Lebanon faces pressure to extradite former Syrian regime officials after arrest of ex-general
Lebanon is facing renewed pressure over the fate of former Syrian regime figures who fled across the border after Bashar al-Assad's government collapsed in December 2024. The issue has sharpened after the arrest in Lebanon of Adel Issa, a former major general in the Syrian Army, and a Lebanese prosecutor's statement that he will be extradited to Syria. The case has drawn attention to other former officials still believed to be in Lebanon and wanted by Damascus.According to the information provided, Syrian authorities are seeking to use judicial cooperation to pursue former regime members for war crimes linked to the... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 19 Aug 2026 07:00 LONDON
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South Korea says US-led drills will end six days early after Trump push for Kim talks
South Korea and the United States have shortened their annual Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercises, with the drills now due to end on 21 August rather than 27 August. The change follows a request from US President Donald Trump to scale back what he called "inappropriate and hostile" exercises, according to the supporting report. Seoul said the revised schedule would run from 17 August to 21 August, and that the second phase of the exercise was understood to have been scrapped.South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the adjustment was made at the suggestion of the US side. The Pentagon... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 19 Aug 2026 05:05 LONDON
UAE imposes indefinite trade embargo on Iran after alleged missile attack
The United Arab Emirates has imposed an indefinite trade embargo on Iran after accusing Iranian forces of firing two ballistic missiles at the country. The move marks a sharp escalation in already strained relations between the two states and comes amid wider regional tensions. Iran has denied the allegation and suggested the incident may have been a false flag operation.In a statement early on Wednesday, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the decision was taken in light of escalations that undermine peace and security in the region. It said all trade, commercial exchanges and financial transactions with Iran had... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 19 Aug 2026 05:00 LONDON
Turkey rejects Israeli claims after strike on Syria air base
Turkey has rejected Israeli allegations that it was preparing to send troops to a military base in Syria after the site was hit in a strike blamed by the United States on Israel. The exchange has sharpened tensions between Ankara and Jerusalem at a time when Syria's new government is trying to consolidate control after years of conflict. The incident is centred on an air base near Aleppo, in northern Syria, according to the supplied report.The strike was described as an extraordinary defiance by Israel of the United States, which has been seeking to support Syria's new government. That government... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 19 Aug 2026 04:30 LONDON
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US rebukes Israeli airstrikes on Syrian Abu Duhur airbase amid regional tensions
The United States has issued a rare rebuke of Israel after reports that eight airstrikes hit the Abu Duhur airbase in north-west Syria, near the Turkish border. The strikes reportedly damaged the runway and a storage facility at the site, which lies about 70 kilometres from the border. No injuries were reported in the immediate aftermath.Tom Barrack, the US ambassador to Turkey and Washington's special envoy for Syria and Iraq, said the confirmed strikes were an unnecessary escalation that did not advance regional stability. Israel did not directly confirm the operation, but the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 19 Aug 2026 02:29 LONDON
US lawmakers seek probe into USS Abraham Lincoln conditions amid extended deployment
US lawmakers are pressing the Pentagon and the Navy for answers over reported conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, after the aircraft carrier spent more than 260 days at sea without a port call. The new push comes as Democrats in Congress say the vessel's record-long deployment points to wider concerns about military readiness and planning. The ship departed from San Diego in November and has since been involved in operations tied to the war with Iran.On Tuesday, Representative Pat Ryan published a letter signed by 22 members of Congress and addressed to acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao. In the... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 19 Aug 2026 01:29 LONDON
Dismissed Ukrainian defence minister calls for wartime presidential election
Ukraine's recently dismissed former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov has called for a wartime presidential election, making the most direct political challenge to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. In a nine-minute video address released online late on Tuesday, Fedorov said Ukraine should "restore a full democratic process even amid a prolonged war". He argued that the country could continue fighting while also holding a national vote.Fedorov did not name Zelenskyy directly, but his remarks were widely framed as a criticism of the current wartime political order. He said democracy could not be "held hostage by Russia" and... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 18 Aug 2026 23:59 LONDON
Pentagon orders major increase in Tomahawk missile production
The Pentagon has contracted Raytheon to significantly increase production of Tomahawk cruise missiles in a move described as a multibillion-dollar deal. The order is aimed at raising output at an unprecedented scale and speed, according to the supplied material. The development comes as analysts warn that the United States may be running short of critical munitions.The contract was announced on 18 August 2026 and centres on Tomahawk missiles, a long-range weapon that has been part of US defence planning for decades. Raytheon has supplied weapons to the United States for many years, but the latest arrangement is presented as different... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 18 Aug 2026 23:04 LONDON
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DR Congo Ebola outbreak declared a global emergency as cases pass 5,000
The World Health Organization has warned that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo remains a global health emergency, as confirmed cases in the country passed 5,000 and deaths climbed above 2,320. The warning followed an emergency meeting on Tuesday, after officials said the epidemic was still far from under control. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the international community should help contain the outbreak, describing the response as still playing catch-up.Tedros said the outbreak was spreading at unprecedented speed and that the locations of many deaths suggested chains of transmission that have not yet been identified.... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 18 Aug 2026 22:59 LONDON
Drone strike near Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant kills one and wounds 17
A drone strike near the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in southeastern Ukraine has killed one nuclear specialist and wounded 17 people, according to Russian reports. The incident took place close to Europe's largest nuclear facility, which has been under Russian control since the early months of the war. The International Atomic Energy Agency said staff members were hit at a bus stop, while Russian management described the attack as one of the most serious incidents in the plant's history.Russian authorities said on Tuesday that Ukraine launched the drone, although that claim has not been independently verified in the supplied... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 18 Aug 2026 22:29 LONDON
Israeli strike on Gaza port cafe kills at least six
An Israeli airstrike has hit a cafe inside Gaza City's fishing harbour, killing at least six Palestinians and wounding 14, according to Gaza medics. The strike took place in western Gaza City, in an area that has become a displacement site during the war. Witnesses and local officials said the attack struck the "Sweet and Bitter" cafe in the port area.Israel's military said it carried out a precise aerial strike against Hamas commanders and other militants. It said one of those targeted had taken part in the Hamas-led 7 October 2023 attack on Israel, which triggered the war. Gaza's civil... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 18 Aug 2026 21:30 LONDON
Arrest warrants issued for six current and former MPD members in overtime fraud case
A judge of the Superior Court for the District of Columbia signed arrest warrants on August 18, 2026, for six current and former Metropolitan Police Department members of the Fifth District. The warrants name Peter Sheldon, Frantz Fulcher, Thomas Krmenec, Bernadette Richardson, Dorrie Smith Cleere, and Johnnie Dyer. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro said the warrants will lead to arrests on charges tied to overtime fraud. The case centers on allegations that the six fraudulently claimed overtime for hours not worked during calendar year 2024. The source identifies the defendants only as current and former MPD members and does not provide... [Continue Reading]
Breaking-360LiveNews | 18 Aug 2026 20:32 LONDON
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Day News Recap: Iran escalates as Ukraine, Gaza and regional tensions deepen across multiple fronts
Iran said it would move to a fully offensive military posture as efforts to secure a permanent ceasefire with the United States stalled, while Tehran also declared the 60 day negotiation deadline under a June memorandum void and warned that passage through the Strait of Hormuz would remain shut. A ship was hit in the waterway, adding to the pressure around one of the world’s most sensitive shipping lanes. 🔗 🔗 🔗In the wider Middle East, the United States condemned an Israeli strike on the Abu al Duhur air base in north west Syria as an unnecessary escalation, and UN... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews Recap | 18 Aug 2026 18:21 LONDON
Lebanon, Italy and France discuss future of UNIFIL in Rome as mandate nears expiry
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is due to travel to Rome this week for talks on the future of the United Nations peacekeeping force in south Lebanon, as its mandate ends later this year. The visit, scheduled for Thursday, comes amid efforts by Italy and France to shape a multinational successor arrangement for UNIFIL. The discussions are expected to focus on how international forces could remain in the south if the current mission is not extended.A Lebanese official said Mr Aoun will meet Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to discuss "the future of the international forces, particularly... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 18 Aug 2026 18:06 LONDON
US threatens new sanctions and economic pressure on Iran as tensions rise
Iranian authorities say they could shift to offensive operations as Washington considers a new wave of sanctions and wider economic pressure. The latest warnings centre on measures aimed at Iran's economy, with trade embargoes, asset freezes and attacks on ships described as part of a naval blockade context. The developments come as talks have stalled and both sides signal they are preparing for further escalation.US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said last Thursday that the United States was planning to inflict more economic damage on Tehran as early as this week. He said the measures would be unlike anything seen in... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 18 Aug 2026 18:03 LONDON
Controlled explosion after unattended car outside King's Cross St Pancras disrupts rail services
Police carried out a controlled explosion on an unattended car outside King's Cross St Pancras station in central London on Tuesday afternoon. The station was evacuated as emergency services cordoned off the surrounding road, and the blast was heard by people nearby. Officers later said the vehicle had been declared non-suspicious, and passengers were told it was safe to re-enter the transport hub.The Metropolitan Police said the response followed concerns about the vehicle left outside one of London's busiest rail stations. The incident led to immediate disruption around the station and on Pancras Road, where traffic was partially blocked in... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 18 Aug 2026 16:32 LONDON
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US and Israel form Gaza working groups as reconstruction is tied to disarmament
