Israel's stated commitment to defending the Syrian Druze is, by the admission of some of its leaders, consistent with a long-term strategic goal -- the weakening of Syria. The State of Israel feels indebted to the Druze and their exceptional commitment to the Israeli army, said Efraim Inbar, a researcher at the INSS. According to Inbar, defending the Druze is also part of the new post-Assad geopolitical landscape in which Israel is trying to protect the Druze and Kurdish minorities from the Sunn

Israel would not be involved in food distribution under a US-led plan for the Gaza Strip but would provide ecessary military security, Washington's ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, said on Friday. The Israelis are going to be involved in providing necessary military security, because it is a war zone, but they will not be involved in the distribution of the food, or even in the bringing of the food into Gaza, the US ambassador said.

Omani Foreign Minister announced a ceasefire agreement between the US and the Houthi militia, aiming to de-escalate tensions and ensure safe passage in the Red Sea. While Trump claimed Houthi capitulation, they vowed to continue attacks on Israel. Despite recent Israeli strikes on Yemen, analysts doubt air strikes alone can end the conflict, deeming a ground offensive unlikely.

Intense fighting in South Sudan has prevented desperately needed food from reaching some 60,000 malnourished children for almost a month, the United Nations said on Thursday. In a joint statement the World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nation's children's agency, UNICEF, warned that escalating fighting along the White Nile river -- a major transport route -- has meant o humanitarian supplies have reached the area in almost a month.

Following a weekend soccer match between Shabab Al Ahli and Al Wasl in Dubai, police arrested several individuals involved in post-game fights, a rare occurrence in the UAE. The clashes involved fans throwing water bottles, lighting flares, and, according to reports, throwing stones.

Senegalese lawmakers will weigh on Thursday whether to allow several former ministers to faces charges before a special court over accusations they embezzled funds meant for the country's fight against Covid. Moustapha Diop was industrial development minister while Salimata Diop was the women's affairs minister under former president Macky Sall when the fund to fight the spread of Covid-19 was established in 2020-21.

Syria's finance minister has said Qatar will help the Islamist-led government to pay public sector salaries for the coming months through a mechanism he said had been exempted from US sanctions. We thank the Qatari government for the generous grant provided to pay part of the current wages and salary bill, Finance Minister Mohammed Barnieh said in a statement carried by state news agency SANA late Wednesday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will on Wednesday meet with the leaders of Venezuela and Cuba, Moscow's traditional allies in South America, the Kremlin said Tuesday. Russian President Vladimir Putin will address the grandest ever annual Victory Day parade in Moscow on Friday, evoking the Soviet Union's defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II to rally support for his troops fighting in Ukraine.

South Africa's Democratic Alliance has launched a legal challenge against the Employment Equity Amendment Act, arguing it's unconstitutional and discriminatory. The DA contends the law, designed to boost hiring of Black people and other groups, could deter foreign investment and increase unemployment. The ANC defends the law as a necessary measure to correct structural imbalances and ensure equal opportunity.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday told his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian that Moscow wants a fair nuclear deal between the United States and Iran and was ready to help advance talks, the Kremlin said. The two countries have held three rounds since April 12, their highest-level contact since the United States withdrew from a landmark deal with Iran in 2018, during Donald Trump's first term as president.

Tim Friede, a former truck mechanic, intentionally subjected himself to numerous snakebites over two decades, aiming to develop immunity. His unusual experiment led to a breakthrough in antivenom research. Scientists discovered broadly neutralizing antibodies in Friede's blood, paving the way for a universal antivenom that could protect against various venomous snakes and save thousands of lives annually.

Concerns are rising in Taiwan regarding energy security amidst China's increasing military drills. Heavily reliant on LNG imports, Taiwan faces vulnerability to a potential marine blockade. Experts suggest energy facilities would be primary targets, crippling essential services.

China said on Tuesday it would welcome EU chiefs Antonio Costa and Ursula von der Leyen for visits as part of events marking 50 years of ties between Beijing and the bloc. Chinese President Xi Jinping also exchanged congratulatory messages with Costa and von der Leyen on Tuesday to mark 50 years of formal relations with the EU, state broadcaster CCTV said.