Archives for November, 2023

A man snaps a picture of a red rose raised by a protestor, during a demonstration in Syria's rebel-held northwestern city of Idlib on Aug. 25, 2023.

Anti-Assad protests in Syria’s Suwayda persist, fueled by economic turmoil

The protests in southern Syria, historically a government stronghold, persist amid widespread economic strife in the war-torn country.

CIA Director William Burns arrives for a briefing on Ukraine at the US Capitol,Washington, Sept. 20, 2023.

CIA chief Bill Burns returns to Qatar as Israel-Hamas truce holds

The heads of the CIA and Israel's Mossad met Qatar's prime minister in Doha to discuss a possible extension of a truce between Hamas and Israel.

The Japanese city of Osaka is hosting the next Expo in 2025

Busan, Riyadh or Rome? 2030 World Expo host to be revealed

Agence France-Presse

People pass a pro-Palestinian mural on the Republican Falls Road in Belfast on October 23, 2023. Northern Ireland may be thousands of miles from the Middle East but signs of the current heightened conflict can be seen on the streets of the British province. Palestinian and Israeli flags flutter in pro-Irish and pro-UK neighbourhoods in Northern Ireland, tapping into its own history of conflict and division that still affects everyday life despite a 1998 peace deal that largely ended violence. (Photo by Paul

Analysis

Israel-Ireland relations take another dive over Gaza war, PM statements

Israel's Foreign Ministry has summoned Ireland's ambassador over Prime Minister Leo Varadkar saying that nine-year-old hostage Emily Hand was "lost and found" when she was freed from Hamas captivity.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

MAHMUD HAMS/AFP via Getty Images

Day 53 of Hamas-Israel war blog: Tuesday, Nov. 28

Tear gas canisters are fired among journalists and demonstrators during a protest demanding better pay and living conditions. Beirut, Lebanon, April 18, 2023.

Can Lebanon's parliament further restrict press freedom in new law?

The media landscape in Lebanon has witnessed more attacks against journalists in recent years.

COP28

Interview

IEA calls COP28 'big opportunity' to slash methane emissions

In an interview with Al-Monitor, the International Energy Agency's chief energy economist, Tim Gould, said the climate summit should focus on methane as well as climate finance for the developing world.

Tim Gould

Tim Gould

Chief Energy Economist of the International Energy Agency

Yahia al-Sinwar (C), the Gaza Strip chief of the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement, addresses supporters during a rally marking Al-Quds (Jerusalem) Day, a commemoration in support of the Palestinian people celebrated annually on the last Friday of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, in Gaza City, on April 14, 2023. (Photo by Mohammed ABED / AFP) (Photo by MOHAMMED ABED/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Israel-Hamas truce extension buys Netanyahu and Sinwar time

The Israeli government has pledged to resume fighting once Hamas stops liberating hostages, but the battle against the group could employ other war methods.

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi are both close to Hamas

Iran's Raisi a no-show at summit announced by Erdogan

Agence France-Presse

Amaney Jamal said that Hamas was seen as "corrupt" and "authoritarian" by many Palestinian survey respondents

Rare survey details how Gazans wary of Hamas before Israel attack

Agence France-Presse

A woman sits with her German shepherd at the Barking Lot cafe in Saudi Arabia.

In cultural shift, Saudi Arabia allows pets on public transportation

Pet owners can now bring their pets onto buses, boats and trains in the kingdom, but only under certain conditions.

Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani (C) and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) in Doha - Jacquelyn Martin/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Gulf Briefing: COP28 needs to 'deliver results'

This week we have the UAE preparing for the COP28 climate summit, updates on the Qatari-mediated Gaza Strip hostage deal, Houthi threats in the Red Sea and more.

Elon Musk, the world's richest person, said in video remaks that Hamas militants 'have been fed propaganda'

Israeli president tells Musk he has 'huge role' in anti-Semitism fight

Agence France-Presse

This picture taken on July 8, 2021, shows a view of the Ain al-Assad air base hosting US forces in Iraq.

Gaza truce brings halt in Iran-linked attacks on US troops in Iraq, Syria

Pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas coincides with tentative reprieve for US troops hunting down the remnants of the Islamic State group as Iran-backed militias hold their fire.

In this handout image provided by the GPO, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C) takes Elon Musk (L) on a tour of Kibbutz Kfar Aza after the Oct. 7 massacre took place there, on Nov. 27, 2023 in Kfar Aza, Israel.

What's behind Elon Musk's visit to Israel, meeting with Netanyahu?

On a visit to Israel, American billionaire Elon Musk called for a halt to the hate propaganda that he said enabled the Oct. 7 attack and also expressed willingness to help reconstruct Gaza.

Former Franco-Israeli hostage Mia Shem greets her mother and brother following her release by Hamas

Hamas open to truce extension as US urges Gaza 'safe' zones

Agence France-Presse