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People wait outside the border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt in Rafah in November 2023. Photo: dpa
Israel-Gaza war

Israel to empty Gaza of Palestinians with ‘more out than in’ policy: sources

As the Rafah crossing reopens next week, sources say Israel aims for a net outflow of Palestinians by blocking returns, raising fears of forced exile.

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Middle East

US ‘armada’ heading towards Iran as tensions remain high

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Israel-Gaza war

Israeli forces kill Palestinian children, journalists in Gaza despite ceasefire

Iran

Iran says 3,117 died in protests in first official toll. Activists fear it’s much higher

Activists report toll is at least 4,902, with many more feared dead in the demonstrations that began December 28.

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A woman with a mock-up of a gunshot bullet wound on her forehead participates in a rally in Rome on January 13 in support of nationwide protests in Iran. Photo: Reuters
A woman with a mock-up of a gunshot bullet wound on her forehead participates in a rally in Rome on January 13 in support of nationwide protests in Iran. Photo: Reuters
Israel-Gaza war

3-month-old dies of cold in Gaza tent as Trump talks peace at Davos

While Trump pitches his new Board of Peace in Davos, a 3-month-old becomes the 9th child to die of hypothermia in a Gaza tent this winter.

Middle East

Syria gives Kurds 4 days to accept integration as US signals end of support

The government announced a new truce after seizing swathes of territory from the Syrian Democratic Forces.

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Israel-Gaza war

Israel’s demolition of UN compound in East Jerusalem raises legal concerns

Israel banned UNRWA in October 2024 over alleged Hamas ties. The agency says demolition of sites that stored Gaza aid violates international law.

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Heavy machinery operates as Israeli forces dismantle UNRWA headquarters in East Jerusalem on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters
Heavy machinery operates as Israeli forces dismantle UNRWA headquarters in East Jerusalem on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters
Syria

Syrian deal unravels as sides clash and Isis prisoners escape

Integration agreement with the SDF falters amid reports that hundreds of militants fled prison as government forces moved in.

Donald Trump

Allies tepid on joining Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ as countries study invites

Some leaders sign on to the Trump-chaired body, but initial reaction from two key allies, France and Canada, was lukewarm.

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Israel-Gaza war

Putin invited to Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ on Gaza conflict: Kremlin

Moscow is seeking clarity on the offer as Putin navigates strained Israel ties and ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.

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US President Donald Trump (right) greets Russian President Vladimir Putin at a military base in Alaska in August 2025. Photo: Getty Images via AFP
Iran

Hackers target Iran state TV with exiled prince’s message to forces

In clips, Reza Pahlavi urges security forces to ‘join the people’ in the nationwide demonstrations.

People hold up US flags and portraits of Reza Pahlavi in front of the US consulate in Frankfurt, Germany on Friday. Photo: AFP
People hold up US flags and portraits of Reza Pahlavi in front of the US consulate in Frankfurt, Germany on Friday. Photo: AFP
Middle East

Yemen’s leaders meet in Saudi Arabia after defeat of UAE-backed group

Saudi Arabia accused the UAE of smuggling an opposing leader to Abu Dhabi through Somalia, after the Saudi-backed government charged him with treason.

Iran

Iran warns against any US strike as judiciary hints at unrest-linked executions

Iranian official signals ‘war against God’ charges as rights group reports more than 24,000 arrests in crackdown.

Middle East

Syrian government forces take Al-Omar oilfield as Kurds withdraw

Al-Omar was home to the largest US base in Syria. It had been controlled by Kurdish-led forces since 2017 after Islamic State group was pushed out.

People destroy a statue representing the PKK and Kurdish service against the Islamic State group, in Raqa after its capture by the Syrian army, on Sunday. Photo: dpa
Middle East

US strike in Syria kills leader tied to Isis ambush that left 3 Americans dead

Bilal Hasan al-Jasim was allegedly ‘directly connected’ to the incident, which has sparked a series of retaliatory attacks by US forces.

In this US Army photo taken from an undisclosed location in December shows an AH-64 Apache attack helicopter as it prepares to support Operation Hawkeye Strike. Photo: US Air Force via AFP
In this US Army photo taken from an undisclosed location in December shows an AH-64 Apache attack helicopter as it prepares to support Operation Hawkeye Strike. Photo: US Air Force via AFP
Israel-Gaza war

Israel objects to composition of Trump-led Gaza ‘board of peace’

PM Netanyahu says the unveiling of the board was not coordinated with Israel and contradicted his government’s policy.

Iran

Iran’s leader says ‘thousands’ killed in protests, Trump a ‘criminal’

The comments by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei are the first admission by Tehran on the death toll from the unrest.

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Israel-Gaza war

Trump names Blair, Rubio to Gaza ‘board of peace’

Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, envoy Steve Witkoff and World Bank President Ajay Banga will also be on the panel chaired by the US leader.

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Former British prime minister Tony Blair speaks at the International Bali Airshow in Indonesia in September 2024. Photo: Reuters
Former British prime minister Tony Blair speaks at the International Bali Airshow in Indonesia in September 2024. Photo: Reuters
Natural disasters

Over 100 dead in torrential rains and floods across southern Africa

Thousands have been forced to evacuate in Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe, with helicopters plucking people to safety.

Donald Trump

Trump thanks Iran for ‘cancelling’ hanging of hundreds of political prisoners

The president has suggested for days that the US might strike Iran if its government triggered mass killings in its crackdown on protesters.

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Middle East

Iran cleric demands death for protesters, threatens Trump amid unrest

Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami urged the execution of detained protesters, a step the Trump administration warned could spark military action.

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Iranian senior cleric Ahmad Khatami delivers his sermon during Friday prayer in Tehran in January 2018. Photo: AP
Russia

Putin offers to mediate Iran-Israel tensions after Trump threat

The Russian leader spoke with Israel’s Netanyahu and Iran’s Pezeshkian on Friday, offering Moscow’s help to de-escalate tensions, the Kremlin said.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech during a ceremony at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow on Thursday. Photo: AFP
Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech during a ceremony at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow on Thursday. Photo: AFP
Pakistan

Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia plan defence deal to counter chaos in Middle East

Iran’s neighbours are worried that the US’ increasingly erratic behaviour may pose a risk to regional power balance and trade, analysts say.

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Iran

Exiled crown prince’s plan for Iran seen as mostly aimed at Trump

Experts say Reza Pahlavi’s aspirations for a post-theocratic Iran are to win White House backing.

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Iran

US says Iran halted 800 protester executions after Trump warnings

White House cites direct pressure for the stay of executions, as Gulf allies scramble to de-escalate threats of a US military strike on Iran.

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The wreckage of a burnt-out public bus in Tehran. Iran remains under a near-total nationwide internet blackout amid anti-government protests. Photo: EPA
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