Zelensky rules out any compromise with Putin, pointing to Wagner boss death

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has stressed the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin – the Russian mercenary leader whose plane crashed weeks after he led a mutiny against Moscow’s military leadership – shows what happens when people make deals with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

Gaza exports to resume after Israel agrees to reopen key crossing

Israel will reopen the main commercial crossing to Gaza on Sunday after a few days of closure that was imposed earlier this week.

Number of executions by Saudi Arabia in 2023 topped 100: Report

The number of executions conducted by Saudi Arabia this year has surpassed 100, according to the rights group Amnesty International, which raised concerns that the death penalty is being used in the kingdom in violation of international law.

Hundreds killed in Morocco earthquake

More than 1,000 people have been killed after a powerful 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck and area southwest of tourist hotspot Marrakesh in Morocco on Friday night, according to state TV.

US, Arab states, India, EU to unveil rail, ports agreement on G20 sidelines: White House

A multinational rail and ports deal linking the Middle East and South Asia will be announced on Saturday on the sidelines of the G20 summit in New Delhi, a White House official has confirmed.

Report: Fresh Anti-government protests hit Syria’s Sweida

At least 2,000 people marched in the city of Sweida in southern Syria in a new round of anti-government demonstration, an activist and a witness have confirmed.

Russia summons Armenia’s envoy over ‘unfriendly moves’

Armenian Ambassador to Moscow Vagharshak Harutiunyan has been summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry for a stern remonstration amid “Yerevan’s unfriendly actions”, the diplomatic agency has announced in a statement.

Live Update: Russia’s “Special Operation” in Ukraine; Day 563

Russia, wary of NATO’s eastward expansion, began a military campaign in Ukraine in February 2022 after the Western-leaning Kiev government turned a deaf ear to Moscow’s calls for its neighbor to maintain its neutrality. In the middle of the mayhem, Moscow and Kiev are trying to hammer out a peaceful solution to the conflict. Follow the latest about the Russia-Ukraine conflict here:

US, Persian Gulf states, India seeking railway deal at G-20: Report

US President Joe Biden and the leaders of India, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are expected to announce a joint infrastructure agreement at the Group of 20 summit as part of Washington’s efforts to balance China’s influence in the region, Axios reported.

US says still work to do on Israel-Saudi normalization

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan has said that US, Israeli and Saudi leaders have put many of the elements of a pathway to normalization on the table but there is still much work to do.

Iran seeking joint action with Saudi Arabia on sand storms

Iran mulls a joint action with Saudi Arabia to contain the sand and dust storms that emanate from the Arab country’s Empty Quarter desert, according to head of the Iranian Department of Environment.

Fears of further escalation rise as dozens die in fighting between Kurdish fighters, Arab tribal militias in Syria

The ongoing fighting that erupted between Arab tribal militias and members of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northeast Syria has killed dozens of people as fears of further escalation grow.

Live Update: Russia’s “Special Operation” in Ukraine; Day 562

Russia, wary of NATO’s eastward expansion, began a military campaign in Ukraine in February 2022 after the Western-leaning Kiev government turned a deaf ear to Moscow’s calls for its neighbor to maintain its neutrality. In the middle of the mayhem, Moscow and Kiev are trying to hammer out a peaceful solution to the conflict. Follow the latest about the Russia-Ukraine conflict here:

Russia’s largest lender launches new service in Iran

Russia’s largest lender Sber is offering a new service that allows its clients to transfer money to Iran, the bank announced on Thursday.

Vast majority of Russians support turning away from west: Survey

A vast majority of Russians are supportive of Moscow’s policy that prioritizes the development of ties with the countries of the global East rather than the West, a new poll by the state-owned Russian Public Opinion Research Center (WCIOM) shows.

Azerbaijan concentrates forces on border with Armenia, near Nagorno-Karabakh: PM

Azerbaijan has amassed its troops on the border with Armenia and the demarcation line with Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told a Cabinet meeting. He has described the situation as explosive.

Iranian wrestlers runner-up at world deaf championships

Iranian Greco-Roman wrestlers with hearing impairments have won eight medals at the 5th edition of World Deaf Cadet and Junior Greco-Roman & Freestyle Wrestling Championships in Kyrgyzstan, and finished as the overall vice champion of the competition.

Death toll from Turkey floods rises to 7

At least seven people were killed as heavy rains triggered flash floods in northwest Turkey, state news agency Anadolu has reported.

Israel’s treatment of Palestinians amounts to apartheid: Ex-Mossad chief

A former head of the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad has stated that Tel Aviv is enforcing an apartheid system against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

Western officials in UAE amid concerns over supply of technology to Russia

Representatives from the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union have landed in the United Arab Emirates to discuss the implementation of sanctions on Russia as part of broader efforts with a range of “partner” countries, a US embassy spokesperson told CNN on Thursday.

Azerbaijani president, US top diplomat discuss opening roads for cargo delivery to Karabakh

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, during a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, has discussed opening roads to Karabakh so that cargos could be delivered to region, the press service of the Azerbaijani President reported.

Pro-Palestine campaigners snubbed by UK MPs over anti-BDS bill

Palestinian advocacy organisations have not been invited to give evidence in person to a parliamentary committee scrutinising proposed legislation which would ban public bodies in the United Kingdom from disinvesting from Israel due to concerns over the abuse of Palestinian rights.

Live Update: Russia’s “Special Operation” in Ukraine; Day 561

Russia, wary of NATO’s eastward expansion, began a military campaign in Ukraine in February 2022 after the Western-leaning Kiev government turned a deaf ear to Moscow’s calls for its neighbor to maintain its neutrality. In the middle of the mayhem, Moscow and Kiev are trying to hammer out a peaceful solution to the conflict. Follow the latest about the Russia-Ukraine conflict here:

Armenia to hold joint military drills with US

The United States and Armenian militaries will hold joint exercises later this month, with special emphasis on peacekeeping operations, Yerevan has announced. Armenia is a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), which also includes Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.

Iranian students grab 4 medals at International Olympiad in Informatics

Iran has won four medals, one gold and 3 silvers, at the 35th International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) in Szeged, Hungary, further strengthening the confidence of high-achieving Iranian students taking part in global competitions.

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