❌

Reading view

Rubio and India’s foreign minister hold talks in Mumbai as both sides aim to finalize a trade deal

MUMBAI, India: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held talks with India’s foreign minister in Mumbai on Tuesday as the two countries seek to deepen energy cooperation and move closer to finalizing a trade deal. India and the United States seek to revive trade negotiations stalled for months by tensions over American tariffs and the Indian government’s purchases of Russian oil. “We’re very, very close. I would say we’re about as close as you can be without having executed the agreement,” Rubio

  •  

FIA boss happy for F1 to race in Middle East

BIGGIN HILL, England: Formula One’s governing body is happy for the last two races of the season in Qatar and Abu Dhabi to proceed as planned, despite the Iran war and conflict in the Gulf region, International Automobile Federation (FIA) president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said on Tuesday. F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali, who also attended the opening but did not speak to reporters, has stated the calendar is confirmed. Qatar’s Lusail circuit and Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina are due to host grand

  •  

Albania PM blames ‘hybrid war’ for week of unrest

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama attributed the recent week of violent protests in Tirana to a "hybrid war," claiming foreign actors are fueling unrest driven by genuine grievances such as corruption and rising living costs. The clashes between demonstrators and police have resulted in hundreds of injuries and increased calls for Rama's resignation, as the protests evolved from opposition to a controversial resort development into widespread anti-government sentiment.

  •  

French PM vows ‘massive’ police deployment for new demonstrations

PARIS: French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu on Tuesday vowed a “massive” police presence at fresh protests called for the coming weekend, as he faced criticism over the handling of recent street violence. The eurozone’s second-largest economy was rocked on Saturday by some of its worst rioting in recent years, just six months before voters head to the polls to elect a successor to President Emmanuel Macron. Facing angry lawmakers in parliament, Lecornu acknowledged that the security respon

  •  

Hegseth confirms he visited Israel, spoke to Netanyahu

WASHINGTON: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed on Tuesday that he visited US troops in Israel and said he would ‌not ‌discuss the ‌details of a private conversation with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “I was there visiting our troops, (and) had a ‌chance ‌to talk to the ‌prime minister. ‌Of course, the nature of our conversation is not ‌something I would talk about, but they’ve been good partners, and I appreciate that,” Hegseth told reporters.

  •  

Saudi Arabia and Syria discuss improved administrative procedures for citizens

LONDON: The Saudi ambassador to Syria, Ghazi Al-Enezi, held talks on Tuesday with the Syrian interior minister, Anas Khattab, about bilateral cooperation, including ways to streamline administrative procedures for citizens of both countries. During their meeting they also discussed other issues of mutual interest, Syria’s Interior Ministry said in a message posted on Telegram. It followed talks in Riyadh on Friday between the Saudi foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, and his Syrian count

  •  

NATO sending planes, radars to Black Sea after drone attacks

BRUSSELS: NATO said on Tuesday it was deploying additional planes, drones and radar systems to the Black Sea after a string of attacks on ships near Romania and Bulgaria in the latest spillover from Russia’s war on Ukraine. “Allies have or will send additional maritime patrol aircraft, radar systems, explosive exploitation teams, intelligence personnel, drones, and more to the Black Sea,” said Col. Martin O’Donnell, a spokesman for NATO’s Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe. “The most impo

  •  

How much should children know about war? Expert offers guidance

RIYADH: When Sara Shahid’s first grade pupils heard alarming sounds during the school day, as Saudi air defense interceptions took place, some immediately recognized what they thought they were hearing. “Is that real, teacher? Is that real bombing? Are those missiles?” they asked. For Shahid, a mother of two, what stood out was that some of her young pupils were already familiar with the language of conflict. “Some of them already knew these terms,” she told Arab News. “Some of them probably kne

  •  

Malaysian PM receives Islamic Development Bank Chairman in Kuala Lumpur

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Prime Minister and Finance Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim met with Chairman of the Islamic Development Bank Group Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser and stressed the strength of the long-standing strategic partnership between Malaysia and the IsDB. The two sides discussed ways to strengthen support for small and medium-sized enterprises, encourage entrepreneurship and job creation, and expand private-sector development to contribute to inclusive economic growth, the Saudi Press Ag

  •  

What We Are Reading Today: ‘Street Knowledge’ by Darien Pollock

Does social change happen “top down” or “bottom up”—brought about by those who hold power or by those who struggle against the powerful? In “Street Knowledge,” Darien Pollock argues that the most powerful change comes from the bottom up. “Street culture” supplies the creative activity that inspires not only political change but any kind of positive social change. Pollock argues that part of what prevents progressive social change is that people in power only legitimize and respond to ideas and a

  •  

Saudi Arabia and Kuwait unite against Houthi attacks threatening security

The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have condemned ongoing Houthi attacks threatening regional security and affirmed their solidarity in dealing with these threats. The Houthis have intensified attacks on Saudi airports and civilian areas, prompting both nations, as members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, to unite against the escalating violence linked to Iranian-backed forces.

  •  

UN force continues operation in Lebanon as Security Council weighs next steps

LONDON: The UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon said on Tuesday it is continuing its operations to support peace and stability as the Security Council considers options for the period after its mandate expires Dec. 31. “As the Security Council considers options for the post-UNIFIL period, our work on the ground continues,” the UN Interim Force in Lebanon said in a statement. The mission said it remained committed to its duties under Security Council Resolution 1701, including monitoring development

  •  

Israel’s Ben-Gvir poised for election gains as young voters turn to far right

TEL AVIV: He celebrated his 50th birthday with a cake decorated with a noose. He says he plans to surround jailed Palestinians with crocodiles. In videos, he berates foreign activists captured at sea trying to bring aid to Gaza, forced to kneel at his feet with their faces pressed to the ground. To much of the world and to many Israelis, Itamar Ben-Gvir, the bellicose face of Israel’s far right, is a figure from the fringe of politics, despite over four years in power as police minister in Pri

  •  
❌