Ayoola Atitebi

An Israeli strike on a vehicle near the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli has killed at least three people and injured 13 others, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry, marking another violation of the ceasefire between the two countries. The attack occurred Tuesday in the Ayrounieh area as Israel continues striking Lebanon despite Hezbollah's weakened state, the Lebanese army's limited capacity to respond, and the international community's inability to enforce the truce. The strike near Lebanon's northernmost major city, located more than 180km from the Israeli border, demonstrates Israel's readiness to conduct operations throughout the country beyond southern regions. The Israeli military stated it targeted a "key" figure from Hamas without providing identification. However, a Hamas source in Lebanon told Al Araby TV that no senior official from the group was killed in the strike. Lebanon's Annahar newspaper reported that initial […]

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy has criticized the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and indicated that the United Kingdom could take additional measures against Israel if a ceasefire agreement fails to materialize. During testimony before Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday, Lammy also condemned the new aid distribution system in Gaza operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a group supported by the United States and Israel. "We've been very clear that we don't support the aid foundation that has been set up," Lammy stated. "It's not doing a good job. Too many people are close to starvation. Too many people have lost their lives. We have led globally on our condemnation the system that has been set up." Recent weeks have seen hundreds of Palestinians killed by Israeli fire while seeking GHF assistance. When asked by a legislator whether the […]

Monday brought dramatic developments to Russia as President Vladimir Putin dismissed Transport Minister Roman Starovoit, only for the former minister to be found dead with a gunshot wound to the head that same afternoon. Starovoit's body was discovered in a park near Moscow alongside a pistol. Investigators concluded he had taken his own life, marking what the tabloid Moskovsky Komsomolets called "an almost unique occurrence in Russian history." Such incidents are exceptionally rare in Russia's modern era. The last comparable case occurred over three decades ago in August 1991, when Soviet Interior Minister Boris Pugo shot himself following the failed communist coup. The Kremlin has provided limited comment on Starovoit's death. When asked about the incident, Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledged the shock, stating "Normal people cannot but be shocked by this. Of course, this shocked us, too." He deferred […]

President Donald Trump has criticized former ally Elon Musk's announcement of launching a new political party, calling it "ridiculous" and intensifying their ongoing dispute. The world's richest man was previously closely aligned with Trump while heading the cost-cutting Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), but their relationship deteriorated over disagreements regarding the president's major tax and spending legislation. "I think it's ridiculous to start a third party," Trump told reporters Sunday before boarding Air Force One from his New Jersey golf club. "It's always been a two-party system, and I think starting a third party just adds to the confusion. Third parties have never worked. So he can have fun with it, but I think it's ridiculous." On Saturday, South African-born Musk announced plans to establish the America Party, challenging what he characterized as the "one-party system" in the United States. […]

Growing hopes for a Gaza ceasefire announcement emerge as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets US President Donald Trump in Washington after 21 months of conflict. Trump previously stated he had been "very firm" with Netanyahu about ending the war, expressing confidence that "we'll have a deal" this week. Netanyahu responded before his departure, saying, "We are working to achieve the deal that has been discussed, under the conditions we have agreed. I believe that the conversation with President Trump can definitely help advance this outcome." Indirect talks between Israel and Hamas resumed Sunday evening in Qatar, focusing on a US-sponsored proposal for a 60-day ceasefire and hostage release agreement. However, fundamental disagreements that have consistently prevented previous agreements remain unresolved. Palestinians enduring dire conditions amid continuing bombardment express only cautious optimism. Nabil Abu Dayah, who fled northern Gaza with […]

President Donald Trump has threatened to impose an additional 10% tariff on countries that align with BRICS alliance policies opposing US interests. Trump has consistently criticized BRICS, an organization including China, Russia, and India, designed to enhance member countries' international standing and challenge US and Western European influence. "Any country aligning themselves with the Anti-American policies of BRICS, will be charged an ADDITIONAL 10% tariff. There will be no exceptions to this policy," Trump posted on social media. Originally set for July 9, the deadline for countries to negotiate tariff agreements with the US has been extended to August 1, according to US officials. The US has secured trade agreements only with the UK and Vietnam so far. However, Britain and America remain deadlocked over taxes on UK steel imports to the US. Since January, Trump has announced multiple import […]

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has warned that the entire region and beyond will face consequences if Israel is not held accountable for its recent attacks on Iran. Speaking at the BRICS summit in Brazil, Araghchi condemned what he described as "US-Israeli attacks on our nuclear facilities," stating they violated the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorsed Iran's peaceful nuclear program in 2015. He accused the United States of full complicity in what he termed "Israel's war of aggression against Iran." Iran secured support from BRICS+ nations during their meeting in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday, with the bloc condemning recent Israeli and US air strikes that targeted military, nuclear and other Iranian facilities. The 11-nation grouping declared the attacks "constitute a violation of international law." "We condemn the military strikes against the Islamic Republic […]