London-based pan-Arab news outlet owned by Fadaat Media
The foreign secretary, Ed Miliband, has announced the UK will set out a "comprehensive" reset of policy on Israel in coming weeks, including measures to stop British companies financing, constructing or advertising West Bank settlements and a likely ban on trade from illegal settlements after Israel issued tenders for homes in the E1 area. Israel has warned it will retaliate and the US has signalled strong concern.
The Trump administration has mobilized a broad sanctions push to choke Iran’s economy while coordinating with G20 partners. Officials say secondary sanctions will target countries and firms doing business with Tehran, with a looming wave of penalties expected to press Iran’s leaders toward a deal. The effort unfolds amid a tense stand-off in the Middle East and global energy-market jitters.
Iran has executed multiple men convicted over killings during January’s nationwide protests, including two public hangings in Isfahan’s Alikhani (Malekshahr) Square on 28 July. Videos and witnesses have shown residents chanting and trying to block the executions before security forces dispersed the crowd. Rights groups report a wider surge in executions and hunger strikes at Ghezel Hesar prison.
Hezbollah deputy leader Naim Qassem has criticised Lebanon’s participation in US-mediated talks with Israel in Rome and has rejected a June framework that ties Israeli withdrawals to verified disarmament and Lebanese army deployments in pilot zones. Technical teams have met in Rome while Israeli strikes, demolitions and clashes in southern Lebanon are continuing and Beirut is pressing Washington for verification guarantees.
Palestinian and Israeli actors have sustained a cycle of violence as settlement expansion continues. Recent attacks by settlers and Israeli forces have targeted villages like Umm al-Khair and Kafr Malik, threatening homes, livelihoods and access to water. The expansion agenda, supported by new outposts and broader land confiscation, is reshaping life in the occupied West Bank.
The Board of Peace-backed roadmap has reached a final draft in Cairo, with Hamas accepting the framework while stipulations hinge on Israel’s withdrawal and disarmament. Mediators from Egypt, Qatar and Turkey push for a staged implementation, though Netanyahu’s position on disarmament and the timing of a withdrawal keep the plan in flux amid Israel’s elections.
Lebanon’s judiciary has expanded investigations into former central bank governor Riad Salameh and associates, with new warrants and continued custody amid embezzlement, shell companies, and illicit enrichment allegations. A Palestinian ambassador faces extradition amid corruption claims, while a previous arrest set the stage for ongoing scrutiny of Lebanon’s financial and political elite.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has ground toward a halt this weekend as a 60‑day ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran has reached its expiry and negotiations remain stalled. Kpler data shows single‑digit daily transits; Iran has repeated demands that the U.S. lift its naval blockade, remove sanctions and pay reparations, while the U.S. says it can maintain the blockade indefinitely and is planning further economic pressure.
Satellite imagery shows the oil spill from the Caroline Bezengi has expanded dramatically off Oman’s Dhofar coast, reaching Qibliyah Island and the Arabian Sea reserve. Authorities are monitoring the situation as Greenpeace Germany and others warn of escalating environmental damage.
Kurdistan authorities have reported Iranian-launched drones struck the private office of KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and the residence of the region's security agency chief on 17 August, with no casualties. The attacks come as Baghdad presses for a September 30 deadline to bring armed factions under state control and as cross-border strikes and US-Saudi operations have raised tensions across Iraq.
In Ceuta, approximately 140 people have died and tens of thousands have crossed into the Spanish enclave. Morocco denies involvement, while Spain and partner nations assess diplomatic fallout and security responses. The situation remains fluid as border controls tighten and international reactions intensify.
Israeli prosecutors have indicted settler Yinon Levi for reckless manslaughter over the July 2025 shooting that killed Palestinian teacher and activist Awdah (Awdeh) Hathaleen in Umm al‑Khair. The indictment adds armed trespass and malicious damage counts. Rights groups say the charge is rare and insufficient; campaigners and the family call for murder charges.
Houthis have launched repeated drone, missile and naval strikes that have damaged Yemen’s Mocha port, killed dozens and forced the port’s suspension. The group has claimed a drone hit on Saudi Aramco’s Jazan refinery and renewed attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and Bab al‑Mandeb, while Yemeni government forces have mounted counter‑attacks across multiple fronts.
The Board of Peace has issued its first construction contract for a 150-person outpost in Gaza to house Moroccan troops. Arkel International is named as contractor, but the legal framework remains unsettled and key questions persist about timelines, deployment, and legality.
Spain has imposed reciprocal border checks on travellers from Italy after Rome has kept controls that it introduced following a deadly mass crossing into Ceuta on 30–31 July. Italy has said it will not lift checks until it is satisfied there is no new migration wave or security risk. The dispute has fractured EU unity and left thousands still in Ceuta.
