Headlines

South Africa probes Iran's role in BRICS+ naval drills

JOHANNESBURG, Jan 16 (Reuters) - South Africa's defence ministry said on Friday that Minister Angie Motshekga had launched an inquiry into Iran's participation in the BRICS+ naval exercises held in South African waters over the past week. The defence ministry said in a

Putin and Netanyahu discuss Iran by phone, Kremlin says

MOSCOW, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the situation in the Middle East and Iran by phone on Friday, the Kremlin said. Putin offered Netanyahu Russia's help in mediating in regards to Iran, and told

Libyan filmmaker fights for cinema revival

Mouayed Zabtia shoots most scenes for his latest movie in a studio he built at his Tripoli home. For the filmmaker, it is one way to overcome the obstacles he faces in a country where cinema once nearly vanished. Before a 1969 coup that brought Moamer Kadhafi to power, Libya's

Trump announces 'board of peace' formed for Gaza

US President Donald Trump on Thursday announced the formation of a Gaza "board of peace," a key phase two element of a US-backed plan to end the war in the Palestinian territory. "It is my Great Honor to announce that THE BOARD OF PEACE has been formed," Trump posted on his

Threats to Iran spike 'volatility': UN official

A senior UN official warned on Thursday that threats of military action against Iran, like those made by US President Donald Trump, increased "volatility" in the protest-torn country. Iran was shaken over the last week by some of the biggest anti-government protests in the

US imposes sanctions on Iran over crackdown on protesters

By Daphne Psaledakis WASHINGTON, Jan 15 (Reuters) - The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on five Iranian officials it accused of being behind the crackdown on protests and warned it was tracking Iranian leaders' funds being wired to banks around the world, as U.S.