UNITED NATIONS, Dec 18 (Reuters) - The United Nations General Assembly on Thursday elected Barham Salih, a former Iraqi president who fled persecution under Saddam Hussein, asthe next U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees. Salih was elected without a vote by the
By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON, Dec 18 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday plans to sign into law a nearly $1 trillion annual defense policy bill, despite its provisions providing new aid to Ukraine and reining in his ability to dial down U.S. involvement in
Relations between Netanyahu and al-Sissi have deteriorated significantly since the outbreak of the war in Gaza, but the $35 billion gas deal between the countries makes such a summit possible. However, a senior Egyptian official stressed that the deal is 'purely commercial'
The Caesar Act's repeal opens the door to improved US-Syria diplomatic and economic ties, but questions remain about embassy operations and lingering sanctions.
With growing fear that the U.S.-brokered cease-fire between Israel and Lebanon could unravel, the Paris meeting also aimed to dissuade Israel from escalation, diplomats said. A French diplomat said that France condemns the Israeli strikes in the country
The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on two more judges of the International Criminal Court after they rejected an attempt by Israel to end a war crimes probe in Gaza. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who had already ordered sanctions on judges and prosecutors in the
Dubai police on Thursday urged residents to stay indoors unless it was "absolutely necessary" as heavy rainfall was expected in the desert country which saw record downpours last year. The warning came hours after rainfall in the Emirati city caused flooding in streets. "For
In northeast Syria, Kurdish women are using music and performance to assert cultural identity, promote female empowerment and navigate postwar challenges.
US President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff will hold talks with senior officials from Qatar, Egypt and Turkey in Miami on Friday on the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal, a White House official told AFP. Under the second stage, Israel is supposed to withdraw
The United States will host talks in Miami on Friday to push the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire, as President Donald Trump said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would likely visit him at the close of the year. Trump's roving special envoy Steve Witkoff is to meet
The incident near the capital has sparked debate over response and raised questions over Turkey’s defense capabilities.
WASHINGTON, Dec 18 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff will meet Friday with Qatari, Egyptian and Turkish officials in Miami, Florida, to discuss the Gaza deal, a White House official said on Thursday. (Reporting by Steve Holland,
Dec 18 (Reuters) - Israel and Germany signed a contract worth around $3.1 billion to expand the Arrow-3 air and missile defence system manufactured by Israeli aerospace industries, Israel's defence ministry said on Thursday. The contract expansion complements the
By Suleiman Al-Khalidi, Timour Azhari, Maya Gebeily and Jonathan Spicer AMMAN/RIYADH/BEIRUT/ANKARA, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Syrian, Kurdish and U.S. officials are scrambling ahead of a year-end deadline to show some progress in a stalled deal to merge Kurdish forces with the
France is looking for more support for a committee monitoring the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.
Dec 18 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday that the U.S. was sanctioning two judges of the International Criminal Court for targeting Israel. "Today, I am designating two International Criminal Court (ICC) judges, Gocha Lordkipanidze of
Dec 18 (Reuters) - Islamic State said on Thursday the killing of 15 people at a Jewish event at Sydney's Bondi Beach was a "source of pride', in an article published on the group's telegram channel. The group did not explicitly claim responsibility for Sunday's
Gulf companies have been increasing their investments in North African renewable energy.
Women swaying to dance music at a DJ set, strolling without headscarves through cutting-edge art exhibitions and in coffee shops showing off trendy styles that could have come from the streets of Europe. Until recently, such scenes would have been unthinkable in the Islamic
Launched after the Israel-Hamas ceasefire to monitor the truce and facilitate the flow of humanitarian aid, the Civil-Military Coordination Center for Gaza is struggling to live up to its promises. The CMCC, a US initiative, is meant to set the stage for the next steps of
By John Irish and Jana Choukeir PARIS/BEIRUT, Dec 18 (Reuters) - French, Saudi Arabian and American officials will hold talks with the head of the Lebanese army on Thursday in Paris aimed at finalising a roadmap to enable a mechanism for the disarmament of the Hezbollah
DUBAI, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Oman and India signed a comprehensive economic partnership agreement, Oman's state news agency reported on Thursday. "The agreement is designed to enhance trade and investment cooperation, facilitate the seamless flow of goods and services,
Under the deal with U.S. energy giant Chevron, Israeli companies will partner in supplying gas to Egypt. According to a diplomatic source, the Trump administration pressured Netanyahu to approve the agreement after he stalled
ANKARA, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Thursday that Turkey did not want to resort to military action again against Syria's Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), but warned that the patience of the actors involved was running out over what
By Kate Holton LONDON, Dec 18 (Reuters) - The European Union must reform or risk becoming irrelevant as the rivalry between China and the U.S. sparks a new era without precedent, posing challenges on security, energy, technology and trade, a report led by Tony Blair and
By Christine Chen, Scott Murdoch and Alasdair Pal SYDNEY, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday promised a crackdown on hate speech in the wake of an attack on a Jewish holiday event at Sydney's Bondi Beach, as the youngest of 15 victims
SYDNEY, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Thursday the government would seek to introduce new legislation to crack down on hate, after gunmen opened fire at a Jewish event in Sydney on Sunday, killing 15. (Reporting by Alasdair
MANILA, Dec 17 (Reuters) - There is no evidence indicating that the two suspects involved in the Bondi Beach attack received any form of military training while in the Philippines, the Philippines' National Security Adviser said on Wednesday. In a statement, Eduardo Año said