Headlines- "In line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels through Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire, on the coordinated route as already announced by Ports and Maritime Organization of the Islamic [Republic] of Iran," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a post on the X social media platform..
- The declaration of the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon was applauded by the International Rescue Committee (IRC), which described it as "a critical and long-overdue reprieve for civilians who have endured weeks of unrelenting violence."
- The ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon has been welcomed by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who expressed optimism that it will lay the groundwork for long-term stability in the Middle East.
- As part of an earlier two-week ceasefire deal between Tehran and the United States to pause the conflict in the Middle East, Iran's Foreign Ministry praised the ceasefire reached by Israel and Lebanon.
- At midnight local time on Friday, gunfire broke out in the southern suburbs of Beirut as a ceasefire with Israel came into effect.
- The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health estimates that since March 2, Israeli forces have killed at least 2,196 civilians and injured another 7,185.
- The Lebanese government urges people not return back to their homes in southern Lebanon, despite Israel and Lebanon have reached a 10-day ceasefire.
- The United States is "very close" to a deal with Iran, President Donald Trump told reporters outside the White House.
Month: December 2021
Tibetan Writer Given 10-Year Prison Term...
A Chinese court in Tibet has given a 10-year prison term to a Tibetan writer and educator known for expressing loyalty to exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, with the sentence handed down in a secret trial, RFA has learned
UN General Assembly Meets to Discuss...
During the 50th plenary meeting of the General Assembly, Anna Karin Eneström, Sweden’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, introduces a draft resolution on “Strengthening of the coordination of the United Nations’ emergency humanitarian aid”
Congolese Refugees in Uganda
Thousands of people who fled to Uganda have decided to return, despite sporadic violence in parts of eastern DR Congo. Others have chosen to stay because they are uncertain about the future.Armed groups and the Congolese armed forces clashed in early November, prompting asylum seekers to escape to Uganda
Experts: Diplomatic Boycott of Beijing Games...
Experts say that for the U.S. diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics to be effective, more countries will need to participate. But that could be challenging given some countries’ economic ties to China or recognized prowess in winter sports
Uyghur Tribunal Finds China Committed Genocide...
An independent tribunal in London said Thursday that China committed genocide against Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in its western Xinjiang region and that President Xi Jinping shared primary responsibility for the atrocities
WHO Omicron COVID-19 Strain Update
A UN health agency panel said on Thursday that early laboratory data on the efficiency of current vaccinations against the Omicron COVID-19 strain is important, but it’s still uncertain how efficient they’ll be in treating critically unwell months or longer
Hundreds of Migrants Are Still Stuck...
More than a thousand people, many of them young children, are living in a temporary refugee camp in eastern Belarus under cold conditions, in what critics call a political humanitarian disaster. Several European countries accuse Alexander Lukashenko, the disputed president, of exploiting migrants as a weapon against Poland
Tanzania Celebrates 60 Years of Independence
Tanzanians are celebrating the 60th anniversary of their independence from the United Kingdom this week, as well as a long journey toward developing their own democratic nation. Tanzania, however, has always been dominated by one party, the Party of the Revolution, despite the fact that it boasts a multiparty system
Increasing IS Attacks Putting Kurdish and...
Officials from the Kurdistan Regional Government and the Iraqi Central Government are planning a strategy to counter the Islamic State’s recent surge in attacks
Jailed Chinese Citizen Journalist, Disappeared Rights...
Jailed citizen journalist Zhang Zhan and disappeared rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng have won the Lin Zhao Freedom Award for their work promoting Chinese civil society and advancing the rule of law