Author: Adnan Hindawi

Cliff Notes – Wildfires in South Korea turn deadly, prompt evacuations Wildfires in South Korea turn deadly and caused a major incident in disaster zones At least three firefighters and a public servant have died as over 20 wildfires continue to burn across South Korea, with one major fire in Sancheong County engulfing 500 hectares. The government has declared disaster zones in North and South Gyeongsang provinces and the city of Ulsan, with nearly 1,600…

Cliff Notes – Japan hosts China, South Korea foreign ministers Foreign ministers from Japan, China, and South Korea convened in Tokyo to discuss trade, regional security, and cooperation amidst increasing geopolitical tensions, particularly relating to US tariffs. The meeting underscored the importance of dialogue and collaboration, with discussions also focusing on the North Korean nuclear issue and a potential leaders’ summit by the end of 2025. Has Trump united Japan, China and South Korea? Foreign…

Cliff Notes – Cuba faces nationwide blackout for second night in a row Millions in Cuba experienced extended power outages for a second consecutive night, with interruptions to internet and telephone services. President Miguel Diaz-Canel reported that efforts to restore electricity in major cities, including Havana and Santiago de Cuba, were unsuccessful. Persistent blackouts are attributed to fuel shortages and aging infrastructure, exacerbated by ongoing economic crises and tightened US sanctions. Cuba faces nationwide blackout…

The UN human rights office, represented by spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan, reported an alarming wave of violence, revealing the documented deaths of 90 men, 18 women, two girls, and one boy. Scale of Violence Documented by UN The UN attributes these killings to unidentified armed individuals and groups linked to the government’s security forces and the former administration. Disturbing accounts describe targeted killings based on sectarian affiliations, particularly against Alawites, highlighting a distressing pattern of violence…

US President Donald Trump suggested a controversial plan on Saturday to “clean out” Gaza and resettle Palestinians in Egypt and Jordan as part of a broader Middle East peace effort. Describing Gaza as a “demolition site” following the Israel-Hamas war, Trump said he had discussed the idea with Jordan’s King Abdullah II and planned to speak with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.  

Palestinians have started returning to northern Gaza after Israel announced a deal with Hamas to release six hostages this week. Among those to be freed is Arbel Yehud, a civilian at the centre of recent tensions.  

Four people were injured in a stabbing attack on Tuesday in Tel Aviv, with one victim in serious condition from a neck wound. The attack occurred on Nahalat Binyamin Street and nearby Gruzenberg Street, both busy areas. The assailant, a 28-year-old Moroccan citizen with U.S. residency, was shot dead at the scene.

A stabbing attack in central Tel Aviv left at least five people injured on Tuesday evening, the Israeli police said, days after a previous stabbing attack in the Israeli capital wounded one person. Earlier, United Nations chief Antonio Guterres called on Israel’s security forces to exercise “maximum restraint” after they launched a major operation in the West Bank city of Jenin, a spokesman said Tuesday. Live: At least five people wounded in Tel Aviv stabbing attack

Israel has released 90 Palestinian prisoners in the first phase of a ceasefire agreement with Hamas, the Israeli prison service has confirmed. The released prisoners, predominantly women and children, were greeted with hugs and cheers upon their return to the occupied West Bank.

A man was seriously injured in a knife attack in central Tel Aviv on Saturday, police said. The Magen David Adom, Israel’s national ambulance service, said medical teams were providing treatment to a 30-year-old man “injured by stabbing.” A passerby shot the attacker, according to Magen David Adom. What do we know about the incident? Police did not identify the attacker but believe the stabbing was a terrorist act. “Initial investigations reveal that a terrorist armed with…

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that a ceasefire agreement with Hamas has been reached after resolving last-minute disputes. The deal is expected to be reviewed by Israel’s security cabinet on Friday, followed by a government meeting for formal approval.

Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire and hostage release agreement after 15 months of conflict, according to mediators Qatar and the United States. While details are still being finalised, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged the progress and thanked U.S. President Joe Biden for supporting the deal. Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya attributed the agreement to the resilience of the Palestinian people.

