Muhamad Yehia ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan on Thursday denounced new U.S. sanctions on the country’s ballistic missile program as “discriminatory” that put the region’s peace and security at risk. Pakistan’s foreign ministry warned in a statement that the sanctions “have dangerous implications for strategic stability of our region and beyond.” …
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Blinken is avoiding Ukraine and the Middle East at a divided UN Security Council
Muhamad Yehia UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Secretary of State Antony Blinken kicked off likely his final trip in office to the United Nations, capping his engagements with the world body after a tumultuous four years that saw war return to Europe and multiple crises in the Middle East. With the U.N. Security Council …
Read More »The killing of a Russian general is one of several that Moscow blames on Ukraine
Muhamad Yehia Ukraine’s Security Service, or SBU, has claimed responsibility for killing Lt. General Igor Kirillov, head of the military’s nuclear, biological and chemical protection forces, in a bombing Tuesday in Moscow. Kirillov, 54, was killed alongside his assistant, Ilya Polikarpov, when a bomb planted on a scooter exploded outside an …
Read More »Germany and France launch a direct high-speed train between Berlin and Paris
Muhamad Yehia BERLIN — Germany and France on Monday launched a direct high-speed train between Berlin and Paris, a connection hailed as a symbol of a close friendship between the two countries and a sign of Europe’s potential to attract more travelers to the rails. The bullet train, however, is …
Read More »Germany warns Assad supporters involved in atrocities in Syria against trying to flee there
Muhamad Yehia BERLIN — Germany’s foreign minister is warning anyone involved in atrocities for the ousted Syrian government against seeking refuge in her country, saying they would face “the full force of the law.” Germany has been a major destination for Syrian refugees over the past decade, and several hundred thousand Syrian …
Read More »Syrian rebel force deploys to a village near Damascus to stop looters
Muhamad Yehia HUSSEINIYEH, Syria — A rebel force deployed to a village in southeastern Damascus to stop looters who swarmed a residential complex and set some apartments on fire. The raid by the rebel force comes a week after the fighters marched on the Syrian capital in their lightening offensive …
Read More »Palestinian security forces launch a rare crackdown on militants in the West Bank
Muhamad Yehia JENIN, West Bank — Palestinian security forces have launched a rare crackdown against local militant groups in the northern West Bank, sending in armored cars and engaging in fierce gunbattles that have killed at least two people in the volatile area. The raid marks an unusual step for the …
Read More »Negotiators say Israel and Hamas are inching toward a ceasefire deal. This is what it may look like
Muhamad Yehia After months of deadlock, Israel and Hamas appear to be moving closer toward a ceasefire to end their 14-month war. Top officials from the U.S., Qatar and Egypt have resumed their mediation efforts in recent weeks and reported greater willingness by the warring sides to wrap up a deal. In …
Read More »Russian presence in Syria remains. But it’s unclear for how long
Muhamad Yehia HMEIMIM, Syria (AP) — A convoy of Russian military vehicles rolled down the highway towards the Syrian city of Tartus on Monday as soldiers stood guard. Planes periodically descended and rose from Russia’s Hmeimim air base in the Syrian coastal province of Latakia while smoke rose from the base. It …
Read More »A bomb kills the head of Russia’s nuclear defense forces and his assistant in Moscow
Muhamad Yehia MOSCOW — An explosive device planted near an apartment building in Moscow killed the head of Russia’s nuclear and chemical forces early Tuesday, officials said. Russia’s Investigative Committee said the bomb, which was triggered by the device placed in a scooter, killed Lt. General Igor Kirillov and …
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