Washington

Asia stocks begin year on cautious note

Asian stocks began 2025 mostly in the red on Thursday after worries about US interest rates, tariffs and China's economy gave Wall Street the holiday blues for a fourth straight session. Equities mostly had a bumper 2024 on the back of enthusiasm about artificial intelligence (AI), cuts in borrowing costs by central banks and Donald Trump's ...

Former US President Jimmy Carter Has Died Aged 100

Former U.S. President and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Jimmy Carter passed away on Sunday at the age of 100 in his hometown of Plains, Georgia, in the southeastern United States, prompting a wave of tributes from his successors at the White House and leaders around the world. Outgoing President Joe Biden declared a national day of mourning on ...

Syria: 31 Dead in Clashes Between Kurdish and Pro-Turkish Forces

A Syria war monitor said 31 combatants had been killed since Sunday in ongoing battles between Turkey-backed groups and Kurdish-led forces. Swathes of northern Syria are controlled by a Kurdish-led administration whose de facto army, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), spearheaded the fight that helped defeat the Islamic State group in the ...

Mikati Denies Having Been Informed of Israel's Refusal to Withdraw From South Lebanon

The press office of caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati denied media reports that “Lebanon has been officially informed by intermediaries that Israel will not withdraw from South Lebanon after the sixty-day truce period has expired.” In a statement issued on Friday, Mikati said he had communicated “his firm position to all parties ...

Ukraine Reports Massive Christmas Day Attack by Russia

Russian missiles killed at least one person and damaged energy infrastructure across Ukraine, according to officials, who reported a massive Christmas attack. Air raid sirens rang out over Ukraine on Wednesday morning, while the air force reported Russian Kalibr cruise missiles had been launched from the Black Sea. Ukraine faces its toughest ...

American Strike Killed Islamic State Group Leader in Syria

American forces killed an Islamic State (IS) group leader and another of the group's members in a strike in Syria, the US military said on Friday. Washington has stepped up military action against the jihadist group since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's government earlier this month, hitting areas that were shielded by Syrian and Russian air ...

Syria: Turkey Promises to Press On, Demands Kurdish Fighters Disarm

Ankara will push ahead with its military preparations until Kurdish fighters "disarm", a defense ministry source said Thursday, stressing Turkey faces an ongoing threat along its border with northern Syria. The comments came as concerns grew over a possible Turkish assault on the Kurdish-held Syrian border town of Kobane, also known as Ain ...

Syria's Kurds Call for End to All Military Operations in the Country

Syria's Kurds, who run a semi-autonomous administration in the northeast, called Monday for an end to all fighting in the country and extended a hand to the new authorities in Damascus. Hussein Othman, the head of the administration's executive council, called for "a stop to military operations over the entire Syrian territory in order to begin a ...

US Steps Up Support for the Lebanese Armed Forces Amid Regional Turmoil

Lebanon is at a critical juncture as it navigates a complex regional landscape, and emphasis on the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) has never been more important. In Washington, there is a strong belief that empowering the LAF is essential to countering militant factions like Hezbollah and ensuring the stability of the country. In the wake of the ...

Unholy Alliance: The Dark Forces of Iran and Russia Undermining the Middle East

The relationship between Russia and Iran has always piqued interest, often characterized as a unique alliance shaped by the complex geopolitics of the Middle East. This partnership has been notably reinforced through their mutual support for the Assad regime in Syria, enabling both nations to strengthen their military and economic connections. ...

South Korean President Clings to Power of Martial Law

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was still clinging to power Thursday, with his party announcing they will oppose an impeachment motion after his short-lived imposition of martial law stunned the world. Yoon suspended civilian rule late Tuesday and deployed troops and helicopters to parliament only for lawmakers to vote down the measure and ...