At least 17 Palestinians were killed late Tuesday as Israeli airstrikes targeted homes in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. The attacks occurred amid ongoing negotiations for a potential ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, aiming to end a 15-month-long war.

Negotiators in Doha are reportedly finalising a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, which could mark a significant step toward ending months of violence. As part of the deal, Hamas is expected to release 33 hostages in the initial phase, Israeli officials confirmed.

A study published in The Lancet estimates that Gaza’s death toll from the first nine months of the Israel-Hamas war is 40% higher than reported. While Gaza’s health ministry recorded 37,877 deaths by June 30, 2024, researchers suggest the real figure is closer to 64,260.

At least 19 Palestinians, including eight children, have been killed in Israeli airstrikes on southern Gaza overnight, according to local health officials.

Hamas has indicated its readiness to release 34 captives as part of a ceasefire agreement with Israel, according to reports from Reuters and AFP citing a Hamas official.

Ministers from Syria’s transitional government arrived in Qatar on Sunday for their first visit to the Gulf state since the toppling of president Bashar al-Assad last month. The interim foreign minister, Asaad al-Shaibani, was accompanied by defence minister Morhaf Abu Kasra and the new head of intelligence, Anas Khattab, news agency SANA reported. It said the delegation would discuss with Qatari officials “prospects for cooperation and coordination between the two countries”. A Syrian diplomat and…

Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi said Friday that Lebanon was working to find a solution with Syria after two security officials said Damascus had imposed new restrictions on the entry of Lebanese citizens. “Work is underway to resolve the issue of Lebanese citizens being prevented from entering Syria,” Mawlawi told AFP. He said Lebanon’s General Security agency was in touch with “the Syrian side” to resolve the issue. The developments appeared to be the first instance…

Elon Musk calls for release of jailed UK far-right activist Tommy Robinson, the self proclaimed freedom fighter and anti-Islam campaigner. Tommy is a thug who has a criminal record which includes convictions for violence, financial, and immigration frauds, cocaine and others. But Musk expressed his support for Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, the founder of the far-right English Defence League. Musk appears to be taking a keen interest in the United Kingdom’s political scene since the Labour Party won a landslide…

‘I do not know about you, but throughout these months of Israel’s genocide in Gaza, I felt like I had no fight left in me, no clever arguments to stitch together, no grace to extend & no warmth to provide. I’ve felt suffocated’, writes Paola Salwan Daher. Paola Salwan Daher is a leftist feminist activist from the Lebanese Diaspora and an international law lawyer. She is currently the Senior Director for Collective Action at Women…

Dozens protest in Sudan after authorities changed two of the notes in circulation costing them thousands as the new government takes control. The Sudanese demonstrated outside the seat of the army-backed government in Port Sudan on Tuesday to protest against its move to enact a partial currency swap. Dozens protest in Sudan as gov switches banknotes The army-backed government had set a Monday deadline for residents of the six states under its control to swap…

Russia’s flurry of attacks on Kyiv and elsewhere come after Ukraine sea drone downs Mi-8 helicopter for the first time with a naval drone. The latest from Russia as it launched a heavy aerial attack on Ukraine hitting the capital, Kyiv, and other regions with a volley of missiles and drones. Russia-Ukraine war News Russia-Ukraine war News – Ukraine’s air force said on Tuesday it downed six out of 21 Russia-launched missiles overnight. Suggesting Russia…

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom G, who last week was caught up in an Israeli strike against Yemen’s main airport that he said might have cost him his life, called for Abu Safiya’s immediate release. As the Israelites continue their genocide in Gaza. The WHO chief called Monday for the immediate release of Hossam Abu Safiyeh, director of Gaza’s Kamal Adwan Hospital, who is being held by Israel’s military following a major raid on the facility.…

A Jeju Air plane carrying 181 people from Thailand to South Korea crashed on arrival Sunday, smashing into a barrier and bursting into flames, leaving all but two feared dead. A bird strike and adverse weather conditions were cited by authorities as likely causes of the crash that flung passengers out of the plane and left it “almost completely destroyed”, according to fire officials. Video showed the Jeju Air plane from Bangkok landing on its…