Lebanon revives offshore gas push with new approval for Total-led consortium
Beirut has approved a new exploration permit allowing international energy companies to begin work on an offshore block bordering Israel’s maritime border.
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Sharaa tells Iraq's Barzani Kurds integral to Syria amid fears of Aleppo spillover
More than 140,000 people have been displaced by fighting between Syrian government and Kurdish forces in Aleppo and the situation has captured the attention of Kurdistan Region and federal government leaders in neighboring Iraq.
EU grants Syria $722 million for recovery, humanitarian aid, von der Leyen says
BRUSSELS, Jan 9 (Reuters) - The European Union will grant Syria around 620 million euros ($722 million) this year and next for post-war recovery, bilateral support and humanitarian aid, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday. "After years of
'Palestine 36' director says film is about 'refusal to disappear'
The director of Oscar-shortlisted film "Palestine 36" said her big-budget production about a crucial but little-known Arab rebellion is a statement about Palestinians "refusal to disappear". Veteran filmmaker Annemarie Jacir started production on the sweeping historical epic
US quits global organisation dedicated to preventing violent extremism
By Olivia Le Poidevin GENEVA, Jan 9 (Reuters) - A global organisation dedicated to preventing violent extremism said on Friday the U.S. had made a mistake in withdrawing its support while the risk of militant attacks surges in the Middle East and Africa's Sahel. The Global
UAE cuts student funding for UK universities over Muslim Brotherhood fears
London has not banned the group as a terrorist organization, but UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said the option is under "close review."
UAE cuts UK student funding amid Muslim Brotherhood fears
London has not banned the group as a terrorist organization, but UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said the option is under "close review."
Flights from UAE, Qatar and Turkey canceled to Iran as protests grow
Several airlines canceled their flights to Iranian cities as the protests continue to grow despite a communication blackout.
Six on trial in UK charged with membership of banned PKK
LONDON, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Six Kurdish people went on trial in Britain on Friday charged with membership of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a militant group banned in its home country Turkey as well as Britain and elsewhere. Prosecutors say the defendants, aged between 24
Exclusive-Pakistan nears $1.5 billion deal to supply weapons, jets to Sudan, sources say
By Saad Sayeed and Mubasher Bukhari ISLAMABAD, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Pakistan is in the final phases of striking a $1.5-billion deal to supply weapons and jets to Sudan, a former top air force official and three sources said, promising a major boost for Sudan's army, battling the
Russia joins Chinese, Iran warships for drills off S.Africa
A Russian warship arrived off South Africa's main naval base Friday to join Chinese and Iranian vessels in military exercises that risk further damaging Pretoria's relations with Washington. The exercises draw together several nations feuding with the US administration and come
Women bearing the brunt of Sudan's acute hunger crisis, UN says
By Olivia Le Poidevin GENEVA, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Women are bearing the brunt of the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, with the majority of female-headed households not having enough food to eat, the U.N. said on Friday. "Female-headed households are now three times more likely to be
Asylum applications drop to 40 year low in Sweden, government says
STOCKHOLM, Jan 9 (Reuters) - The number of people applying for asylum in Sweden dropped by 30% in 2025 to the lowest level since 1985, with the right-of-centre government saying it planned to further tighten rules this year ahead of an election in September. The ruling minority
Kurdish groups reject Aleppo withdrawal as US pushes to end fighting
By Mahmoud Hasano and Orhan Qereman ALEPPO, Syria, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Kurdish groups in Aleppo vowed to defend their neighbourhoods from government forces on Friday, rejecting ceasefire terms declared by Damascus that demand Kurdish fighters withdraw from the Syrian city where
China's top diplomat Wang Yi postpones visit to Somalia
Jan 9 (Reuters) - Somalia's foreign affairs ministry said on Friday that China's top diplomat Wang Yi had postponed his planned visit to the East African country. Top officials from the ministry told Reuters that the reason for the postponement and a future schedule would be
'All are in the streets': Iranians defiant as protests grow
Tear gas burning his eyes, his voice hoarse from shouting anti-government slogans as cars honked around him, Majid joined crowds of Iranians taking to the streets in defiance of a crackdown on a swelling protest movement. He used a pseudonym for security reasons and like all
Envoy tapped for Trump's Gaza board meets senior Palestinian official in West Bank
By Ali Sawafta and Rami Ayyub RAMALLAH, West Bank, Jan 9 (Reuters) - The former U.N. envoy expected to help lead Donald Trump's so-called Board of Peace for Gaza met a top Palestinian Authority official on Friday as the U.S. president pushes ahead with his plan for the
Defiant Khamenei insists 'won't back down' in face of Iran protests
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Friday insisted the Islamic republic would "not back down" in the face of protests after the biggest rallies yet in an almost two-week movement that has shaken the clerical authorities. Chanting slogans including "death to the
Yemen's southern separatists have disbanded, delegate to talks in Saudia Arabia says
DUBAI, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Yemen's main southern separatist group has decided to disband, one of its members said in a statement broadcast on state media on Friday in Saudi Arabia, where a delegation from the group, which appears to be splitting, has been attending peace talks.
