Embattled Japanese PM Ishiba to step down
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has decided to resign to avoid a split within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, public broadcaster NHK said ...
U.S. envoy Tom Barrack has arrived in Beirut for his fourth visit since June, seeking to reinforce a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, days after the Cabinet backed a plan to disarm Hezbollah and other non-state groups.
Barrack landed at Rafik Hariri International Airport on Sunday evening, where he was received by Rodrigue Khoury, deputy chief of protocol at the Foreign Ministry, Lebanon’s National News Agency reported.
He first presented Washington’s 11-point plan in June and returned in July for follow-up discussions. The proposal calls for full implementation of the 1989 Taif Agreement and U.N. Security Council resolutions, including Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war.
It also seeks to extend state sovereignty across Lebanon, ensure weapons are held solely by official forces, and confirm the state’s exclusive authority in decisions of war and peace.
Political reaction
Lebanon’s Cabinet endorsed the objectives 10 days ago, provoking sharp opposition from Hezbollah, which rejected surrendering its arms. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Hezbollah’s position amounted to “a veiled threat of civil war.”
Ceasefire under strain
Cross-border fighting between Israel and Hezbollah began in October 2023 and escalated into full-scale war in September 2024, leaving around 4,000 dead, including Hezbollah leader Hasan Nasrallah, and more than 17,000 wounded.
A ceasefire agreed in November has struggled to hold. Israel was due to withdraw from southern Lebanon by 26 January, later extended to 18 February, but still retains five border outposts. Israeli forces continue near-daily strikes, claiming to target Hezbollah positions.
AnewZ has learned that India has once again blocked Azerbaijan’s application for full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, while Pakistan’s recent decision to consider diplomatic relations with Armenia has been coordinated with Baku as part of Azerbaijan’s peace agenda.
A powerful eruption at Japan’s Shinmoedake volcano sent an ash plume more than 3,000 metres high on Sunday morning, prompting safety warnings from authorities.
A day of mourning has been declared in Portugal to pay respect to victims who lost their lives in the Lisbon Funicular crash which happened on Wednesday evening.
The UK is gearing up for Exercise Pegasus 2025, its largest pandemic readiness test since COVID-19. Running from September to November, this full-scale simulation will challenge the country's response to a fast-moving respiratory outbreak.
A Polish Air Force pilot was killed on Thursday when an F-16 fighter jet crashed during a training flight ahead of the 2025 Radom International Air Show.
Türkiye plans to strengthen its energy ties with Iraq through oil, natural gas, and electricity projects, the country’s Deputy Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Ahmet Berat Conkar, said at the Baghdad International Energy Forum.
Despite the fact that many months have passed since the tragedy, Russia stubbornly refuses to admit guilt for the downed AZAL plane. Those responsible for this catastrophe have not yet been punished: they continue to serve, and some have even received promotions.
Former U.S. President Joe Biden raised concern after being spotted in Delaware over Labor Day weekend with a large scar on his head while greeting well-wishers.
At the Prague Defence Summit, Defence Industries Secretary Haluk Görgün met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, highlighting the sector’s rapid growth.
Azerbaijan has rejected Russia’s recent statement on insurance payments related to the downing of an AZAL plane, calling it misleading and an attempt to distort facts.
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