Karachi fire kills six as shopping centre gutted in historic district
Six people have been killed after a massive fire tore through a shopping centre in Pakistan’s largest city, Karachi, authorities said, as firefighte...
The United States, Qatar, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Jordan and Türkiye have issued a joint statement supporting the draft United Nations Security Council resolution currently under consideration.
The text, drafted by Washington after consultations with regional partners, endorses the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict announced on 29 September and reaffirmed in Sharm el-Sheikh. The initiative is described as a pathway toward Palestinian self-determination and a broader regional stabilisation effort.
The State of Palestine welcomed the statement issued on 14 November, calling it an important step toward a permanent ceasefire and a structured political process. Ramallah said any agreement must ensure the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, restore civilian life and accelerate humanitarian assistance.
The Palestinian leadership stressed that the plan should prevent displacement, protect the two-state framework and halt attempts at annexation. It said reconstruction must begin immediately once conditions permit. Palestine also reiterated its readiness to assume full responsibility for governing the Strip, describing Gaza as an integral part of the State of Palestine.
As regional backing for the proposal widens, attention has returned to an earlier discussion that signalled a potential role for Muslim-majority states in Gaza’s post-conflict future.
Weeks ago, Indonesia, Azerbaijan and Pakistan were reported to be in early talks about contributing to an international stabilisation force, according to U.S. officials and reporting by Politico.
The idea was exploratory, but it placed the three countries within the broader debate over who might shoulder responsibility for securing Gaza once a ceasefire takes hold.
Azerbaijan’s approach has remained consistent since. Baku coordinates its position with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the Arab League and wider Islamic partners, stressing that any participation must rest on international legitimacy and a clear mandate from the United Nations Security Council.
Officials have also underlined that Arab states must first agree on a unified vision for Gaza’s political and security framework before outside actors take on defined roles.
The joint statement comes as diplomatic pressure intensifies around Gaza, with the conflict entering a protracted phase and humanitarian needs continuing to rise.
The U.S.-backed plan is the most comprehensive political framework proposed since the fighting began, combining a ceasefire roadmap, security arrangements and a transition toward governance.
Regional governments have become increasingly vocal in calling for a coordinated international approach, reflecting concerns over spillover risks, displacement and the long term viability of the two state solution.
The Turkish Defence Ministry has voiced its support for recent military operations by Syrian government forces against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which enjoy the support of the United States.
Tens of thousands of users were left unable to access Elon Musk’s social media platform X on Friday, with outages reported across multiple countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.
Armenia has reaffirmed that it has no intention of taking any actions directed against Iran, with senior officials stressing that relations with Tehran remain friendly and constructive.
Russian President Vladimir Putin held separate calls with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on 16 January, offering Russia’s help to mediate tensions and promote dialogue in the Middle East.
Ashley St. Clair, mother of one of Elon Musk’s children, has filed a lawsuit against Musk’s company xAI, alleging that its AI tool Grok generated explicit images of her, including one portraying her as underage.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has signed a decree recognising Kurdish language rights and restoring citizenship to stateless Kurds, as government forces continued advancing into Kurdish-held territory in northern Syria despite U.S. calls for restraint.
A senior Iranian official says at least 5,000 people have died in the protests rocking the country. Among those killed are said to be some 500 members of the security forces.
Syrian troops swept through dozens of towns and villages in the country's north on Saturday after Kurdish fighters withdrew under an agreement that aimed to avoid a bloody showdown between the rival forces.
Fitch Ratings, one of the world’s three major credit rating agencies, says the start of trade and economic relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan could improve Armenia’s economic prospects, citing reduced geopolitical risks following recent steps towards peace.
The Regional Environmental Summit 2026 will be held in Astana from 22-24 April, bringing together Central Asian countries to strengthen regional dialogue on climate and environmental challenges.
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