As world awaits Israel’s response to Iran, can US help stave off ‘all-out war’?

The first round of indirect negotiations between Iran and the US, mediated by Oman, has concluded, with talks set to resume next week, according to the Iranian Foreign Ministry. The discussions, led by Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US special Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff, were described as constructive and based on mutual respect, focusing on Iran’s peaceful nuclear program and the lifting of unlawful sanctions. The next round of negotiations will continue under the...

On 22 October 2023, an Israeli airstrike in Deir al-Balah killed 21 family members of journalist and activist Ahmed Alnaouq, who was in London at the time. Stricken by survivor's guilt, he aims to share their story, having co-founded the We Are Not Numbers platform in 2015 to help young Palestinians express their experiences to the world. The initiative has since empowered over 1,500 writers to share their narratives, challenging stereotypes about Gaza and highlighting...

Alhurra, the US-funded Arabic-language news network with a weekly audience exceeding 30 million in 22 countries, has halted most television programming and laid off a significant portion of its staff due to a funding freeze imposed by the Trump administration and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. MBN CEO Jeffrey Gedmin attributed these cuts to "irresponsibly and unlawfully" withheld congressional appropriations, criticizing Kari Lake, the Trump-appointed head of the US Agency for Global Media, for...

SummarySyrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa attended the 4th Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey, meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Indonesian leader Prabowo Subianto to discuss Syria's future. Sharaa, who led Hayʼat Tahrir al-Sham and is viewed as an independent leader, aims to unify Syria despite concerns about his past ties to extremism. His outreach includes high-level talks with various leaders, including those from Azerbaijan and Qatar, highlighting Syria's efforts to forge new connections and...

The Sudanese army reported a sharp increase in the death toll from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) attack on the Zamzam refugee camp in El Fasher, Darfur, rising to 74 from 25 the previous day. The RSF's assault, now in its second day, involved two attacks on the camp; the first was repelled by the army, but the second resulted in the destruction of homes and civilian casualties. Continued fighting and attacks have been confirmed...

An Israeli air strike has severely damaged the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza City, destroying its intensive care and surgery departments, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Witnesses reported flames and smoke from the hospital, with patients seen fleeing as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed the facility housed a Hamas command center, though no casualties were reported. The attack has prompted condemnation from the Hamas government, highlighting the hospital's critical role as the last...