Kurdish councils in Syria's Aleppo reject evacuation call
Jan 9 (Reuters) - Kurdish councils in Syria's Aleppo said on Friday they would not evacuate neighbourhoods under their control as part of a ceasefire deal to end days of fighting between Kurdish forces and Syrian government fighters. In a statement published by Syrian Kurdish
Israel on alert amid Iran unrest, sees 'next few days' critical for regime
Israeli assessments indicate that while Iran’s leadership has not shown signs of fully losing control, the situation could change as protests continue.
Iran cut off from world as Supreme Leader warns protesters
By Parisa Hafezi DUBAI, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Iran was largely cut off from the outside world on Friday after authorities blacked out the internet to curb expanding protests, with phone calls not reaching the country, flights cancelled and online Iranian news sites only
Khamenei says Iran 'will not yield' after thousands protest across country
Iranian state media broke its silence Friday over the protests, alleging U.S. and Israeli 'terrorist agents' set fires and sparked violence. Violence in the protests has killed at least 42 people while more than 2,270 others have been detained, according to activists
Iran's Supreme Leader to give speech about protests in a few minutes, state TV
Jan 9 (Reuters) - Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei will give a speech in a few minutes on "the terrorist actions" in the country, Iranian state TV reported on Friday, as protests over economic hardships continued around the country. (Reporting by Pariza Hafezi;Editing by
Iran rocked by night of protests despite internet blackout: videos
Iranians staged their biggest protests yet of an almost two week movement sparked by anger over the rising cost of living, chanting slogans including "death to the dictator" and setting fire to official buildings, videos showed Friday. Internet monitor Netblocks said
Iran must show restraint against protesters, French diplomatic source says
PARIS, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Iran's authorities must show maximum restraint towards protesters who have a legitimate right to demonstrate, a French diplomatic source said on Friday. A nationwide internet blackout was reported in Iran on Thursday, internet monitoring group NetBlocks
Iran's rulers face legitimacy crisis amid spreading unrest
DUBAI, Jan 9 (Reuters) - With Iran's anti-government unrest evolving rapidly and foreign pressure mounting, the clerical establishment appears unable, for now, to tackle what has become a crisis of legitimacy at the heart of the Islamic Republic. The demonstrations, which began
'It's not bearable anymore': How war with Israel, eggs and economic collapse drive protests in Iran
Desperation is driving Iranians into the streets, where they're shouting 'Death to Khamenei.' The roots of these intensifying protests lie both in decades of deficits and sanctions to the panic that hit markets after last year's 12 day war with Israel
Syrian government announces ceasefire in Aleppo after deadly clashes
Syria's defence ministry announced a ceasefire in Aleppo on Friday after days of deadly clashes between the army and Kurdish fighters forced thousands of civilians to flee. The violence, which has killed at least 21 people, is the worst to erupt since the Islamist authorities
Syria announces ceasefire with Kurdish fighters in Aleppo
Syria's defence ministry announced a ceasefire in Aleppo on Friday after days of deadly clashes between the army and Kurdish fighters forced thousands of civilians to flee. The violence killed 21 people and was the latest challenge for a country still struggling to forge a new
Kurdish fighters refuse to leave Syria's Aleppo after truce
Kurdish fighters rejected a call to leave Syria's Aleppo on Friday after the government announced a truce in deadly fighting that forced thousands of civilians to flee. Since Tuesday, government forces had been fighting the US-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)
Treasury's Bessent says Iran facing precarious moment, economy in trouble
GOLDEN VALLEY, Minnesota, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Iran's economy is facing high inflation and other challenges, partly due to U.S. sanctions, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Thursday, underscoring Washington's concerns about Tehran cracking down violently on anti-regime
Iran sees largest protest day as regime cuts internet: What to know
Thousands of Iranians protested across the country on Thursday evening in one of the biggest challenges to Islamic Republic rule in decades.
US envoy pushes for Sudan truce in meeting with UAE’s MBZ after talks in Saudi Arabia
Boulos’ meeting in Abu Dhabi follows discussions earlier this week in Riyadh, as the two Gulf countries navigate both Sudan diplomacy and a dispute over Yemen.
US judge dismisses lawsuit by Palestinian Americans trapped in Gaza
By Jonathan Stempel Jan 8 (Reuters) - A federal judge dismissed on Thursday a lawsuit demanding the U.S. government conduct emergency rescues of Palestinian Americans and family members who are trapped in Gaza and trying to escape hardships caused by the war between Israel and
Trump threatens U.S. intervention in Iran as protest death toll reportedly hits 45
According to reports, Iranians nationwide took to the streets after country's exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi called for a mass demonstration on Thursday and Friday
Top Syrian Kurdish official Foza Yusuf says war with Damascus lose-lose for all
The Syrian Kurdish official warns that fighting in Aleppo could deepen the humanitarian crisis and stall political negotiations.