has departed for the Middle East to ensure the safety of the country’s oil tankers in waters where tensions between the US and Iran are high The destroyer Takanami with some 200 sailors left Japan’s main naval base in Yokosuka, near Tokyo. Its main task is primarily to ... Read More »
State of emergency declared as bushfire threatens Australian capital
Australian officials declared a state of emergency for the capital city of Canberra and surrounding regions on Friday, as soaring temperatures and strong winds threatened to propel a large bushfire beyond the control of firefighters. Andrew Barr, Chief Minister for the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), said the decision to declare ... Read More »
Global fears spread over coronavirus
The World Health Organization has declared the novel coronavirus outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, after an emergency meeting on Thursday. The decision came after cases of human-to-human transmissions were confirmed outside China, where the outbreak started. A first such case was confirmed in the United States on ... Read More »
Diab: Several ways out of ongoing crisis
Lebanon’s new prime minister said Wednesday that there were ways out of the economic and financial crisis that the country was facing after he held a number of meetings with ministers and senior World Bank officials. Prime Minister Hassan Diab headed a number of meetings in Beirut Wednesday where he ... Read More »