Two joint working groups have been formed by Washington and Israel after talks involving US envoy Jared Kushner, officials from the Board of Peace and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. One group will focus on disarmament and demilitarisation in Gaza, while the other will deal with humanitarian issues such as sanitation, clean water and health. The move is part of an effort to advance the next phase of Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan.Kushner said reconstruction in Gaza will not be allowed until demilitarisation is complete, according to the supplied material. The talks also involved Board of Peace head Nickolay Mladenov,... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 18 Aug 2026 15:32 LONDON
Yemen government says it launched more than 130 operations against Houthis as fighting spreads
The internationally recognised government in Yemen says its forces carried out at least 133 military operations against Houthi positions in the past 24 hours, as fighting spread across several provinces. The latest claims point to a sharp escalation in a conflict that had been relatively contained since a temporary United Nations-brokered truce in 2022. The government said the operations targeted Houthi capabilities and personnel along front-line positions.Yemen army spokesperson Colonel Majed al-Nuzaili said the operations involved army units stationed on the front lines, according to a post on social media. The government-backed offensive came after Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 18 Aug 2026 15:30 LONDON
Russian missiles kill 10 in Pechenihy as civilian toll rises in Kharkiv region
A Russian missile strike killed 10 people and injured at least 18 in the village of Pechenihy in Ukraine's Kharkiv region, according to Ukrainian officials. Two missiles hit the centre of the village on Tuesday morning, striking a busy intersection near a post office and shops. Local authorities said a post office, a cafe and five other stores were destroyed in the attack.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the strike hit a location surrounded by residential buildings and vowed that Kyiv would respond. The regional governor said at least 18 people were injured, while video from the scene showed burnt-out cars,... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 18 Aug 2026 15:00 LONDON
Qatar repatriates Iranian pilot's remains amid dispute over missing aircrew
Qatar said an Iranian delegation travelled to Doha and collected the remains of one of the pilots linked to the March shootdown, while continuing to reject Tehran's claim that three others are being held in the country. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari said the body was repatriated and that a funeral had taken place. He also said Qatar had invited Iran to send a technical team to review the search-and-rescue operation, but that Tehran had not responded.Al Ansari described Iran's allegations as false and illogical, and said Qatar remained open to a technical review. He said there was no... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 18 Aug 2026 14:34 LONDON
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Damascus court sentences Wassim al-Assad to death as transitional justice cases widen
A court in Damascus has sentenced Wassim al-Assad to death for crimes including premeditated murder and torture, in a ruling announced on Tuesday. The case concerns a former figure from the Assad family circle and adds another major judgment to Syria's post-regime legal process. It comes as the country's transitional authorities continue to pursue accountability for abuses linked to the 14-year war.According to the supplied material, the court also linked the case to militia crimes and Captagon trafficking. Judge Fakhr al-Din al-Aryan said the conviction covered crimes against humanity and war crimes, placing the ruling among the most serious categories... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 18 Aug 2026 14:31 LONDON
Myanmar's Rohingya and the Architecture of Statelessness at the ICJ
Myanmar's treatment of the Rohingya is the focus of a new documentary-style account that traces how the community was stripped of citizenship and pushed into mass displacement. The film examines the legal and administrative steps that excluded Rohingya people from state registers and restricted their movement through identity documents, checkpoints and travel permits. It also places those measures alongside years of discrimination, segregation and violence that, according to the account, helped normalise their exclusion from public life.The material centres on the 2016-2017 "clearance operations", which it says were followed by village burnings, mass killings and the flight of hundreds of... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 18 Aug 2026 14:00 LONDON
New tremors hit Granada after earlier quake, injuring three and restricting Alhambra access
Three more earthquakes have shaken Spain's southern Granada province, prompting restrictions at the Alhambra complex and precautionary closures across the area. The tremors caused damage to buildings and led to at least three light injuries, according to regional officials. One of those injured was a child who was taken to hospital.The country's National Geographic Institute said the quakes each measured above magnitude 4. The strongest, a magnitude 4.7 tremor, struck at 10.37am local time with a surface-level epicentre in Gojar, about 10km south of Granada city. Officials said the shallow depth made the quake more strongly felt and more likely... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 18 Aug 2026 13:34 LONDON
Russia and Japan trade protests over Kuril Islands remarks
Russia has summoned Japan's ambassador to Moscow over comments by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi that Moscow described as "anti-Russian" after President Vladimir Putin visited one of the disputed Kuril Islands. The move came after Japan had already summoned Russia's ambassador in protest at the visit, which Tokyo said was "grave" and "absolutely unacceptable". The exchange has renewed attention on a territorial dispute that has shaped relations between the two countries for decades.Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Takaichi's remarks had "crossed the line of decency" and criticised what he called Tokyo's "militaristic line". Japan's ambassador left a meeting at Russia's... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 18 Aug 2026 13:31 LONDON
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Russia and North Korea say they are working toward a 'new and just' world order
Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has said Moscow and Pyongyang are working toward a "new and just" world order, in a message to North Korea's foreign minister Choe Son Hui. The statement, reported by North Korean state media, also said Russia would intensify cooperation with North Korea in all areas. It comes as the two countries deepen a partnership that has drawn close attention from Western governments and regional security officials.According to the report, Lavrov linked the message to North Korea's military support for Russia in Kursk, where Pyongyang helped Moscow push back Ukrainian forces last year. He said the... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 18 Aug 2026 12:30 LONDON
Noontime News Recap: Congo Ebola toll climbs as Hormuz hit and tariff tensions deepen
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has worsened sharply, with confirmed cases rising to 4,945 and deaths reaching 2,325 as health authorities struggle to contain the spread. 🔗In the Middle East, a ship was hit in the Strait of Hormuz as Iran's top negotiator said the waterway would remain shut, raising fresh concern over one of the world's most sensitive shipping routes. 🔗Also in the region, eight air strikes hit the runway at Abu al Duhur military base in Syria's Idlib province, damaging the airfield but causing no reported casualties. In Damascus, a court sentenced Wassim al... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews Recap | 18 Aug 2026 12:20 LONDON
Ship hit in the Strait of Hormuz as Iran's top negotiator says passage will remain shut
A ship has been hit in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the supplied report, in an incident that comes as Iran's top negotiator said the waterway would remain shut. The event took place in one of the world's most sensitive maritime chokepoints, where traffic is closely watched because of its importance to global energy flows. The report does not provide further details on the vessel, the extent of damage, or whether anyone was hurt.The available material confirms only that the ship was struck and that the statement on the strait's status was made by Iran's top negotiator. No timing... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 18 Aug 2026 11:36 LONDON
Trump scales back US drills with South Korea as allied ministers meet in Canberra
Australia and Japan's defence ministers have discussed regional security concerns in Canberra as US President Donald Trump's decision to scale back planned joint military exercises with South Korea continues to reverberate among allies. Shinjiro Koizumi and Richard Marles met in the Australian capital on Tuesday, where they stressed the growing importance of cooperation between Australia, Japan and the United States. The talks came as questions mounted over the implications of Trump's move for deterrence on the Korean Peninsula and wider Indo-Pacific security.Trump said on Monday that he would reduce US participation in the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises, linking the decision... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 18 Aug 2026 11:00 LONDON
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Russian state banker removed after warning war costs are rising
Andrey Klepach has been removed as chief economist at Russia's state development bank VEB after remarks in which he warned that the war in Ukraine was damaging the Russian economy. Russian media reported the dismissal, and the bank later said a successor would soon be appointed. Klepach also confirmed to Reuters that he had been dismissed.According to the supplied report, Klepach made the comments at a financial forum in May, but they were only reported publicly last week. In the speech, later published on the website of the Nikitsky Club, he said Russia was falling behind rivals and losing technological... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 18 Aug 2026 09:59 LONDON
Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan sign Mecca defence pact as text remains unpublished
Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have signed the Mecca Pact, a defence agreement that says an attack on one signatory would be treated as an attack on all. The deal was signed in Mecca, but the full text has not been published, leaving its exact scope and obligations unclear. The announcement has prompted immediate scrutiny because it brings together three countries with different regional priorities but overlapping security concerns.According to the supplied material, specialists are treating the pact as a declaration of intent rather than a fully tested military commitment. Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan described the arrangement as technically... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 18 Aug 2026 09:36 LONDON
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Qusra siege enters second week as families remain trapped in West Bank homes
For more than a week, three Palestinian families in Qusra, south of Nablus in the occupied West Bank, have remained besieged in their homes by Israeli settlers. The families have been cut off from basic supplies and emergency services, according to the supplied report. The incident has drawn international condemnation and has become a focal point in the wider debate over settler violence in the territory.The report says 15 Palestinians, including two children, are still trapped in their homes in the Ras al-Ain area of Qusra. It adds that on 13 August Israeli forces ordered the families to evacuate, saying... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 18 Aug 2026 09:33 LONDON
Russia warns UK over reports of British-made drones used in strikes on mainland Russia
Russia's embassy in London has warned the United Kingdom it will face "consequences" after reports that British-made drones were used in strikes on targets inside mainland Russia. The warning followed reporting that Ukraine used drones made by two UK companies as part of a so-called deep-strike campaign. The UK Ministry of Defence rejected the threat and said Britain remains committed to helping Ukraine defend itself against Russia's full-scale invasion.In a statement, the embassy said the reports confirmed that London was deliberately choosing escalation and accused Britain of seeking to inflict damage on Russia by proxy. It said the deeper the... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 18 Aug 2026 08:59 LONDON
