Foreign

Riyadh, May 14, 2025 – US President Donald Trump signed a host of economic and bilateral cooperation agreements in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday at the start of his four-day Middle East tour. The aim of his trip to the oil-rich kingdom was dealmaking, and Trump has already secured a $142 billion (€127 billion) defence agreement with the country’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. That agreement will see Washington provide Riyadh with “state-of-the-art warfighting equipment” in return for a Saudi investment of $20 billion (€17 billion) in the US’ …

Jerusalem, May 13, 2025 – The risk of famine in Gaza is increasing with the deliberate withholding of humanitarian aid, including food, in the ongoing blockade. The entire 2.1 million population of Gaza is facing prolonged food shortages, with nearly half a million people in a catastrophic situation of hunger, acute malnutrition, starvation, illness and death. This is one of the world’s worst hunger crises, unfolding in real time. The latest food security analysis was released today by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) partnership, of which WHO is a member. …

Jerusalem, May 5, 2025 – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday an expanded offensive against Palestinian militant group Hamas would be “intensive” after his security cabinet approved plans that may include seizing the Gaza Strip and controlling aid. However, an Israeli defence official said the operation would not be launched before U.S. President Donald Trump concludes his visit next week to the Middle East. The decision, after weeks of faltering efforts to agree a ceasefire with Hamas, underlines the threat that a war heaping international pressure on Israel …

Washington, May 4, 2025 – Donald Trump has proposed eliminating funding for the National Endowment for the Arts, as his administration also has taken steps to pull back grants that have already been awarded. The NEA received an appropriation of $207 million in the most recent fiscal year. Meanwhile, some arts groups have reported getting notice that grants that have already been awarded are being withdrawn. Portland Playhouse said that the NEA informed them on Friday evening that a $25,000 grant to support a production of “Joe Turner’s Come and …

Lagos, May 2, 2025 – The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in the United States (US) have requested for additional 90 days to conclude their investigations on alleged drug dealings involving President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The US District Court of Columbia had in April given the two agencies up to May 2 to submit their reports, but they are requesting for additional 90 days to submit the joint report to end on or before July 31. The court order followed a Freedom of Information (FoI) …

Moscow, April 28, 2025 – Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a three-day ceasefire in the Russian-Ukrainian war from May 8 to May 10, 2025 The period will coincide with Moscow’s World War II Victory Day commemorations, This development is also coming after the US President Donald Trump urged Putin to “stop shooting” and “sign a deal” to end the three-year conflict. While announcing the development on Monday, Kremlin said: “Based on humanitarian considerations, the Russian side is declaring a truce during the 80th anniversary of Victory Day. “Russia believes …