Browsing: Region
A photograph released by the Lebanese Government Press Office yesterday, shows Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam speaking during a press conference after a cabinet session in…
German Foreign Minister Johannes Wadephul has affirmed that Berlin strongly supports the transition to the second phase of the ceasefire plan and post-war arrangements in Gaza, warning that prolonging the current situation would exacerbate human suffering and undermine the prospects for stability.Wadephul added, in a statement to German media, that improving humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip is a top priority for Berlin, emphasising that the German government has intensified its contacts with international partners to facilitate the delivery of aid through all available channels.Wadephul noted that Germany is among the largest international supporters of humanitarian organisations operating in the Palestinian territories, explaining that these organisations need safe, sustained, and unimpeded access to expand their operations and meet the growing needs of the civilian population.The German foreign minister affirmed Berlin’s readiness to play a pivotal role in international efforts to rebuild the Gaza Strip, emphasising that this process requires substantial financial participation from the international community.He cautioned that reconstruction must proceed in parallel with a clear political track that guarantees the prevention of a recurrence of cycles of violence.He explained that Berlin supports the idea of holding an international conference for Gaza’s reconstruction in the near future, with the participation of international and regional stakeholders, to co-ordinate efforts, define priorities, and ensure that aid is directed effectively and sustainably.The German foreign minister ruled out his country’s participation in any potential international force to stabilise the Gaza Strip, asserting that the German government does not see a realistic possibility at present of deploying German troops for such a mission.He added that talk of an international force is not merely symbolic or political, but rather entails intervention to impose security in a highly complex environment.He further stated that this type of mission is currently inconceivable for German forces. He clarified that Germany is instead focusing on contributing politically and diplomatically to international efforts aimed at reaching a sustainable settlement, noting that any future security arrangements in Gaza must be part of a comprehensive political process that enjoys clear international legitimacy and regional acceptance. Source link
Iran has seized a foreign oil tanker near the Iranian island of Qeshm in the Gulf, saying it was carrying 4mn litres of smuggled fuel, state media reported yesterday. Authorities did not name the vessel or disclose its nationality. They said 16 foreign crew members had been detained on criminal charges. State TV said the tanker was seized on Wednesday.Iranian news websites published video footage and photographs of what they said was the seized tanker. Iran said last week it had seized another foreign tanker carrying 6mn litres of what it described as smuggled diesel in the Gulf of Oman without identifying the vessel or its nationality. Iran, which has some of the world’s lowest fuel prices due to heavy subsidies and a sharp fall in the value of its national currency, has been seeking to curb widespread fuel smuggling by land to neighbouring countries and by sea to other states. Source link
A view shows an interior of a damaged mosque after several people were killed in an explosion in Homs, Syria yesterday. An explosion killed at least eight worshippers and injured another 21 at a mosque in Syria’s Homs yesterday, state media said.Health authorities in the city reported that the explosion occurred inside Imam Ali bin Abi Talib Mosque in the Wadi Al Dahab neighbourhood of Homs yesterday.A security source meanwhile revealed that initial investigations indicate that the explosion was caused by explosive devices planted inside the mosque.Civil defence teams are working to remove the traces of destruction and secure the site, with investigations continuing to uncover the circumstances of the incident.Syria’s interior ministry said in a statement that “a terrorist explosion” targeted the mosque and that authorities had “begun investigating and collecting evidence to pursue the perpetrators of this criminal act”.Syria’s foreign ministry condemned a “cowardly criminal act”, saying it came “in the context of repeated desperate attempts to undermine security and stability and spread chaos among the Syrian people”, vowing to hold the attackers accountable.Several countries including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Turkiye and Jordan condemned the attack.Yesterday, Syrian state television reported the release of 70 detainees in the coastal city of Latakia “after it was proven that they were not involved in war crimes”, saying more releases would follow.In a speech this month marking a year since the fall of Bashar Assad, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa emphasised the importance of all Syrians unifying efforts to “to build a strong Syria”.Despite major achievements in relaunching Syria’s foreign standing, Sharaa faces the major domestic challenge of maintaining security and unity domestically. Source link