Breakfast News Recap: Middle East tensions flare as Gaza talks stall and markets turn defensive
Iran has warned it will move to a fully offensive military posture as efforts to secure a permanent end to the war with the United States stall, while a separate report said a vessel was hit by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, with one crew member reported dead or injured. 🔗 🔗In Gaza, talks linked to Jared Kushner’s peace plan ended without a breakthrough, even as Israel and the United States agreed that an American general would verify Hamas disarmament before any Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. 🔗 🔗Across the wider region, UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon said... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews Recap | 18 Aug 2026 08:41 LONDON
China's Sea Legend announces Arctic shipping route to Europe amid Red Sea disruption
China has announced a new Arctic shipping route linking Ningbo on its east coast with Felixstowe in eastern England, via Russia's Northern Sea Route. The service has been presented as an alternative trade corridor at a time when shipping through the Middle East has been disrupted. The route is being marketed under the name "Ice Silk Road," a reference to China's historic overland trade links with Europe.The announcement was made by the container shipping company Sea Legend, which said it formally launched the route last week. According to the supporting material, the company had already carried out a test voyage... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 18 Aug 2026 08:03 LONDON
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Moscow region hit by large drone attack with injuries and building damage
Russian officials said the Moscow region came under a large overnight drone attack, with air defences intercepting many of the aircraft but several people still wounded and buildings damaged. The incident was reported on 18 August and affected areas around the capital, including the Pavlovsky Posad district. Officials said the attack also caused a fire at a house and minor damage to a warehouse east of Moscow.Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said more than 180 drones were destroyed over the capital region, while regional governor Andrey Vorobyov said 620 drones flew towards the Moscow region overnight. Vorobyov said three people were... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 18 Aug 2026 06:00 LONDON
Large fire at fuel depot near Sulaimaniyah injures about 20 and destroys dozens of tankers
A large fire has torn through a fuel storage depot near the city of Sulaimaniyah in northern Iraq, injuring about 20 people and destroying dozens of fuel tankers. The blaze broke out in the Tanjaro area, which is described as one of the province's main fuel supply sites. Emergency crews and security forces were sent to the scene as the fire spread through the facility.Local officials said no one was killed in the incident and that the injuries were minor. The deputy director general of Sulaimaniyah said the people hurt were treated for non-fatal injuries, while another local outlet reported... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 18 Aug 2026 03:30 LONDON
Heavy rains in South Korea trigger Geoje landslide, killing one
Torrential rain in southern South Korea has triggered a landslide in the city of Geoje, killing one person and injuring four others. Officials said the heavy downpours have affected South Gyeongsang province since Saturday, with Geoje among the worst-hit areas. The incident has also led to evacuations, power cuts and flooding in schools and kindergartens.The interior and safety ministry said more than 800 mm of rain fell in Geoje, where the landslide struck an apartment building. Police and firefighters rescued three residents from the building, but one of them was found in cardiac arrest and later pronounced dead at hospital,... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 18 Aug 2026 02:00 LONDON
Iran threatens fresh offensive as US ceasefire talks stall
A senior Iranian official has said Tehran will shift to a fully offensive military posture as efforts to secure a permanent end to the war with the United States stall. The warning comes amid renewed tension over the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway that remains central to the wider dispute. Washington has ruled out extending a temporary ceasefire agreement, leaving the diplomatic track under fresh strain.The official said Iranian entities should be prepared to escalate tensions in the strait and the wider region, and added that Tehran would carry out a timely and precise military attack if diplomacy failed.... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 18 Aug 2026 01:00 LONDON
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UNIFIL reports sharp rise in Israeli military activity in southern Lebanon as civilians displaced
United Nations peacekeepers in southern Lebanon say Israeli military activity has risen sharply over the past two weeks, with civilians bearing the immediate impact of the escalation. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon said it recorded an average of 137 projectiles fired per day between August 5 and August 16. It also said there were 208 projectiles on Saturday and 185 on Sunday.UNIFIL said the increase is taking place despite the renewal of the June 26 ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel. That deal, brokered by the United States, is linked to the disarmament of Hezbollah, but it did... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 17 Aug 2026 22:29 LONDON
Russia upholds Yabloko election ban as deputy leader gets 11-year sentence
Russia's Supreme Court has upheld the exclusion of Yabloko from September's parliamentary elections, keeping the country's only registered anti-war party off the ballot. The ruling was delivered in Moscow on Monday and followed an earlier decision that had already barred the party from taking part. On the same day, another court sentenced Yabloko deputy leader Lev Shlosberg to 11 years and one month in a penal colony.Yabloko said the Supreme Court's Appeals Chamber rejected its challenge to the revocation of its federal list of candidates for the State Duma elections. The party said it would seek supervisory review of the... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 17 Aug 2026 21:59 LONDON
Wall Street closes mixed as AI chips surge, megacap tech slumps and energy leads the tape
Executive summary: Wall Street finished mixed, with the S&P 500 down slightly, the Dow lower and the Nasdaq barely higher. The session was defined by a sharp rotation inside technology, where AI and chip stocks rallied strongly even as Amazon, Microsoft and Meta sold off hard. Energy, small caps and several commodity-linked assets also firmed, while natural gas, palladium and some financials weakened. The split tape suggests investors are still rewarding select AI exposure, but are also rotating away from parts of the megacap complex and into cyclical and resource-linked names. [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews Markets Intelligence | 17 Aug 2026 21:15 LONDON
Kushner's Gaza peace plan talks end without breakthrough
Talks linked to Jared Kushner's Gaza peace plan have ended without a breakthrough, according to the supplied report. The discussions were focused on efforts to advance a peace framework for Gaza, but no agreement was reached. The outcome leaves the process unresolved at a time when diplomatic efforts around the territory remain closely watched.The report gives no detailed account of the participants, venue, or the specific points of disagreement. It does, however, confirm that the talks concluded on 17 August 2026 and that they did not produce a deal. That makes the meeting part of an ongoing diplomatic track rather... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 17 Aug 2026 20:02 LONDON
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Syria probes death of former White Helmets rescuer in police custody
Syria has opened an investigation after Mohammed Gamira, a former White Helmets rescuer, died following detention at a police station in Latakia province. Family members and local reports say he was held over a financial dispute and later died in hospital after his condition worsened. The case has triggered public anger and calls for protests in Latakia, with nationwide demonstrations also planned.The Latakia Internal Security Command said it had launched a probe into the events that took place while Gamira was held at the Haffeh police station. The Ministry of Interior's Security Command said the inquiry would examine the circumstances... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 17 Aug 2026 19:36 LONDON
Explosion reported at school in Kabul's Dasht-e-Barchi district
An explosion has been reported at a school in western Kabul, with several students said to have been injured. The blast was reported in the Dasht-e-Barchi neighbourhood on Monday afternoon, according to the supplied material. The cause has not been independently confirmed in the rows provided, and officials had not commented at the time of publication.The incident was reported at around 4:30pm local time, or 12:00pm GMT, near the end of the school day. The school named in the supplied material is the private Shama-e Hidayat school and educational institution in the Mahdia neighbourhood. Eyewitnesses said several students were transferred... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 17 Aug 2026 19:00 LONDON
Likud holds primaries ahead of Israel's general election
Israel's governing Likud Party is holding primaries to choose its candidate list for the country's upcoming general election. The vote is taking place on Monday and is being described as one of the most heated and unruly events in Israeli politics. It comes as the party prepares for a legislative contest that is expected to be highly consequential for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and for Likud itself.The primaries will determine the order of candidates on Likud's list for the 120-member Knesset, Israel's parliament. Under the country's proportional representation system, parties submit ranked lists and seats are allocated according to their... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 17 Aug 2026 18:30 LONDON
Day News Recap: Deadly crises span Congo, Indonesia and Gaza as markets split on risk appetite
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has become the deadliest in the country’s history, with government data putting deaths at 2,325 as the crisis continues to spread its toll. 🔗Indonesia is also facing a major disaster after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Flores island, killing at least 68 people, displacing about 5,000 residents and leaving aid shortages and aftershocks to hamper rescue work. 🔗In the Middle East, the Gaza war and wider regional tensions remained in focus as Jared Kushner prepared to meet Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv after more than two hours of talks with... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews Recap | 17 Aug 2026 18:20 LONDON
Ben-Gvir defends killing 30 to 40 people a night in Gaza amid election campaign
Israel's national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, has defended killing 30 to 40 people a night in Gaza, according to remarks reported from an interview published on Sunday. The comments were made in a conversation with Rom Braslavski, a former Israeli captive held by Hamas, and were later circulated by Palestinian outlets. Ben-Gvir was criticising what he described as a reduction in Israeli attacks on the territory when he made the statement.The minister is part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition and is one of the most prominent figures on Israel's far right. He does not command the armed forces and... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 17 Aug 2026 17:29 LONDON
US General to Oversee Hamas Disarmament Under Gaza Deal, Israeli Official Says
A United States general would oversee the disarmament of Hamas under a Gaza agreement, according to an Israeli government official cited on Monday. The official said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reached an understanding with US envoy Jared Kushner on the arrangement. Israel is also said to be maintaining that its troops will not withdraw from the Gaza Strip until all Hamas weapons are handed over.The report said there has been no immediate confirmation from the United States of any such deal. It also said the disarmament issue is part of the wider agreement signed between Israel and Hamas to end... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 17 Aug 2026 16:30 LONDON
