“They offered us oil, but we don’t want oil, we want the institutions and the borders,” the Syrian defense minister said Syria’s defense minister said Wednesday that Damascus was open to talks with Kurdish-led forces on their integration into the national army but stood ready to use force should negotiations fail. “The door to negotiation with the…
The Trump administration has accepted the resignation of the US ambassadors to Jordan and Saudi Arabia, Al Arabiya English has learned. All ambassadors submit their resignations when a new administration takes office, but these two were immediately accepted. Yael Lempert assumed her position in Amman in August 2023 and Michael Ratney became ambassador to Riyadh…
US President Donald Trump designated Yemen’s Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), the White House said in a statement on Wednesday, marking the second time after the Biden administration reversed the decision made in Trump’s first term. The Houthis began attacking US military and commercial vessels in the Red Sea, as well as ships they…
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called US President Donald Trump on Wednesday to congratulate him on his inauguration and discuss key regional issues and investment opportunities, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. MBS conveyed warm regards on behalf of King Salman, expressing optimism about President Trump’s leadership and its potential to foster progress for the…
Bitcoin reached an all-time high of $109,241 as the US prepares to inaugurate pro-crypto President-elect Donald Trump. The original cryptocurrency rose as much 5.5 percent on Monday to set a fresh record. The token’s rise came after Trump and his wife Melania unveiled memecoins over the weekend, with Trump’s rapidly reaching a market capitalization of more than…
China on Monday executed a man who killed 35 people in a car rampage in the southern city of Zhuhai in November, in the country’s deadliest mass attack in years. On November 11, Fan Weiqiu, 62, deliberately drove a small SUV through crowds of people exercising outside a sports complex, also injuring 45 in China’s worst such…
Russia on Monday said it had shot down 31 Ukrainian drones which mainly targeted industrial sites. Both Kyiv and Moscow have been trying to secure the upper hand in the conflict ahead of US President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday. Trump has said he wants to end the Ukraine war soon. “Last night, anti-air defense…
More than 230 Palestinian prisoners, sentenced to life imprisonment for attacks that killed Israelis, are to be exiled following their release as part of a prisoner swap under the Gaza ceasefire agreement. Israel has published a list of 734 prisoners, out of a total of 737 it said would be released during the first phase of…
Donald Trump will be sworn in as US president on Monday, ushering in another turbulent four-year term with promises to push the limits of executive power, deport millions of immigrants, secure retribution against his political enemies and transform the role of the US on the world stage. Trump’s inauguration completes a triumphant comeback for a political…
Nine out of 10 US firms operating in Europe believe transatlantic economic relations will worsen in coming years, with the expected policies of incoming US President Donald Trump such as tariffs the chief cause, according to a survey published on Monday. The American Chamber of Commerce to the European Union , which has more than…
A fresh outbreak of guerrilla violence amid a faltering peace process in Colombia has left more than 80 people dead, including civilians, and displaced around 11,000 in just four days, officials reported Sunday. As residents fled for their lives, the army deployed some 5,000 troops to the cocaine-growing Catatumbo region at the center of a…
China issued its first national action plan to build a “strong education nation” by 2035, which it said would help coordinate its education development, improve efficiencies in innovation and build a “strong country”. The plan, issued by the Communist Party’s central committee and the State Council on Sunday, aims to establish a “high quality education…
The trial of a teenager accused of killing three young girls in a stabbing spree last year that sparked the UK’s most violent riots in a decade is set to begin Monday. Axel Rudakubana, 18, is due to stand trial at Liverpool Crown Court, accused of murdering three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class…
Hamas’ armed wing said the group would abide by a ceasefire agreement that came into force in Gaza on Sunday but that any possible Israeli violations would endanger the process and put the lives of hostages at risk. In a video speech, al-Qassam Brigades spokesman Abu Ubaida urged mediators to compel Israel to commit to the ceasefire…
Donald Trump pledged a blitz of presidential actions to end “American decline,” telling a fired-up inauguration eve rally on Sunday that he would crack down on woke ideology and immigration. In a raucous campaign-style gathering in Washington, the 78-year-old Republican promised cheering supporters that he would act with “historic speed” from day one of his…
