LONDON: The Danish Defense Ministry is launching an investigation into NATO-led airstrikes on Libya in 2011 in which Denmark’s air force killed 14 civilians, The Guardian reported on Thursday. It is the first time that any of the 10 countries involved in the NATO campaign to remove former Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi from power has … Read more
BEIRUT: Hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel expanded into new territory on Thursday as Lebanese civil society figures appealed for national neutrality. In response to the violence, which began 103 days ago, Lebanon’s deputy speaker of parliament called for urgent diplomatic action. “The idea of opening the war front is extremely dangerous, and the only solution … Read more
DUBAI: Five masked gunmen wearing black military style uniforms have boarded a crude oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). The St. Nikolas crude oil tanker’s owners have told Arab News they lost contact with the ship early Thursday morning. The incident was reported 50 nautical … Read more
Jordan’s Queen Rania meets youth and women’s groups driving local initiatives in Wadi Musa AMMAN: Jordan’s Queen Rania visited Ma’an, a town in Wadi Musa, on Tuesday where she met the founders and beneficiaries of programs that aim to encourage local economic empowerment, and some of the young people spearheading local initiatives. They included Yousef … Read more
UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations humanitarian chief says Gaza has become “uninhabitable” three months after Hamas’ horrific attacks against Israel and “a public health disaster is unfolding.” Martin Griffiths said in a statement Friday that “people are facing the highest levels of food insecurity ever recorded (and) famine is around the corner.” And Gazans are “witnessing … Read more
RIYADH: Shipping volume in the Suez Canal dropped 28 percent year on year in the 10 days ending Jan. 2, official data has revealed. Latest figures released by the International Monetary Fund’s PortWatch platform shows that disruptions in the Red Sea have increased in recent weeks, putting vital trade flows at risk. On the other … Read more
GENEVA: The United Nations on Thursday said the human rights situation in the occupied West Bank was rapidly deteriorating and urged Israel to “end unlawful killings” against the Palestinian population.A report released Thursday demanded an immediate end to the use of military weapons and means during law enforcement operations, an end to arbitrary detention and … Read more
LONDON: It is now 10 weeks since the Israel Defense Forces mounted their first raids against Gaza in the wake of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on southern Israel. “We are striking our enemies with unprecedented might,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Israelis in a televised address on Friday, Oct. 13. However, things quickly began … Read more
DUBAI: Mounting attacks by Yemen’s Houthis on ships in the Red Sea are disrupting maritime trade as leading global freight firms reroute around the Cape of Good Hope to avoid the Suez canal. Multiple “projectiles” were fired from Houthi-controlled territory on Monday at a vessel in the southern Red Sea, US officials said. The Houthis … Read more
Why Benjamin Netanyahu’s political fate is tightly entwined with the war in Gaza LONDON: Hopes for a peaceful resolution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas are contingent upon a change of leadership at the top of the Knesset, as it seems incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is convinced peace is … Read more