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Wall Street Opens Higher as AI Chips Lead, Energy Rises, and Risk Appetite Broadens
Executive summary: US equities opened firmer, led by a sharp rally in AI and chip shares, while energy stocks, small caps, and banks also traded higher. The move came alongside gains in gold and Bitcoin, a softer USD/CNY, and a pullback in natural gas and WTI crude. The opening tone suggests investors are leaning into growth and cyclical exposure, with semiconductors doing most of the heavy lifting. [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews Markets Intelligence | 17 Aug 2026 14:45 LONDON
Indonesia quake death toll rises to 68 as aftershocks hamper rescue efforts
Rescue teams in eastern Indonesia are continuing to search collapsed buildings after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Flores island in East Nusa Tenggara province, with the death toll now at least 68. More than 200 people have been injured, and thousands of residents remain displaced as aid deliveries continue to reach communities cut off by the quake. The hardest-hit areas include Flores, where many people have spent days waiting for help and searching for relatives.An official at Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency confirmed late on Monday that the death toll had risen from 54 to 68, while nearly 1,600 aftershocks have... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 17 Aug 2026 14:33 LONDON
Kushner to meet Netanyahu after more than two hours of Hamas talks in Cairo
Jared Kushner is due to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv after holding more than two hours of talks with a Hamas delegation in Cairo. The meeting is part of a renewed US push to advance a 15-point Gaza roadmap that Washington says is being backed by the Board of Peace. The diplomatic effort comes as the second phase of the ceasefire framework remains contested and the main parties continue to disagree over how it should be carried out.According to the supplied material, Kushner was joined in Cairo by Board of Peace Director-General Nickolay Mladenov and former... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 17 Aug 2026 14:31 LONDON
Mali court jails broadcaster Ras Bath and influencer for seven years after junta criticism
A court in Mali has sentenced broadcaster Mohamed Youssouf Bathily, widely known as Ras Bath, and influencer Rokia Doumbia to seven years in prison after convicting them of criminal conspiracy and discrediting the state. The ruling was delivered in Bamako on Monday, according to the supplied report, and follows criticism they made of the military authorities. Both defendants had been in custody for years before the verdict.The case centres on a 2023 programme about the economic difficulties facing ordinary Malians. The trial opened on 10 August at the criminal chamber of the Bamako Court of Appeal, and the court also... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 17 Aug 2026 14:04 LONDON
Israeli military vehicles seen east of Khiyam amid heavy machine-gun sweeps
Movement of Israeli military vehicles was recorded east of Khiyam in Lebanon's Marjayoun District, according to the source. The vehicles were seen operating alongside an intensive sweeping action carried out with medium and heavy machine guns. The fire was directed toward Khiyam's neighborhoods and outskirts. The source says the bursts of gunfire from the sweeping operation were audible across several neighboring villages and towns in the eastern sector. No casualties, damage figures, or further operational consequences were stated. The report only describes the presence of military vehicles and ongoing gunfire activity in and around Khiyam at the time of publication.... [Continue Reading]
Breaking-360LiveNews | 17 Aug 2026 13:32 LONDON
Israeli warplanes carry out two air raids on Al-Mansouri, shelling hits Bani Hayyan and Aitaroun
Israeli warplanes carried out two air raids targeting the town of Al-Mansouri, according to the National News Agency. The report says the attacks came in two waves and that Al-Mansouri was also under enemy shelling in Tyre district. The same update said Israeli artillery shelling hit the municipality building in Bani Hayyan, in Marjeyoun district. No casualties, damage totals, or further operational details were provided in the source. The correspondent also reported Israeli artillery shelling and machine gun fire against the town of Aitaroun in Bint Jbeil district. The source identifies multiple separate strike areas but does not provide timing... [Continue Reading]
Breaking-360LiveNews | 17 Aug 2026 13:31 LONDON
Noontime News Recap: Earthquake, war strikes and wildfires drive a grim global noon briefing
Indonesia is facing a worsening humanitarian emergency after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Flores island, killing at least 53 people, displacing about 5,000 residents and leaving aid shortages increasingly severe, authorities said. 🔗In eastern Europe, the war continued to exact a heavy civilian toll as a Ukrainian missile strike killed six people and wounded four others, including a child, in Russia's Belgorod region, according to the acting regional governor. 🔗Wildfires are also causing major disruption across western Europe, with Belgium battling what is believed to be the largest blaze in its modern history in the Hautes Fagnes, or High Fens,... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews Recap | 17 Aug 2026 12:24 LONDON
Deadly earthquake on Indonesia's Flores island as aid shortages deepen
Authorities on Indonesia's Flores island say aid shortages are worsening after a magnitude-7.7 earthquake killed at least 53 people and displaced about 5,000 residents. Survivors in several parts of the island are sleeping outdoors as aftershocks continue, while landslides and blocked roads are slowing the delivery of food, water and medical supplies. The quake struck shortly before 06:00 on Saturday at a shallow depth of 15km, increasing the damage across affected communities.Early assessments from Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency say more than 1,000 houses have been damaged, along with dozens of health facilities, schools and government offices. In Manggarai Regency,... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 17 Aug 2026 09:59 LONDON
Top Zambian opposition figures arrested after election amid insurrection claims
Security forces in Zambia have arrested 11 people, including senior opposition figures, after a raid in the capital, Lusaka, the government said. The arrests came as counting from Thursday's presidential election was still under way, adding a security dimension to an already contested vote. Among those named by officials was Brian Mundubile, the leading opposition candidate, who was found at the scene of the operation, according to the country's top civil servant.Patrick Kangwa said the people detained were linked to what he described as military plans involving foreign nationals and illegal military training camps. He said officers seized weapons, ammunition... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 17 Aug 2026 09:30 LONDON
Breakfast News Recap: Earthquake toll climbs in Indonesia as Gaza, Ukraine and EU tensions deepen
Rescuers in eastern Indonesia are still searching collapsed buildings after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake on Flores island killed at least 53 people, while more than 12,000 displaced residents were still waiting for urgent aid. Officials said the death toll could rise as teams reach cut off areas and assess the scale of the damage. 🔗 🔗In the Middle East, Jared Kushner is due to meet Benjamin Netanyahu after holding rare talks with Hamas linked figures in Egypt, in a renewed push to advance a Gaza deal. At the same time, Israel's national security minister Itamar Ben Gvir has been reported... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews Recap | 17 Aug 2026 08:36 LONDON
Morocco detains nearly 300 migrants near Ceuta after renewed crossing attempt
Moroccan security forces have detained nearly 300 migrants near the border with the Spanish exclave of Ceuta after a renewed attempt to reach the territory by land and sea. Authorities also arrested dozens of alleged facilitators in the latest crackdown along the frontier. The detentions came after calls for a new mass crossing and a tightening of security in the area.State broadcaster Medi 1 TV said 294 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa were arrested on Saturday while trying to enter Ceuta. It also reported that 61 Moroccans were detained on suspicion of helping organise or facilitate the migration attempts. The arrests... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 16 Aug 2026 23:30 LONDON
Malaysia's Anwar Ibrahim discusses middle-power strategy amid superpower rivalry
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has spoken about Malaysia's position between major powers in a discussion focused on justice, trade and sovereignty. The conversation examined how middle powers are responding as the rules-based international order comes under strain. It also raised the question of whether smaller states can still hold superpowers to account when those powers ignore the rules they helped shape.The remarks were made in an interview format featuring Anwar Ibrahim and journalist Sreenivasan Jain. The discussion centred on the pressures facing countries that do not have the military or economic weight of the largest powers, but still want... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 16 Aug 2026 23:03 LONDON
Lula and Bolsonaro camp launch Brazil presidential race with rallies in Sao Paulo and Rio
Brazil's two main presidential camps have opened their campaigns with large rallies in their political strongholds, setting up what is expected to be a closely fought October election. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva addressed more than 10,000 supporters at Vila Euclides Stadium outside Sao Paulo, while Senator Flavio Bolsonaro gathered thousands on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro. The launches underline how the contest is already being framed around foreign interference, trade pressure and control over Brazil's natural resources.Lula, who is seeking a fourth nonconsecutive term, spoke in a city where he first rose to prominence 47 years ago... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 16 Aug 2026 22:33 LONDON
US admiral visits USS Abraham Lincoln amid reported crew mental health and supply concerns
A senior US military commander has visited the USS Abraham Lincoln after reports of mental health and supply problems aboard the aircraft carrier. Admiral Brad Cooper, the commander of US Central Command, described the crew as "awe-inspiring" during the visit. The ship has reportedly been at sea for more than 250 days without a port call, making the deployment unusually long.Cooper said in a statement shared on social media that the Lincoln has among the lowest number of mental health-related cases of the US Navy's 11 active aircraft carriers. He added that long periods at sea are "uniquely challenging and... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 16 Aug 2026 22:30 LONDON
Hurricane Lala weakens but flooding and outages persist in Hawaii
Hurricane Lala weakened to a tropical storm after passing south of Hawaii, but dangerous flooding, strong winds and power outages continued to affect the islands on Sunday. The Big Island remained the main focus of concern as pounding surf, heavy rain and gusty squalls continued to lash coastal and inland areas. Tropical storm warnings also stayed in place for several other islands as the system moved west.Governor Josh Green said more than 60,000 households were without power and that three hospitals had switched to generator power. He also said at least one person died in a car accident in the... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 16 Aug 2026 16:29 LONDON
Russian strikes hit Kyiv market and other areas across Ukraine
Russian strikes have injured six people at a market in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, according to the supplied report, as a fresh wave of attacks hit several areas across the country. Firefighters were still working to extinguish hot spots at the market site when the area was visited, indicating the damage remained active after the strike. The market was described as a place that sells items such as books and posters, underlining the civilian character of the location.The report said five people were reportedly killed across Ukraine in the same series of strikes. It also noted that Russian officials said... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 16 Aug 2026 13:35 LONDON
Israel orders plan to transfer West Bank civilian law enforcement to police amid annexation warnings
