World

Gaza Polio Vaccinations to Resume Saturday
Gaza Polio Vaccinations to Resume Saturday

The World Health Organization said Friday that the necessary second round of child polio vaccinations in northern Gaza would begin on Saturday, after Israeli bombing had halted the drive. The announcement that the final phase of polio vaccination in the Gaza Strip can go ahead came a day after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urgently called ...

EU and Japan Announce New Defense Pact
PoliticsEU and Japan Announce New Defense Pact

Japan and the European Union announced a sweeping new security and defense partnership in Tokyo on Friday, which EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell hailed as a historic and "very timely" step. Borrell and his Japanese counterpart Takeshi Iwaya unveiled the pact to develop cooperation on joint military drills, the exchange of ...

Pope Expresses Solidarity with Those Affected by Spanish Floods
Pope Expresses Solidarity with Those Affected by Spanish Floods

Pope Francis expressed his solidarity on Friday with the Spanish populations affected by the floods, which have resulted in at least 158 deaths and dozens of missing persons. "Let us pray for the people of the Iberian Peninsula, especially for the community of Valencia, ravaged by storm Dana," the name given in Italy to the severe weather that ...

Qatar’s Diplomacy: Strengths and Limitations
SpotlightQatar’s Diplomacy: Strengths and Limitations

For over a year now, Qatar has been acting as the principal mediator, alongside the United States and Egypt, in negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza. The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas began on October 7, 2023. However, this is not the first time this oil-rich Gulf emirate has emerged on the international stage. Qatar has established itself ...

Biden Administration Increases Pressure on Israel Ahead of Election
PoliticsBiden Administration Increases Pressure on Israel Ahead of Election

The Biden administration is increasing the pressure on the Netanyahu government to meet its demands over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. If Israel fails to meet the US’ demands by November 13th, Biden may suspend military assistance to Israel, reports Axios. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin presented ...

US Claim Thousands of North Koreans Preparing to Fight in Ukraine
US Claim Thousands of North Koreans Preparing to Fight in Ukraine

The United States revealed Thursday that up to 8,000 North Korean soldiers are preparing to fight in Ukraine, as Pyongyang heightens tensions with the launch of an intercontinental missile just days before the U.S. elections. Citing U.S. intelligence services, Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that of the 10,000 North Korean soldiers, ...

Asian Markets Fall Ahead of US Elections
Asian Markets Fall Ahead of US Elections

Asian markets mostly fell Friday, tracking a global slide in stocks fuelled by tame tech earnings and investor jitters less than a week before neck-and-neck US elections. All three major US indices fell Thursday, with the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index dropping nearly three percent. Microsoft and Meta topped earnings estimates, but saw their ...

Blinken Reports 'Good Progress' on Lebanon Ceasefire Agreement
Blinken Reports 'Good Progress' on Lebanon Ceasefire Agreement

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday that negotiators have made "good progress" toward a deal that would bring a ceasefire in Israel's offensive in Lebanon. The top US diplomat said that Washington was "working very hard" on concluding arrangements on a deal that would include the withdrawal of Shiite militia ...

Israel Targets Hezbollah Weapons Depots in Syria
Israel Targets Hezbollah Weapons Depots in Syria

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said five civilians were killed Thursday in Israeli strikes on Syria's Qusayr region near the border with Lebanon, where Israel said it hit Hezbollah weapons depots. The Britain-based war monitor said three strikes targeted the town of Qusayr, where Iran-backed Hezbollah holds sway, and surrounding ...

Saudi Arabia Hopes for Swift Non-Military Agreements with US
Saudi Arabia Hopes for Swift Non-Military Agreements with US

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister said on Thursday that Riyadh could potentially move "quite quickly" on some bilateral agreements with Washington even if a mega-deal involving recognizing Israel remains out of reach. Since last year Saudi Arabia has been bargaining hard for a defence pact with the United States as well as assistance with a ...