New EU sanctions over Russia’s war in Ukraine adopted on Saturday target 121 individuals and entities, including drone manufacturers, officials said. The measures, agreed late Friday ahead of Saturday’s formal adoption, are the 10th round of European Union sanctions aimed at undercutting Russia’s finances and military supplies used in its …
Read More »Iran likely to deliver missile system to Syria to boost air defenses
Iranian and Syrian military officials have reportedly agreed on the delivery of missile systems to Damascus to boost the country’s air defenses amid increased Israeli air raids. In a report on Thursday night, IRIB News said Iran and Syria have reached an agreement for the delivery of equipment related to …
Read More »Turkey begins to rebuild for 1.5 mln left homeless by earthquakes
Turkey has begun initial work to rebuild homes following this month’s devastating earthquakes, a government official said on Friday, as a U.N. Development Program (UNDP) estimated 1.5 million people have been left homeless. More than 160,000 buildings containing 520,000 apartments collapsed or were severely damaged in the Feb. 6 earthquakes …
Read More »North Korea test-fires cruise missiles to demonstrate nuclear counterattack
North Korea test-fired four strategic cruise missiles during a drill designed to demonstrate its ability to conduct a nuclear counterattack against hostile forces, its state media said on Friday. The exercise on Thursday involved an apparently operational strategic cruise missile unit of the Korean People’s Army, which fired the four …
Read More »Russia welcomes China peace plan, says it is open to talks
Russia welcomed on Friday Chinese proposals to resolve the conflict in Ukraine and said it was open to achieving the goals of what it calls its “special military operation” through political and diplomatic means. China has called for a comprehensive ceasefire as part of a 12-point plan for dealing with …
Read More »Ex-US senator: Washington started wars in Iraq, Ukraine
The United States is to blame for constantly meddling in the internal affairs of independent countries and starting both the wars in Iraq and Ukraine, a former US state senator says. Ex-state Senator from Virginia, Richard Black said in an interview that the US overthrew the governments of both of …
Read More »Lebanese banks to suspend open-ended strike at PM’s request
Lebanon’s struggling banks on Friday decided to suspend their strike, which started earlier this month, for one week after caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati asked them to do so. The Association of Banks in Lebanon did not give further details about the suspension. The strike began Feb. 7 in protest …
Read More »US consumer spending surges in January as inflation heats up
US consumer spending increased by the most in nearly two years in January amid a surge in wage gains, while inflation accelerated, adding to financial market fears that the Federal Reserve could continue raising interest rates through summer. The report from the Commerce Department on Friday was the latest indication …
Read More »US targets Russia with sanctions, tariffs on Ukraine war anniversary
The United States marked the first anniversary of Russia’s war with Ukraine on Friday by announcing new sanctions against Russia and its allies, new export controls, and tariffs aimed at undermining Moscow’s ability to wage war. Washington also said it would provide another $2 billion in weaponry for Kyiv as …
Read More »Tunisia sentences Algerian activist in absentia – Mosaique FM
A Tunisian court has issued in absentia a prison term of three months to Algerian activist Amira Bouraoui for illegally crossing borders, Tunisia’s radio Mosaique FM reported on Friday, in a case that has caused a diplomatic row. Bouraoui, who was subject to a travel ban in Algeria after her …
Read More »Hungary PM says more talks needed on Finland, Sweden NATO bids
Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday that more talks between parliamentary groups were needed before lawmakers vote on the ratification of Finland and Sweden’s NATO membership bids which they will begin debating next Wednesday. Speaking on public radio, Orban said he had asked lawmakers of his nationalist Fidesz …
Read More »Financial crime watchdog adds South Africa, Nigeria to ‘grey list’
International financial crime watchdog the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) said on Friday it was adding South Africa and Nigeria to its so-called “grey list” of countries under special scrutiny to implement standards to prevent money laundering and terrorism financing. The FATF is an inter-governmental organisation that underpins the fight …
Read More »Yemen urges UN action as UAE, Israel evict locals from strategic island
Yemen has called on the United Nations and relevant international bodies to adopt proper measures against the expulsion of Yemeni families by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from a strategic island southwest of Socotra, as part of plans to build a military base there under the supervision of Israeli military …
Read More »Pakistani brothers released from Guantanamo Bay and sent home: Pentagon
Two Pakistani brothers, Abdul, and Mohammed Rabbani, have been freed from the US military prison at Guantanamo Bay after more than 20 years in detention and repatriated, the Pentagon said Thursday. Abdul Rabbani, who was born in 1967, is believed to have been one of the oldest inmates at the …
Read More »England’s junior doctors to stage three-day strike from March 13
Junior doctors in England will take strike action for three days from March 13 in a dispute over pay, the British Medical Association (BMA) said on Friday. “We are demoralized, angry and no longer willing to work for wages that have seen a real terms decline of over 26 percent …
Read More »US announces $2bn in new Ukraine military aid as war completes a year
The United States is preparing a fresh military aid package to Ukraine worth $2 billion, a senior US official has said, defying repeated warnings from Moscow as the war completes one year. President Joe Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan made the disclosure on CNN Thursday night, asserting that Washington …
Read More »A year of Russia’s war in Ukraine: Haunting photos of tragedy
A selection of images attesting to the tragedies inflicted on the Ukrainian people. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine a year ago brought death, destruction and hardship to the country, and awakened fears of a new Cold War. The February 24, 2022 full-scale attack resulted in more than eight million Ukrainians fleeing …
Read More »Baghdad , Tehran stepping up security cooperation as Iran FM visits Iraq
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has discussed security cooperation with Iraqi sides during his ongoing visit to the neighboring state, stressing that this cooperation will improve the security and stability of both countries. The Iranian minister, who is in Iraq for an official visit, held separate meetings with a number …
Read More »Israeli settlers shoot, wound 2 Palestinians in West Bank
Israeli settlers shot and seriously wounded two Palestinians in the northern occupied West Bank early Friday, Palestinian health officials said, in what authorities describe as the latest incident in a wave of settler violence. The Palestinian Health Ministry said the two wounded Palestinians were being treated at a hospital in …
Read More »China calls for a cease-fire and peace talks between Russia and Ukraine
China is calling for a cease-fire in Ukraine and for peace talks as soon as possible in a much-anticipated position paper released on one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion. As Russia’s war in Ukraine enters its second year, Beijing is pushing harder for a negotiated end to the war. It has …
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