Israel's defence minister has ordered the military to prepare a plan to transfer civilian law enforcement in the occupied West Bank to the Israeli police. The move was announced on Friday and is being presented by officials as a change in how civilian matters are handled in the territory. It comes after criticism of the army's response to Israeli settlers who besieged a Palestinian home in the village of Qusra.Defence Minister Israel Katz said the army's role is to combat Palestinian terrorism and not to pursue what he described as "hilltop youth". The Defence Ministry said the police would establish... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 16 Aug 2026 13:30 LONDON
South Wales wildfires prompt military support as crews battle dozens of blazes
Fire crews in south Wales are continuing to tackle dozens of wildfires, with about 200 military personnel now helping the response. The support has been brought in as South Wales Fire and Rescue Service faces severe pressure from multiple blazes across the country. Officials say the extra capacity is being used to help firefighters concentrate on the most specialist parts of the operation.Chief fire officer Fin Monahan said the UK and Welsh governments had taken "a very serious step" in bringing in the military, but said the move was needed because crews were dealing with fires on a wide scale.... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 16 Aug 2026 12:32 LONDON
Twelve killed as tourist bus crashes on Hungary's M3 motorway near Mezokeresztes
Twelve people have been killed after a tourist bus carrying Polish holidaymakers crashed into a ditch on Hungary's M3 motorway near Mezokeresztes. The crash happened at about 1am local time on Sunday, according to the supplied report, as the vehicle was travelling east towards Nyiregyhaza. Ten other passengers were taken to hospital with injuries.The bus was carrying 57 passengers and a driver when it veered off the motorway, the report said. Police suspect the driver may have fallen asleep before the crash. The scene was described as severe, with the bus left in a ditch and luggage scattered along the... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 16 Aug 2026 10:30 LONDON
Taliban marks five years in power in Kabul with rally and calls for recognition
Thousands of Taliban supporters gathered in central Kabul on Saturday as the group marked five years since its return to power. The event took place outside a compound housing key ministries, where convoys of cars and pick-up trucks carrying Taliban banners moved through the streets before the main gathering. Heavily armed fighters were stationed around the area while senior officials addressed the crowd.Officials used the anniversary to praise what they described as the "victory of the Islamic Emirate" and to argue that the Taliban had restored security and national sovereignty. They pointed to the absence of large-scale fighting since foreign... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 16 Aug 2026 10:01 LONDON
Iran disputes Qatar over missing pilots as remains of one airman are found
An Iranian military official has called on Qatar to allow an Iranian team into the country to investigate the fate of pilots Tehran says were captured by Qatari forces. The request comes after Qatar said its search and rescue teams found the remains of one pilot following an Iranian aircraft violation of Qatari airspace in March. The latest exchange deepens a dispute that has already become both a diplomatic and humanitarian issue.Mohammad Baqerzadeh, commander of the Committee for the Search for Missing Persons of Iran's Armed Forces General Staff, said an Iranian Air Force expert and fact-finding team had been... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 16 Aug 2026 09:36 LONDON
Magnitude 7.7 earthquake in Indonesia kills at least 51 as rescue efforts continue
A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck eastern Indonesia on Saturday morning local time, killing at least 51 people and forcing thousands from their homes. The strongest effects were reported on Flores Island in East Nusa Tenggara province, with damage concentrated around Maumere, Sikka regency and nearby areas. Rescue teams were still working to reach communities cut off by landslides and blocked roads.The quake hit at 5:58am local time, or 21:58 GMT on Friday, with its epicentre about 68 kilometres north-northwest of Ende, according to the US Geological Survey. The agency said the earthquake was shallow, at a depth of 10 kilometres,... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 16 Aug 2026 06:32 LONDON
Spanish NATO F-18 shoots down military drone over Romania
A Spanish F-18 taking part in a NATO air-policing mission shot down a military drone after it entered Romanian airspace on Sunday, according to Romania's defence authorities. The drone crossed into the country at 4:44 local time from Moldova, and the aircraft identified it by radar before receiving authorisation to engage. Romanian officials said the debris fell in an uninhabited area, and a defence alert was issued for residents.The Ministry of Defence said the response involved a Spanish Air Force and Space Force F-18 operating under NATO command. Authorities said they are continuing to monitor the situation and are keeping... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 16 Aug 2026 04:59 LONDON
H5N1 bird flu spread to Northern Territory seen as inevitable as authorities prepare response
Authorities in Australia say it is only a matter of time before the latest H5N1 bird flu strain reaches the Northern Territory. Conservationists and wildlife experts in the territory say vaccination of native species is not an option, leaving officials to focus on slowing the spread rather than preventing entry altogether. The warning comes after the virus was first detected in Western Australia in late June and has since been found in all six Australian states.The Northern Territory government is now looking to enlist birdwatchers and conservationists as part of its response. Senior Director of Species Management at the NT... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 16 Aug 2026 00:03 LONDON
Ebola outbreak in northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo spreads faster than containment efforts
The latest Ebola outbreak in northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo is spreading faster than efforts to contain it, according to the World Health Organization. The outbreak has already killed 2,000 people, making it a major public health emergency in the region. The warning comes as health responders try to slow transmission in an area that has faced repeated Ebola crises.The report says the virus is moving faster than previous outbreaks and is outpacing containment measures. The World Health Organization is the main international body cited in the assessment, while the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 15 Aug 2026 23:30 LONDON
Zimbabwe ferry disaster death toll rises to 69 after Lake Kariba capsizing
Recovery teams in Zimbabwe have pulled 23 more bodies from a ferry that capsized on Lake Kariba, raising the death toll to 69. The vessel overturned on Tuesday after leaving Kariba town harbour, and search and recovery operations were still under way on Saturday. Police said the boat was carrying far more people than it was authorised to hold, making the disaster one of the country's worst maritime accidents in decades.Authorities said the ferry was carrying an estimated 153 people despite a maximum authorised capacity of 90 passengers. Police investigations suggest the vessel was overloaded when it overturned in rough... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 15 Aug 2026 20:29 LONDON
USS George Washington departs Vietnam as Middle East carrier rotation nears
The USS George Washington has begun leaving Da Nang, Vietnam, in a move that is expected to send the aircraft carrier toward the Middle East. The ship is widely reported to be the vessel likely to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln, although the Pentagon has not confirmed that transfer. The departure comes as the Lincoln remains deployed in the region amid the war involving Iran.The movement was reported on Saturday and follows days of scrutiny over conditions aboard the Lincoln. The carrier has been at sea for more than 266 days without a port stop, which the supplied material describes... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 15 Aug 2026 19:29 LONDON
Erdogan says Egypt could join Turkiye-Saudi-Pakistan defence pact
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Egypt could potentially join a newly signed defence agreement between Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. He described Cairo's accession as possible and said the pact was open to further members. The comments came in an exclusive interview that is due to air on Sunday evening on Al Jazeera Arabic.The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement was signed in the holy city last Friday by Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. According to Erdogan, the deal commits the signatories to taking unified steps if any one of them comes... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 15 Aug 2026 18:00 LONDON
Syrian intervention in Lebanon would be too costly for Damascus, analysis says
The Syrian government is unlikely to send forces into Lebanon to act against Hezbollah, according to an analysis published on 15 August. The assessment says the idea has been repeatedly raised in recent weeks by United States President Donald Trump, but argues that Damascus has stronger reasons to reject military involvement than to pursue it. It says any cross-border move could strengthen Hezbollah politically, destabilise both countries and expose Syria to retaliation linked to Iran.The analysis says Washington has not set out a clear and comprehensive vision of what it expects from Damascus. It describes a limited version of Syrian... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 15 Aug 2026 09:04 LONDON
UK hits back after Netanyahu labels it the 'Islamic republic of Britain'
The British government has rejected comments by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu describing the UK as the "Islamic republic of Britain." A government spokesperson said the remarks were "completely unacceptable" and confirmed that the issue had been raised with the Israeli government. The exchange has added to already strained relations between London and Jerusalem. Netanyahu made the comments during an interview on an army radio podcast, where he also joked that Britain was the "first Islamic republic with nuclear weapons." He linked the remark to a discussion about media coverage of Israel and praised Randolph Churchill, the son of former... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 15 Aug 2026 08:02 LONDON
Netanyahu makes inflammatory nuclear remark about the UK in podcast interview
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has drawn criticism after describing the United Kingdom as the "first Islamic republic to obtain a nuclear weapon" during a podcast interview. The remark was made in a conversation on an army radio podcast, according to the supplied report, and was presented with a smile. It has added a new flashpoint to already strained political relations involving Israel, Britain and Iran.In the interview, Netanyahu also referred to the UK as the "Islamic Republic of Great Britain" and linked his comment to a line he said someone had once used about nuclear weapons. He said: "We... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 15 Aug 2026 07:30 LONDON
Countries deepen contacts with Taliban as Afghanistan isolation eases
The Taliban in Afghanistan are stepping up efforts to end their international isolation as several regional and international actors expand contacts with the group. The renewed engagement comes despite continuing concerns over human rights, including restrictions on women's education and employment, and pressure on journalists, activists and minorities. The development reflects a broader shift in how some governments are dealing with the authorities in Kabul, nearly five years after the Taliban returned to power in 2021.According to the supplied report, India, Qatar, China, Iran and several Central Asian states have recently welcomed Taliban officials or opened new channels of communication.... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 15 Aug 2026 06:32 LONDON
Taiwan passes delayed $93bn defence budget, retains drone funding
Taiwan's parliament has approved the government's annual budget after a record 266-day delay, preserving funding for a drone programme that is central to the island's defence planning. The vote came late on Friday in the opposition-controlled legislature, ending a deadlock that had forced the administration to rely on a provisional budget mechanism. The approved package totals $93bn and was passed after lawmakers missed the legal deadline.The drone funding survived after the main opposition Kuomintang dropped an earlier proposal to cut it by 70 percent. The party said it had concluded there was no wasteful overlap between the development and procurement... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 15 Aug 2026 06:03 LONDON