The United States has sanctioned Shelbit, a Dubai-based crypto exchange, and related Iranian entities after a Reuters investigation identified Shelbit as a hub for a $4 billion sanctions-evasion scheme. The Treasury notes Shelbit processed funds for Iran’s central bank, an illegal online gambling network, and addresses tied to the IRGC. Nobitex and Kayvanpour are also targeted, while Dubai’s VARA flags compliance gaps.
The Washington Post has reported that President Trump has secretly swapped planes when leaving a NATO summit in Ankara due to a credible Iranian threat. He boarded Air Force One in view of cameras and was later transported to a military aircraft via a catering truck, with journalists unaware. The president asserts he follows security guidance, while the administration defends the newer aircraft’s security.
Lebanon and Israel have identified a shortlist of potential foreign partners to verify Hezbollah’s disarmament, with the United States overseeing which nations participate. Negotiations remain in the early stages, and the next round is scheduled for early September.
Unified Syrian and Lebanese security concerns frame talks on potential cross-border operations. While Washington presses for pressure points, Damascus faces internal and regional costs. A range of options is considered, from border controls to limited troop movements, with Iran’s retaliation potential guiding calculations.
Israel has green‑lit a UAE-backed pilot project in eastern Rafah near the Yellow Line to establish temporary housing and repair civilian infrastructure, with Gaza still under Israeli security control. Palestinian observers warn the plan risks creating isolated enclaves and prolonging occupation while a limited international stabilization force is discussed.
The seventh round of talks mediated by the United States between Lebanon and Israel has stretched into a third day in Rome. Negotiators are debating prisoner releases and, controversially, the transfer of remains of Lebanese Jews buried in Beirut and Sidon. Israel ties progress to resolving long-standing disappearances and to uncovering the fate of Ron Arad. Beirut says it cannot locate such records, complicating what was meant to be a humanitarian issue.
North Devon District Hospital's maternity services have been suspended due to staffing shortages. Expectant mothers face long journeys to Exeter or Taunton for birth while councils, NHS bodies and locals weigh contingency plans. Authorities say the move is to ensure safe care.
Warfare in Blue Nile State has escalated as RSF fighters and allied SPLM-N forces seize Kurmuk while the army withdraws. Drones and artillery have battered the town, causing new displacements as the conflict widens along border routes with Ethiopia.
A Damascus criminal court has sentenced ousted president Bashar al‑Assad, his brother Maher and several senior former officials — including Atef Najib, who is in custody — to death for murders, torture and crimes against humanity committed during Syria’s 14‑year conflict. The rulings have been issued in absentia for Assad and Maher, who are in Russia.
Ceasefire negotiations in Gaza have stalled as Israeli air strikes resume, killing civilians and police officials. Mediators from the US, Egypt, and Qatar are pressing for a second phase of the ceasefire, including Hamas disarmament and Israeli withdrawal. Health authorities report multiple casualties from coastal Gaza strikes, underscoring fragile hopes for a durable halt to hostilities.
Houthi attacks on Yemen’s Red Sea coast have intensified, striking Mocha and al-Makha ports as government forces and militants trade strikes across Marib, Taiz and the western coast. The violence threatens shipping lanes, raises regional tensions, and risks drawing in regional powers as talks for a ceasefire stall.
Residents in Masafer Yatta and West Bank villages have reported repeated settler attacks, property damage and soldiers escorting or standing by during incidents. Witnesses have described settlers grazing livestock in homes' gardens, arson, and assaults near mosques. Humanitarian groups have recorded high demolition and displacement rates since October 2023.
Drones have targeted Zawiya’s water and power infrastructure, destroying a substation and a fuel tank as clashes rise in western Libya. No group has claimed responsibility, while officials warn the attacks threaten GNU stability and fuel supplies.
The UK Charity Commission has engaged with the Edgware United Synagogue after complaints over a June event promoting sales of properties in illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied territories. Regulators have issued guidance and require governance improvements as scrutiny intensifies. ICJP argues sanctions are needed; UK foreign and charity officials respond.
Survivors of the Gatumba refugee camp massacre, 22 years on, are urging Burundi to reopen credible investigations, cooperate with regional and international mechanisms, and ensure accountability for those responsible. The clashes highlight ongoing failures to deliver justice for identity-based violence in the region.
State Senator Aisha Wahab has won the special election to serve the remainder of Eric Swalwell’s term in California’s 14th district. She will take the seat through January and will face Melissa Hernandez again in November for a full term. Outside groups tied to AIPAC spent millions supporting Hernandez; Wahab called the spending an attempt to buy the seat.
Palestinian and Israeli sources report a sharp rise in West Bank violence. Dozens of settler attacks have targeted towns including Masafer Yatta, Jenin, Qusra and Hebron, with Palestinians injured, property damaged and several homes besieged. The violence coincides with increased Israeli military operations and ongoing clashes.
