Trump administration completes prisoner swap with Venezuela, frees 10 Americans
The Trump administration has completed a controversial prisoner swap with Venezuela, returning around 250 deported Venezuelans in exchange for 10 Amer...
Lebanon has appointed General Rudolph Haykal as the new commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), a crucial move as the country grapples with mounting security concerns.
Haykal takes command at a pivotal moment, with rising tensions along the southern border with Israel and ongoing challenges posed by armed groups and weapons smuggling from Syria.
One of Haykal’s top priorities will be strengthening the army’s capabilities. The LAF has announced plans to recruit 4,500 soldiers this year, a step aimed at reinforcing security in southern Lebanon, where Hezbollah remains active. The military’s presence in the area is crucial for implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which calls for the disarmament of non-state actors and the prevention of hostilities with Israel.
The new army chief is also expected to enhance cooperation with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), tasked with monitoring the ceasefire along the Blue Line. His leadership will be tested as the army works to assert control in a region where Hezbollah’s influence remains strong.
Another key challenge for Haykal will be addressing weapons smuggling from Syria, an issue that has long concerned both Lebanese authorities and neighboring Israel. The Israeli military has accused Hezbollah of using covert smuggling networks, backed by Iran, to transfer advanced weaponry into Lebanon.
The world’s biggest dance music festival faces an unexpected setback as a fire destroys its main stage, prompting a last-minute response from organisers determined to keep the party alive in Boom, Belgium.
China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will send an upgraded ‘version 3.0’ free-trade agreement to their heads of government for approval in October, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Saturday after regional talks in Kuala Lumpur.
Germany's export slump since 2021 is largely driven by deep-rooted competitiveness issues, the Bundesbank warned in its latest report, calling for urgent structural reforms.
Israeli researchers have unveiled an artificial intelligence tool that can determine a person’s true biological age from tiny DNA samples with remarkable precision.
Two Harry Potter actresses, Emma Watson and Zoe Wanamaker, have each received a six-month driving ban after separate speeding offences, both sentenced on the same day at a Buckinghamshire court.
Syrian security forces are preparing to redeploy to the Druze-majority city of Sweida in the south of the country after a brief ceasefire collapsed, reigniting clashes with Bedouin tribes, according to the Syrian Interior Ministry.
Pope Leo said on Thursday he hopes to travel to Türkiye later this year for the 1,700th anniversary of a major Christian Church summit, in what would be the first foreign trip of his papacy.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced on Thursday that the latest discussions on Cyprus were "constructive" and that progress had been made on several initiatives.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan has called Israel 'a terrorist state', stating that its aggression poses a threat to the entire region.
The White House says Russia will face tough new tariffs — and countries buying its oil will be sanctioned — if it does not agree to a ceasefire with Ukraine within 50 days.
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