Middle East
Bangladesh to initiate safe return of citizens from Lebanon
The government has taken an initiative to ensure the safe return of Bangladeshis in phases, who got stuck in troubled Lebanon, with the first batch's likely arrival on October 21
Israeli air strikes hit Beirut, south Lebanon
An Israeli airstrike yesterday destroyed the municipal headquarters in Nabatieh, a major town in south Lebanon, killing the mayor and at least five others as they met to coordinate aid for those suffering from war.
Strikes hits south Beirut after Israeli military evacuation order
Strikes hit south Beirut on Wednesday, an AFP journalist saw, less than an hour after the Israeli military ordered residents to leave part of the Lebanese capital
Israeli strikes across Gaza kill 50 Palestinians
Israeli military strikes killed at least 50 Palestinians across the Gaza Strip as Israeli forces tightened their squeeze around Jabalia in the north of the enclave yesterday, amid fierce battles with Hamas-led fighters.
Hezbollah fires rockets at Israeli targets
Hezbollah said it targeted an Israeli naval base yesterday, a day after a drone strike killed four soldiers in the deadliest attack on Israel since the war in Lebanon began.
Israel steps up military pressure in north Gaza
Palestinian medics said yesterday that at least 10 people were killed and 30 injured by Israeli tank shells that hit a food distribution centre in northern Gaza’s Jabalia, with casualties including women and children.
IMAGES OF LIVING THINGS in afghanistan / Taliban vow to enforce media ban
Afghanistan’s Taliban morality ministry yesterday pledged to implement a law banning news media from publishing images of all living things, with journalists told the rule will be gradually enforced.
US to send anti-missile system and troops to Israel, Pentagon says
US President Joe Biden said the move was meant "to defend Israel," which is weighing an expected retaliation against Iran after Tehran fired more than 180 missiles at Israel on Oct 1
US-led anti-IS coalition ends Iraq combat mission
The US-led coalition against the Islamic State group has finished its combat mission in Iraq and will shift to a training and advisory role, Iraq’s national security adviser said yesterday.
KSA rejects French claim of Khashoggi suspect arrest
French authorities were yesterday seeking to confirm the identity of a man arrested on suspicion of playing a key role in the 2018 murder of
Syrian port of latakia::Israel strike targets Iran weapons
An Israeli air strike hit a shipment of Iranian weapons in the Syrian port of Latakia yesterday, in the first such attack on the key facility, a war monitor said.
UAE declares 4.5-day workweek; Saturday-Sunday weekend
The United Arab Emirates said on Tuesday it would transition to a four and half-day working week starting next year, with the full weekend falling on Saturday and Sunday in a move aimed at better aligning its economy with global markets.
Indonesia volcano erupts again
Indonesia’s Mount Semeru spewed more ash yesterday, hampering the search for survivors as aerial images showed the extent of the devastation unleashed by the volcano’s deadly weekend eruption.
Palestinian killed after ramming car
Israeli soldiers shot dead a Palestinian teenager who rammed a car into a military checkpoint in the occupied West Bank yesterday, seriously injuring an Israeli guard, Israel’s defence ministry said.
Iran rejects ‘blame game’
Iran said yesterday it was ready to resume nuclear talks but based on draft proposals it submitted last week, accusing Western powers of stalling negotiations in Vienna.
Jordan jails hospital chief over Covid deaths
A Jordanian court yesterday sentenced to three years in jail the director of a state hospital over the deaths of 10 patients at the facility which treated coronavirus patients.
Israeli police kill Palestinian in Jerusalem stabbing
Israeli security forces shot dead a Palestinian in annexed east Jerusalem late on Saturday after he stabbed an Israeli civilian and tried to
France, Europeans working to open Afghan joint mission
Several European countries are working on opening up a joint diplomatic mission in Afghanistan that would enable their ambassadors to return to the country, French President Emmanuel Macron said yesterday.