Reuters/CCTV. Yemen’s Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center (HOCC), which is set up by the Houthis in Sanaa, issued a statement on Saturday, denying plans to levy transit tolls on most vessels sailing through the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a vital transit chokepoint connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.   In the statement, the HOCC…

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Friday described the mass influx of migrants into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta as “an attack” and “a violation of Spain’s territorial integrity,” while pledging to restore normality “as soon as possible.”   Speaking in Ceuta, Sanchez said the government stands with residents following the migrant influx, calling the…

Finland and Austria on Friday joined Italy’s recent call for possible Schengen border closures as Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta experienced a surge in migrant arrivals from Morocco in recent days.   “Spain has completely failed to protect the Schengen Area’s external border from infiltration. This cannot continue.   “All European countries must support…

US President Donald Trump says the Board of Peace has reached an agreement for the “complete disarmament” of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza, BBC reports.   A senior Hamas official has told the BBC the group has agreed to the Board of Peace’s plan to completely disarm in Gaza and that an official…

Reuters. A Russian strike hit residential buildings in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv on Thursday (July 30), leaving at least 20 people injured and prompting a major rescue operation.   Rescuers carried a boy from the upper floors of a heavily damaged apartment block before medics took him away on a stretcher.   Residents…

Brussels is preparing its largest corporate blacklist since the invasion of Ukraine. The scale is dramatic, but Europe’s real problem is no longer identifying Russian enablers. It is enforcing the rules without granting exemptions when they become economically inconvenient.   The European Union is preparing to sanction more than 1,600 companies accused of supporting Russia’s…

Iran has rejected a proposal from Oman to evenly share control of the lanes in the Strait of Hormuz, as Tehran demands it control most of the critical oil and LNG chokepoint, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Wednesday, as strikes in the region reignited and dashed hopes for a quick return to diplomacy….

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has called on Iran to stop providing military support to Russia during a phone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.   Kallas shared details of the call on her X account, reiterating her appeal for Tehran to end its assistance to Moscow.   She stressed that Russia”s…

Reuters. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has arrived in the United States, footage released on Tuesday (July 28) showed, to meet with President Donald Trump and attend a memorial service for Senator Lindsey Graham.   Zelenskiy said anti-ballistic defence and strategic cooperation with the United States were the “number-one priority” for meetings with Trump and his…

The leader of Iceland’s largest opposition party is urging European politicians to stay out of the country’s referendum on reopening EU membership talks next month, as senior figures across the bloc welcome the prospect of renewed negotiations, Politico reports.   “It’s extremely important that this decision in August will be left to the Icelandic nation,”…

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia would achieve its objectives in the war in Ukraine and “do everything for victory,” while acknowledging battlefield losses, inflation risks and the pressures facing the country.   Putin made the remarks at the Kremlin Palace while addressing lawmakers at the closing of the State Duma, the lower house of…

On the night of July 26-27, Ukrainian drones launched a massive attack on Russian territory. According to Telegram channels, 12 civilians were injured in Belgorod, including two children. Several apartments and cars were set on fire.   There were casualties in the Rostov region from the Ukrainian drone strikes, two married couples died, five people…

Romanian President Nicușor Dan has announced that a second drone that entered the country’s airspace in the past two days has been shot down. The president made the announcement in a post on social media.   “This morning, at 8:30 a.m. local time, another drone was shot down in Romanian airspace, 10 kilometres west of…

US President Donald Trump stated that neither the People’s Republic of China nor the Russian Federation is involved in supplying weapons to the Islamic Republic of Iran. He also assured that the United States does not supply weapons to Ukraine, as it sells them only to NATO allies.   He wrote about this on the…

A Romanian F-16 ​fighter jet shot down a drone that had entered its airspace on Friday, authorities said, the first ‌time the NATO member state has done so following dozens of such incursions, Reuters reports.   Airspace breaches on NATO’s eastern flank have fuelled concerns that the alliance’s borders are at risk as war rages…