UN warns Afghan women's aid groups may shut as funding runs short
The United Nations has warned that more than half of women's organisations still operating in Afghanistan could stop work within the next year because of funding shortages. The warning comes as the country marks five years since the Taliban returned to power, a period in which women's rights and access to public life have been sharply restricted. UN Women said the risk is especially acute for groups providing support to women and girls in a country where humanitarian needs remain high.Susan Ferguson, UN Women's special representative in Afghanistan, said donor countries should not cut funding for women's programmes because doing... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 15 Aug 2026 02:00 LONDON
Lebanon presses for timetable on Israeli withdrawal as Hezbollah attacks talks
Lebanon's prime minister is pressing for a clear timetable for Israel's withdrawal from Lebanese territory, as the country's political and security debate intensifies over the direction of negotiations. The latest exchanges centre on the military track of a framework involving United States officials and developments in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah has publicly criticised the government's approach, saying it is exposing the Lebanese army to pressure.According to a statement from the prime minister's office, Nawaf Salam met United States ambassador to Beirut Michel Issa and General Joseph Clearfield, who heads the US military coordination group for Lebanon. The talks covered the negotiation... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 15 Aug 2026 01:00 LONDON
National wildfire alert issued as fires destroy 19 homes in Stourbridge
A national government alert has been issued in England and Wales after a series of fires spread across multiple areas, including a major blaze in Stourbridge, West Midlands. The warning was issued on Friday evening as firefighters continued to deal with several active incidents. In Stourbridge, 19 homes were destroyed and a further 18 were damaged after fire spread rapidly through grass and woodland on Thursday before reaching residential streets.The alert urged people not to light anything that could spark a wildfire, and the prime minister said the warning should be taken seriously. He said it had been triggered at... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 14 Aug 2026 22:30 LONDON
Croatia wildfire near Omiš leaves one dead as evacuations continue
Croatian officials say at least one person has died and around 40 others have been injured after a fast-moving wildfire swept through the coastal area near Lokva Rogoznica, Omiš and the Split coastline. The fire broke out on Thursday evening and spread rapidly overnight into Friday, forcing large-scale evacuations from the Adriatic shore. Emergency shelters were opened in several towns as crews worked to protect homes, vehicles and tourist accommodation.Authorities said about 1,200 residents and visitors were moved from the affected area, while 10 people were reported to be in intensive care. The blaze was driven by strong winds and... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 14 Aug 2026 21:59 LONDON
Aid attempt to trapped Palestinian families in Qusra blocked as military zone remains in place
Activists have tried to deliver food and water to Palestinian families trapped in their homes in the occupied West Bank village of Qusra, but the supplies had to be left outside after access was blocked. The families have been confined since Sunday, with their power and water cut off, as Israeli settlers have surrounded homes in the Ras al-Ain area. The latest attempt came as the Israel Defense Forces said the area was a closed military zone.Two residents said Israeli forces prevented the activists from handing the aid directly to the families, although the military denied that claim. The IDF... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 14 Aug 2026 18:29 LONDON
US backs Japanese sovereignty over disputed islands after Putin visit
The United States has backed Japan's sovereignty claim over the disputed islands at the centre of a long-running territorial row with Russia, according to the supplied report. The statement comes shortly after Vladimir Putin's visit to the islands, which Japan has already condemned as unacceptable. The development adds a new diplomatic layer to an issue that has repeatedly complicated relations between Tokyo and Moscow.The islands are known in Japan as the Northern Territories and in Russia as the Southern Kurils. They were seized by the Soviet Union in the closing stages of the Second World War, and the dispute has... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 14 Aug 2026 18:00 LONDON
Croatia wildfire near Omiš injures 14 and disrupts holiday travel
A wildfire near the coastal town of Omiš in southern Croatia injured 14 people and forced evacuations as it spread close to homes and the town centre. Seven of those taken to hospital were reported to be in a life-threatening condition early on Friday. The blaze also damaged or destroyed homes, cars and boats, while parts of the town lost power.Evacuees spent the night in a sports hall, sleeping on beds and floors after leaving their homes as flames advanced. Residents described chaotic scenes as they fled the fire, which prompted a large emergency response. The local fire brigade commander... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 14 Aug 2026 17:00 LONDON
Syria's Ahmed al-Sharaa outlines vision for gradual democratic transition
Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa has outlined his long-term vision for the country in an extended interview, describing plans to restore democracy gradually after decades of authoritarian rule. The interview focuses on how he intends to transform Syria into a modern Arab democracy following the collapse of the al-Assad dynasty in December 2024. It also sets out his view of Syria's place in the region after years of isolation and conflict.According to the interview, al-Sharaa took power after the 53-year rule of the al-Assad family ended when Bashar al-Assad fled to Russia. He was previously known as Abu Mohammed al-Julani, the... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 14 Aug 2026 16:33 LONDON
Deadly Russian air raid on Kramatorsk leaves 1 dead and 17 wounded
Emergency crews worked through the night in Kramatorsk after a Russian air raid hit the city with eight FAB-250 guided aerial bombs, local authorities said. One person was killed and 17 others were wounded in the strike, which caused fires and heavy damage in several parts of the city. The attack also left an apartment building badly damaged and prompted rescue work under rubble.Officials said sections of a ten-storey apartment block collapsed from the first to the sixth floors. Several private homes and a garage caught fire, while cars were damaged near the impact areas. Rescuers were filmed pulling a... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 14 Aug 2026 16:00 LONDON
Trump administration asks Supreme Court to let White House ballroom work continue
The Trump administration has asked the US Supreme Court to allow construction to continue on a $400 million White House ballroom after a federal appeals court ruled the project lacked the necessary approval from Congress. The request seeks to keep the appeals court ruling on hold while the administration prepares a full appeal. The case centres on work at the White House complex in Washington, where the East Wing has already been torn down and a large ballroom project has begun.In its filing, the Justice Department repeated Donald Trump's argument that the ballroom is a security necessity. Lawyers cited what... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 14 Aug 2026 15:32 LONDON
Saudi-led Red Sea maritime defence alliance formally launches with 13 members
Saudi Arabia says a maritime defence coalition covering the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden has now formally launched, with 13 countries having completed accession procedures. The announcement marks the latest stage in a project first unveiled by the Saudi Ministry of Defence on July 30 as the Multinational Maritime Defense Alliance. Officials said the coalition is intended to protect freedom of navigation and strengthen collective maritime security in a strategically sensitive waterway.According to the ministry, 15 countries have signed a joint statement, while 13 have fully joined the coalition so far. The first members... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 14 Aug 2026 14:29 LONDON
Iran reappoints Hossein Taeb to lead Basij militia amid security reshuffle
Iran has reappointed Hossein Taeb, a veteran cleric and security figure, as head of the Basij militia. The move comes during an ongoing reshuffle among the country's political, military and security elite. It also follows the rise of Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei in the early months of his rule, according to the supplied material.Taeb is one of the Islamic Republic's most prominent internal security officials. He previously commanded the Basij during the 2009 crackdown on the Green Movement and later led the Revolutionary Guards' intelligence service for about 13 years. The appointment places him back in a frontline role after he... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 14 Aug 2026 13:06 LONDON
Ukraine says it retook settlements in Dnipropetrovsk as Russian strikes intensify
Ukraine says it has completed a counteroffensive in the southern part of Dnipropetrovsk region, recapturing 26 settlements and about 745 square kilometres of territory this year. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the operation was carried out "exactly as it was determined", while former commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskii said the army had shown it could not only hold its positions but also seize the initiative. Ukrainian officials said the campaign pushed Russian forces back over the regional borders of Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia.The territorial gains were announced alongside a fresh wave of Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities. According to the supporting material, combined drone... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 14 Aug 2026 13:00 LONDON
Oil spill spreads to Oman's coast as pollution reaches Iran's Qeshm Island
An oil spill has now affected both sides of the Strait of Hormuz, with pollution reaching Iran's Qeshm Island and a separate, larger slick fouling Oman's southern coastline. The incident is being described as the first significant environmental fallout from the wider conflict in the Gulf. Dark oily residue was reported along stretches of Qeshm earlier this week, while satellite monitoring indicated the main slick had drifted across the waterway.Iranian environmental officials said cleanup work had largely cleared the slick from Qeshm by Wednesday evening, although monitoring is continuing. Iran's Foreign Ministry said preliminary evidence pointed to a foreign bulk... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 14 Aug 2026 11:59 LONDON
US missionary Kevin Rideout released after more than nine months in Niger captivity
An American missionary kidnapped in Niger has been released after more than nine months in captivity. Kevin Rideout was taken outside his home in the capital, Niamey, last year and is now in the care of US officials, according to the international Christian organisation he worked for. The case had drawn attention because of concerns that he may have been seized by militants operating in Niger's west.SIM International said on Friday that Rideout was in good health. The organisation said it expected him to be reunited soon with his wife, children and extended family. It described his release as "incredibly... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 14 Aug 2026 11:32 LONDON
Record rainfall in Japan's Chiba region kills six as flooding and power cuts continue
At least six people have died and five others have been wounded in eastern Japan after record rainfall hit Chiba prefecture near Tokyo. The downpours caused flooding, power cuts and transport disruption, leaving thousands of travellers stranded overnight at Narita airport. Authorities said the rain was easing on Friday morning, but warnings remained in place because landslide and flooding risks were still elevated.Officials said more than 20,000 households lost power, while local authorities issued a level five emergency warning on Thursday before downgrading it to level four by Friday morning. Chiba Governor Toshihito Kumagai said the situation was extremely unusual,... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 14 Aug 2026 11:02 LONDON