Three years into displacement in Gaza’s Deir-al‑Balah camps, women face severe menstrual health challenges as sanitation and water access collapse amid the siege. Pads have vanished, prices have soared, and private, dignified care has become a luxury.
Protests surge as Tunisia faces extreme heat, water and power shortages, with opposition groups criticizing President Kais Saied’s leadership. Demonstrators demand restored public services, release of detainees, and steps toward political reform amid ongoing economic strain.
Mediators, including Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, have warned that renewed Israeli strikes threaten the Gaza ceasefire process at a critical stage. Palestinian casualties have risen amid ongoing Israeli operations as international efforts push for a phased disarmament and Israeli withdrawal, with Trump’s peace framework pressing for disarmament in stages while Israel demands full Hamas disarmament before withdrawal.
Palestinian casualties mount as Israeli forces clash with militants in Jenin and Sa’ir amid a broader West Bank surge. A 14-year-old boy has been killed, and two others are wounded after Israeli gunfire following stone-throwing incidents. In Jenin, a 58-year-old man was killed during a raid described by Israeli officials as an armed confrontation.
Chief Justice John Roberts has issued a temporary order allowing construction on the White House ballroom to continue while the Supreme Court considers an emergency appeal. Lower courts had ordered a halt, finding the project requires congressional approval. The administration argues the work is vital to national security; preservationists say Trump acted without legal authority.
The Michigan Senate race between Abdul El-Sayed and Mike Rogers has seen AIPAC’s influence wane as campaigners recalibrate amid shifting support, with El-Sayed leading in the open-seat contest and both parties reassessing the lobby’s role ahead of the November vote.
Arab-led Ra’am is evaluating alliance options as its internal politics intersect with cross-communal efforts. Leaders stress a civic, rather than religious, framing while debates about joining a wider coalition persist ahead of the October 27 election.
The latest sanctions have intensified economic pressure on Tehran as a U.S.-led effort to reopen the Strait of Hormuz stalls. Tehran says it will respond with intensified measures while Washington maintains its economic campaign.
Actor Mark Ruffalo has urged lawmakers to block Paramount Skydance’s $111 billion merger with Warner Bros Discovery, linking the deal to Oracle’s ties to Israel. Paramount calls the rhetoric antisemitic tropes; George Clooney defends Ruffalo’s right to speak. Over 170 Jewish artists have signed a letter supporting Ruffalo. The merger remains under antitrust scrutiny and on hold as debate intensifies.
Uganda has approved troop deployment to the Gaza stabilization force; Burundi is eyeing participation, with talks ongoing. The push involves a planned 20,000-strong multinational operation led by the United States, while the African Union weighs its stance as contributing nations discuss numbers, funding, and guarantees for troops.
The US Treasury has announced "Operation Economic Outcast," expanding secondary sanctions and targeting Iran's digital assets, technology, gold, aviation and shipping to sever Tehran's revenue streams. Washington has designated about 60 individuals, companies and vessels worldwide; Iran says it is prepared with contingency plans and vows to pursue both defence and diplomacy.
Latin American governments are renewing ties with Israel, recognizing sovereignty over the Golan Heights, and restoring diplomatic channels after years of strain. Venezuela and Colombia are central to a broader regional realignment, with other states re-engaging in Israeli cooperation and security ties.
Several global bodies have renewed a push for legally binding limits on autonomous weapons. They warn the technology is evolving at record speed and civilians must be protected as negotiations in Geneva prepare for a November meeting on strengthening the Convention on Conventional Weapons.
Montreal's City Council has passed a watered-down motion expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people and civilian victims, while removing calls to sever ties with Israel and denounce apartheid. The amended motion backs international law and calls on federal and provincial governments to lead diplomacy, amid ongoing debates and protests.
Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sánchez has said no institution has provided "solid proof" that Morocco planned or carried out the late‑July mass crossing into Ceuta. He has defended co‑operation with Rabat, blamed traffickers and online disinformation, pledged extra funding and urged a royal visit to Ceuta as thousands remain in the enclave and protests continue.
Renowned Palestinian artist Sliman Mansour has died at the age of 79. Born in Birzeit in 1947, Mansour rose to prominence in the 1970s, creating iconic works that intertwined landscape, memory and identity with the Palestinian struggle. Tributes highlight his role in shaping modern Palestinian art and his influence beyond galleries.
The Universal Oneness Celebration at Madison Square Garden has drawn protests from groups warning the RSS, led by Mohan Bhagwat, promotes Hindu nationalism. Organisers say the event aims for unity, while critics accuse it of masking a history of minority discrimination in India. Local officials debate potential sanctions and the broader implications for diaspora politics.
The West Bank sees escalating settler violence with multiple incidents this week. Israeli forces have reinforced areas amid ongoing clashes, while Palestinian communities report property theft, displacement, and arrests. U.S. lawmakers have urged Netanyahu to curb violence and halt new settlements as international scrutiny grows.