Iran says it has carried out drone strikes on US military facilities and bases across the Middle East in retaliation for the 13th consecutive night of American attacks on the country, BBC reports.   Explosions were reported along Iran’s Gulf coast, and in western, northern and central areas. Four people were killed and five injured…

Reuters. The United States and Saudi Arabia have reached a landmark agreement on civil nuclear power, the U.S. Energy Department said on Wednesday (July 22), a deal that allows the kingdom to build nuclear reactors using American technology and to enrich uranium.   A civil nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia has been in the works…

Reuters. Four tankers changed course in the Red Sea on Wednesday (July 22), with two signalling the Suez Canal as their new destination after Yemen’s Houthi militia warned ships to avoid sailing to Saudi Arabian ports, ship-tracking data showed.   The Iran-aligned Houthis on Monday (July 20) declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia, opening…

US President Donald Trump has approved an agreement with Saudi Arabia that could potentially provide the kingdom with uranium enrichment capability for its civilian nuclear program, according to two people familiar with the matter, AP reports.   The people, who were not authorized to comment publicly about the yet to be formally announced decision, said…

Reuters. U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to the White House on Tuesday (July 21).    Trump told reporters that he felt “very good” about Aoun’s visit and that he expected progress.    Aoun is expected to present Trump with a plan on how to disarm Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah and secure…

Members of new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s government arrived at 10 Downing Street on Monday as the incoming cabinet began taking shape after his appointment.   Education Secretary Lucy Powell and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner were among Labour lawmakers seen arriving at the prime minister’s official residence, while some roles, including that of former…

Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization said on Sunday that US strikes targeted the Darkhovin nuclear power plant, which is still under construction in the country’s southwest.   “An attack on a peaceful nuclear facility under international safeguards is a clear violation of international law,” the organization said on the US social media company X.   It…

Andy Burnham has pledged he will “be there for” Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky and the UK’s support would remain “resolute” under his premiership, Independent reports.   The new Prime Minister indicated that the President of Ukraine would be one of the first foreign leaders he would speak to after replacing Sir Keir Starmer in No 10….

U.S. Presidential Envoy for Syria and Iraq, Thomas Barrack, announced that the United States is working in coordination with five countries in the region, including Syria, on a program to shift to alternative routes for the Strait of Hormuz, based on the principle of “precautionary delivery.”   Speaking on Friday at the U.S.-Iraq Business Summit…

Ankara has no doubt that the S-400 and F-35 issues will be resolved, said Hulusi Akar, chairman of the Turkish parliament’s defense committee.   “We expect progress on this issue. We believe that it will happen. The S-400 was the reason for the suspension of the F-35 program. Once that factor is eliminated, the F-35…

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky honored Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan with the Order of Merit, 2nd degree, thanking him for his work toward peace efforts.   The two met on Thursday to discuss the current state of diplomacy, as well as future steps that could help accelerate efforts to reach peace and improve the situation…

Andy Burnham was officially declared leader of Britain’s governing Labour Party on Friday, promising to bring hope to the British people and purpose to the floundering government as he cleared his final hurdle to take office as prime minister next week, AP reports.   The former mayor of Greater Manchester was the only contender in…

The U.S. Council for International Business (USCIB) will send a business delegation to Armenia to participate in COP17.   Ambassador Narek Mkrtchyan held a meeting with Kristen Kaufman, Senior Vice President for Global Impact Initiatives at the U.S. Council for International Business (USCIB), and Agnes Winblad, Senior Director for Environment and Sustainable development.    During…

Reuters. Ukraine’s parliament voted on Thursday (July 16) to appoint energy executive Sergii Koretskyi as prime minister, the third since the start of Russia’s invasion in 2022.   Koretskyi, previously CEO of the state energy giant Naftogaz, was praised by lawmakers as a capable and efficient manager. He received 289 votes in favour.   Addressing…

US President Donald Trump said in an interview with Fox News, recorded on July 14, that the conflict in Ukraine could end before the end of his presidential term.   “I think so,” Trump said, answering a question about whether he believes the Ukrainian crisis will be resolved before the expiration of his presidential term…