White House says tariff evasion via transshipment is costing $19bn-$26bn a year
The White House has accused more than 40 countries of helping China route goods through third countries to avoid US tariffs, in a report released on Thursday. It said the alleged network has allowed Chinese products to enter the United States under false labels, with the administration describing the practice as a major enforcement problem. The report said the issue is costing the US government tens of billions of dollars in annual revenue.The Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy said the countries named include the European Union, Mexico, Canada, India, Japan and South Korea, as well as Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 14 Aug 2026 10:34 LONDON
UK warned it lacks firepower to stop possible Russian ship seizures
British defence figures have warned that the United Kingdom may not have enough naval capacity to protect cargo ships if Russia moves to seize vessels at sea. The concern centres on possible hijackings of British ships in the Indo-Pacific, where planners fear the risk of retaliation could rise as tensions with Moscow deepen. The warning comes amid a broader dispute over maritime security and the protection of commercial shipping routes.The row follows remarks attributed to Vladimir Putin earlier this week, in which he urged his navy to detain European ships in response to efforts to crack down on Russia's shadow... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 14 Aug 2026 10:32 LONDON
Wildfire forces evacuation of about 1,000 people on Croatia's coast
A wildfire on Croatia's coast has forced the evacuation of about 1,000 people, according to the supplied report. Flames were reported sweeping along the shoreline as emergency crews responded to the fast-moving fire. The incident is described as an active wildfire emergency on 14 August.The confirmed figure in the report is the evacuation of about 1,000 people. The material does not provide a precise town name, the cause of the fire, or details on how many firefighters or aircraft were deployed. It does, however, make clear that the blaze was serious enough to trigger a large-scale evacuation response.The evacuation suggests... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 14 Aug 2026 09:30 LONDON
North Korea warns of new deterrent as US-South Korea drills near
North Korea has condemned upcoming joint military exercises by the United States and South Korea, saying it will answer what it calls a new threat with a new level of deterrent. The drills, named Ulchi Freedom Shield, are due to begin on 17 August and run until 27 August. Pyongyang said the exercises heighten tensions on the Korean Peninsula and are part of a broader shift in US-led military cooperation in the region.According to a statement published by the Korean Central News Agency, a North Korean Foreign Ministry spokesperson said the planned drills are intended to master fighting methods based... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 14 Aug 2026 07:05 LONDON
Oil spill off Oman widens as salvage work begins on tanker
Salvage work has begun to stabilise the Caroline Bezengi, the tanker linked to a major oil spill off Oman, according to the risk management company coordinating the response. The vessel has been leaking crude near the Hallaniyat archipelago since June, after crew reported an unidentified explosion, and oil has now reached beaches along Oman's central coast. Greenpeace has said the spill has expanded rapidly to about 1,300 square kilometres, underscoring the scale of the incident.Ambrey said specialist personnel had already boarded the tanker and that salvage vessels were expected to arrive soon. The company said it was working with Omani... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 14 Aug 2026 07:00 LONDON
Trump orders Navy to revert Ford-class carriers to older steam catapult system
US President Donald Trump has ordered the US Navy to remove the electromagnetic system used to launch fighter jets from its newest aircraft carriers and return to older steam catapults. The directive, issued on Thursday, instructs the Pentagon and the Navy to present plans within two months for removing the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System, known as EMALS, and replacing Ford-class electromagnetic weapons elevators. The memo says the fourth Ford-class carrier, the USS Doris Miller, would be the first ship affected.The order would not apply to the earlier Ford-class ships already in service or under construction, including the USS Gerald R.... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 14 Aug 2026 06:33 LONDON
Israel reportedly warned the US multiple times over alleged Iranian plot against Trump
Israel repeatedly warned the United States over the past year about an alleged Iranian plan to assassinate Donald Trump, according to people briefed on the matter. The reported warnings included possible scenarios involving a sniper or a knife attack at a public event. The alerts were said to begin in June 2025 and to have intensified before the US decision to enter war against Iran in February.The most detailed warning reportedly came before a NATO summit in Ankara in July. According to the supplied material, US officials and the Secret Service took precautionary steps despite the lack of independent verification... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 14 Aug 2026 06:30 LONDON
Mali says 82 soldiers freed after captivity by armed groups in the north
Mali's army says 82 soldiers who had been held by armed groups in the country's north have been released into government custody. The announcement was made on Thursday in a statement aired on state television. The army said the soldiers were now safe and under the care of the authorities.According to the statement, the men had been held hostage by fighters linked to al-Qaeda and a separatist rebel group since attacks in April. The army said the release was the result of a process that began immediately after their capture. The Tuareg-led Azawad Liberation Front said separately that it had... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 14 Aug 2026 05:00 LONDON
Albanese holds overnight phone call with Trump ahead of morning press conference
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has held an overnight phone call with US President Donald Trump, with no details of the conversation released so far. The call comes as Albanese is due to hold a press conference at 7:30am AEST later in the morning. The immediate focus is on what, if anything, the two leaders discussed and whether any announcement follows.The Prime Minister's Office and the White House have not provided any information about the content of the call. Albanese has spoken with Trump at least five times since becoming prime minister, and the two leaders have also met in... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 13 Aug 2026 22:30 LONDON
Colombia earthquake leaves Cali hospitals damaged and overwhelmed
A magnitude 7.4 earthquake in western Colombia has left major hospitals in Cali damaged and operating under severe strain. The University Hospital of the Valle Evaristo Garcia, one of the city's main public medical centres, suffered partial collapse after the quake on Monday. Health workers in the city have been forced to prioritise only the most critical patients as rescue teams continue searching for the missing.The National Unit for Disaster Risk Management said 377 people remain missing as the crucial three-day rescue window passes. The earthquake killed at least 273 people and injured at least 3,800 others, according to the... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 13 Aug 2026 22:00 LONDON
RSF advances on Kurmuk in Sudan's Blue Nile state near Ethiopia border
Sudan's Rapid Support Forces and allied fighters have advanced into the town of Kurmuk in Blue Nile state, according to military and government sources. The town lies near the border with Ethiopia and sits on a strategically important cross-border route linking Ethiopia with Blue Nile and the wider Nile Valley. The reported advance comes after days of attacks on the area and marks another shift in control in a part of Sudan that has changed hands before.Sources said the RSF and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North entered Kurmuk on Thursday as the army began to withdraw. An RSF statement said... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 13 Aug 2026 21:30 LONDON
Poland says it thwarted alleged Russian plot to kill Ukrainian-American man
Poland says it has disrupted an alleged plot to kill a Ukrainian-American dual national on its territory, in a case Prime Minister Donald Tusk described as the first of its kind involving an American citizen on NATO soil. Tusk said the suspect was arrested on 7 August and that the operation was stopped in its final stages. He said the alleged target was considered inconvenient to the Putin regime.According to Tusk, the arrest was carried out by the Polish Internal Security Agency, known as ABW, and police, with cooperation from American services. He accused Moscow of orchestrating the plan and... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 13 Aug 2026 17:59 LONDON
Mali pardons Frenchman sentenced in alleged coup plot case
Mali has granted a presidential pardon to French national Yann Vezilier, who had been sentenced to 20 years in prison over an alleged coup plot. The decision was announced on Thursday and was accompanied by his immediate removal from Malian territory. It marks a notable shift in a case that had added to already strained relations between Bamako and Paris.According to the Malian government, the pardon does not challenge the findings of the court that convicted him. The government said the act of clemency followed an adversarial trial in which the rights of the defence were respected. It also said... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 13 Aug 2026 17:38 LONDON
Explosion at munitions factory near Rome in Colleferro
An explosion has hit a munitions factory in Colleferro, on the outskirts of Rome, after a fire broke out at the site on Thursday. The blast was heard several kilometres away, according to local reports, and sent a thick column of smoke above the facility. Emergency crews were already at the plant trying to bring the fire under control when the explosion occurred.The incident took place at the former Simmel Difesa site, now operated by KNDS Ammo Italy, a subsidiary of the Franco-German defence group KNDS. The company produces medium- and large-calibre ammunition for land and naval use, as well... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 13 Aug 2026 17:35 LONDON
Rotterdam port blast at Gunvor refinery leaves one dead as investigation continues
One person has died and several others have been injured after an explosion at a Gunvor-operated refinery and fuel terminal in Rotterdam port. Police said the injured were taken to hospital, while emergency services secured the site after the blast. Investigators and the Dutch labour inspectorate were sent to the scene as authorities began examining what happened.Police spokesperson Daan Valkenburg said investigators were considering all possible causes and had not yet reached a conclusion. A damaged wall and signs of an explosion on a storage tank were visible in the area, according to the supplied material. A separate report that... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 13 Aug 2026 17:29 LONDON
Lebanese Americans file US lawsuit over war damage in Lebanon
Dozens of Lebanese Americans have filed a class action civil lawsuit in a US federal court in Michigan, accusing the US government and several defence contractors of helping enable Israel's conduct in Lebanon. The case was filed on Tuesday in the US District Court in Michigan and names Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Lockheed Martin, Boeing and Caterpillar as defendants. The plaintiffs say their property in Lebanon was damaged during the war and argue that US military support should have been halted under the Leahy Law.The lawsuit was brought by the Michigan-based Arab American Civil Rights League and 16 individual... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 13 Aug 2026 15:37 LONDON
Russian officer killed in Sevastopol bomb attack as five die in separate explosive-device operation
A Russian military officer has been killed in a bomb attack in Sevastopol, the largest city in Russian-annexed Crimea, according to the region's governor. A woman has been arrested on suspicion of acting on behalf of Ukrainian special services, the governor said. The incident comes amid a wider period of intensified drone and sabotage activity linked to the war between Russia and Ukraine.Regional governor Mikhail Razvozhayev said the officer was killed in the attack, and that several unofficial Russian Telegram channels identified the victim as Robert Shageyev. Those channels described him as a former Ukrainian naval officer who switched allegiance... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 13 Aug 2026 15:32 LONDON