One person was killed Thursday in an Israeli airstrike on southern Lebanon, in a continued violation of the 2014 ceasefire agreement. Lebanese medical sources reported that the Israeli airstrike on the town of Majdal Selm in the Marjeyoun district resulted in the death of a Lebanese citizen. Earlier Thursday, two people were killed in an Israeli airstrike on eastern Lebanon. It is worth noting that a ceasefire agreement in southern Lebanon came into effect on November 27 of last year, stipulating the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from border villages and towns in southern Lebanon within 60 days. However, the occupation forces remain in five locations and continue their violations through shelling and targeting of villages. Source link
Three people were killed, and five others were injured today in an explosion inside a mosque in the city of Homs in central Syria. The Syrian news agency (SANA) reported that an explosion occurred inside the Imam Ali bin Abi Talib Mosque in the Wadi Al Dahab neighborhood of Homs, adding that the nature of the explosion is currently being investigated. The Syrian News Agency reported that the initial toll of victims of the explosion revealed that 3 people were killed and 5 others were injured. Source link
One person was killed Thursday in an Israeli airstrike on southern Lebanon, in a continued violation of the 2014 ceasefire agreement.Lebanese medical sources reported that the Israeli airstrike on the town of Majdal Selm in the Marjeyoun district resulted in the death of a Lebanese citizen.Earlier Thursday, two people were killed in an Israeli airstrike on eastern Lebanon.It is worth noting that a ceasefire agreement in southern Lebanon came into effect on November 27 of last year, stipulating the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from border villages and towns in southern Lebanon within 60 days. However, the occupation forces remain in five locations and continue their violations through shelling and targeting of villages. Source link
File photo of Palestinian filmmaker Mohammed Bakri. Actor and filmmaker Mohammed Bakri, a champion of the Palestinian cause, died Wednesday aged 72, a hospital spokesperson said.He was known for his documentary “Jenin, Jenin” and his commitment to the Palestinians, which led to frequent confrontations with Israeli authorities.”Mohammed Bakri died this Wednesday at the Galilee Medical Center” in the northern Israeli city of Nahariya, hospital spokesperson Gal Zaid told AFP.He died from heart and lung problems, according to his family.Bakri was born in Galilee in 1953 into a Muslim family.He appeared in leading Israeli films but was also directed by the French-Greek director Costa-Gavras and Italian filmmakers Paolo and Vittorio Taviani.His role as a Palestinian inmate in an Israeli prison in the 1980s film “Beyond the Walls” earned him critical acclaim in Israel and around the world.But his international renown grew with the release of 2002’s “Jenin, Jenin”, which denounced alleged Israeli war crimes in the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank during the Second Intifada.The Israeli Supreme Court upheld a ban on the film in 2022, deeming it “defamatory”.The father of six also directed several socially conscious documentaries about the situation of Palestinian citizens of Israel.Arab-Israeli radio station A-Shams published a tribute on its social media, describing Bakri as a “free voice”.”From his early days in theatre, art was not simply a pastime for Mohammed Bakri, but a tool for raising awareness and engaging in dialogue,” the radio station said.”The legacy left by Mohammed Bakri will remain, reminding us that art can be an act of resistance.” Related Story Source link
Bassam Omar Shaheen, 37, stands outside his home in Gaza City’s Al-Saftawi neighbourhood in the northern Gaza Strip. Omar was injured in an attack on a…
Saudi Arabia’s cabinet has formally endorsed the landmark agreement to build a high-speed electric railway linking Riyadh and Doha, hailing it as a project that will boost mobility and tourism across the Gulf. The weekly meeting chaired by the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud praised the development, according to Arab News. The 785km line, scheduled to begin operations in June 2026, will cut travel time between the two capitals to just two hours, creating new opportunities for economic and cultural exchange. The initiative aligns with Qatar National Vision 2030 and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, both of which prioritise sustainable transport and tourism development. By offering a fast, eco-friendly alternative to air and road travel, the railway is expected to reshape regional connectivity while reducing carbon emissions. For tourism, the impact is significant. Easier cross-border travel will encourage multi-destination visits, allowing international and regional tourists to explore both countries more freely. Qatar’s luxury and cultural offerings, alongside Saudi Arabia’s blend of heritage and modern attractions, will benefit from increased visitor flows. The project is also expected to strengthen partnerships with private sector operators, diversify tourism experiences, and extend visitor stays. Beyond tourism, the railway will enhance economic integration by facilitating the movement of goods, services, and professionals. This efficient transport link is anticipated to attract foreign investment, support trade, and deepen bilateral ties. Regionally, the project sets a precedent for sustainable infrastructure in the Gulf. Source link