France and Iran trade accusations after international statement on executions
France and Iran have entered a public diplomatic row after Paris helped lead a multinational statement condemning executions in Iran. The exchange unfolded after the joint declaration was published on Wednesday and quickly moved onto social media, where senior officials from both countries traded accusations. France said it had played a prominent role in the initiative, while Tehran responded by accusing Paris of hypocrisy and double standards.French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot criticised Iran in a post on X, saying the authorities were continuing what he described as bloodshed through an increasing number of executions. The French foreign ministry said the... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 13 Aug 2026 14:03 LONDON
Israeli military rubble removal in Gaza accused of erasing evidence of war crimes
Human rights groups say the Israeli military is carrying out a large-scale operation to remove, crush and transport rubble from across the Gaza Strip, including debris from cemeteries and places where human remains are known to have been found. The work is being described by monitors as part of a systematic reshaping of the territory's urban landscape. The allegations come as the war in Gaza continues to produce an exceptionally high death toll and widespread destruction.According to a report cited by rights monitors, about 68 million tonnes of rubble are believed to remain across Gaza. The same material says at... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 13 Aug 2026 13:32 LONDON
UK defends seizure of Russian shadow fleet tanker after Putin threat
The UK government has defended the seizure of a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in the English Channel after President Vladimir Putin threatened to respond in kind to Western action against Russian vessels. The tanker, the MT Smyrtos, was intercepted and boarded by Royal Marine Commandos before being taken to anchor off Weymouth. The operation was described as the first of its kind and was linked to sanctions enforcement against vessels accused of helping move Russian oil.According to the confirmed account, the vessel was seized in June and the captain, Ajay Pant, has been charged with breaching Russian sanctions. He... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 13 Aug 2026 11:30 LONDON
Yemeni forces say they repelled Houthi attack in Taiz amid wider escalation
Yemeni government forces say they have repelled a Houthi attack on positions along the al-Mafalis front south of Haifan in Taiz province. The reported fighting comes amid a broader rise in military activity across several governorates. Officials aligned with the government also said air defences intercepted Houthi reconnaissance drones over al-Makha in the southwest.An official from the Tor al-Bahah military axis said the army's 4th Infantry Hashd Brigade pushed back the attack on the al-Mafalis front. The official said the Houthis suffered heavy losses, although no independent casualty figures were provided. A government forces spokesman, Waddah al-Dubeish, said air defences... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 13 Aug 2026 11:02 LONDON
New Zealand spy agency says Chinese state-linked observatory sought satellite-tracking site
New Zealand's security agency says it disrupted an attempt by a Chinese state-linked observatory to install satellite-tracking infrastructure in the country. The case is set out in the agency's annual security threat assessment, which says the proposed equipment could have collected intelligence of military value. The agency did not identify the New Zealand company involved or say exactly how the plans were stopped.The New Zealand Security Intelligence Service said Purple Mountain Observatory, an organisation based in China with close ties to the government in Beijing, had sought to install ground-based space infrastructure through a local company. It said the company... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 13 Aug 2026 09:03 LONDON
David McBride released on parole in Canberra after serving 27 months
David McBride, the former army lawyer jailed for stealing and leaking secret defence documents about the Afghanistan war, has been released from prison in Canberra on parole. He left custody on Thursday after serving his full non-parole period of 27 months, according to the supplied material. The release follows approval from Attorney-General Michelle Rowland.McBride was sentenced in May 2024 to a maximum of five years and eight months in prison after pleading guilty to three charges. Those charges included stealing Commonwealth information and passing it to journalists at the public broadcaster. The case centred on documents he collected over an... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 13 Aug 2026 02:32 LONDON
US Army Apache helicopter crashes near Fort Hood, killing two and sparking wildfire
A US Army Apache helicopter crashed in central Texas on Wednesday during a routine training flight, killing the two people on board and triggering a forest fire near Fort Hood. The aircraft came down in a field close to the military base, which is used for training and the mobilisation of heavy forces. Authorities said the helicopter did not hit homes or other structures.A military official said the AH-64 Apache was on a standard training mission when it crashed. The cause of the accident is still under investigation. Cliff Coleman, who described the impact, said it was clear the aircraft... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 13 Aug 2026 02:30 LONDON
Hegseth warns ICC over US boat strikes as Colombia joins anti-cartel coalition
United States Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has warned that the International Criminal Court could investigate US military actions in Latin America, including strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean. He made the remarks in Panama while defending the campaign and urging regional partners to reject the court's jurisdiction. He also said Colombia has joined the Shield of the Americas coalition, bringing the group to 19 members.Hegseth said the Trump administration's effort to target cartels is part of an "all of government" push to disable the international tribunal. He argued there is no legitimate basis for what he called the... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 12 Aug 2026 23:30 LONDON
Syria court sentences Bashar al-Assad, Maher al-Assad and former officials to death in absentia
A court in Damascus has sentenced ousted former leader Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia, along with his brother Maher al-Assad and six other former high-ranking officials. The ruling also covered Atef Najib, Assad's cousin and former security chief in Deraa province, who was present at the trial and was also sentenced to death. The case is being presented by Syria's new authorities as a landmark step in a transitional justice process that is still taking shape.The verdicts relate to crimes committed during nearly 14 years of war, including killings, disappearances and torture. The court said the men were convicted... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 12 Aug 2026 22:33 LONDON
Israeli air strike kills one in northern Gaza's Beit Lahiya
An Israeli air strike has killed one person and wounded five others in northern Gaza, according to local authorities. The strike hit a three-wheeled tuk-tuk near the Western Roundabout in Beit Lahiya on Wednesday. The dead man was identified as Mohanad Saada, and his body was taken with the injured to al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.Gaza's civil defence agency said Saada was part of a municipal maintenance team returning from work repairing a water well damaged in earlier military operations. Civil defence spokesperson Mahmoud Basal said Israeli airstrikes and assassinations had almost completely stopped for more than a week before... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 12 Aug 2026 22:30 LONDON
Australia advances news bargaining law to force tech platforms to pay publishers
Australia is set to move ahead with a new news bargaining incentive bill after Labor and the Coalition agreed on amendments that would require major digital platforms to make more deals with publishers. The legislation is designed to make companies such as Facebook and TikTok contribute to media outlets for the value they derive from news on their services. It is expected to be introduced into parliament on Wednesday.Under the revised plan, tech companies would have to strike at least eight deals with news publishers, up from the previous minimum of six. The scheme would also limit how much of... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 12 Aug 2026 22:00 LONDON
Iraq says September 30 deadline for US-led coalition withdrawal is final
Iraq has said that September 30 is the fixed and final date for ending the military mission of the US-led coalition in the country and completing the departure of its forces. The announcement came after Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi met US Central Command Commander General Brad Cooper, according to the prime minister's office. The statement said the move would mean Iraq is free of any foreign military presence from October 1.The office said the deadline had been agreed during al-Zaidi's visit to Washington in mid-July. It added that both sides discussed the timeline again during the latest meeting, and... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 12 Aug 2026 20:32 LONDON
NATO commander says ending US access to Shannon Airport would likely damage Ireland ties
NATO's top military commander has said that ending US military access to Shannon Airport would probably damage relations between the United States and Ireland. General Alexus Grynkewich said the loss of access would also carry significant security implications. He made the remarks in an interview during his first visit to Ireland.Grynkewich is NATO's Supreme Allied Commander in Europe and also the commander of US European Command. He described Shannon Airport as a very important logistics hub and said it allows the United States to project power and keep threats at bay. He added that Ireland has been a partner in... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 12 Aug 2026 19:30 LONDON
US inflation slows in July as energy prices briefly retreat amid Strait of Hormuz disruption
US consumer inflation slowed in July as energy prices eased briefly, but the data still showed persistent pressure from fuel costs linked to disruption in the Strait of Hormuz. Consumer prices rose 0.1% from June and were 3.4% higher than a year earlier, according to the Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. The figures point to a modest monthly cooling, while leaving the broader inflation picture elevated.Energy prices fell 1.5% over the month, yet remained 14.7% higher than in July last year. Petrol prices dropped 2.9% month on month, but were still up 39.1% year on year, underscoring how... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 12 Aug 2026 17:29 LONDON
Trump secretly left decoy plane in Turkey, leaving cabinet members aboard
Two members of the US president's cabinet remained on a decoy aircraft after Donald Trump secretly left it before a separate flight in Turkey last month. According to the supplied report, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stayed on the plane that had been treated as Air Force One while Trump moved to another aircraft. The episode took place on 8 July and involved a security arrangement linked to concerns about Iran.The report says Trump boarded Air Force One with both officials and members of the press before hiding on a catering truck and being moved... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 12 Aug 2026 16:04 LONDON
Iranian Quds Force chief visits Baghdad for talks on disarming armed groups
An Iraqi source has said the head of Iran's Quds Force, Esmail Qaani, made an unannounced visit to Baghdad earlier this week for talks on the Iraqi government's plan to disarm armed groups. The source said Qaani held behind-the-scenes meetings with Iraqi political and security leaders, as well as commanders of Shia paramilitaries, on Monday. The discussions reportedly focused on bringing weapons under state control as Baghdad moves toward a September 30 deadline.According to the source, the Iranian message delivered through Qaani was that there should be no handover of faction weapons at the present time. The source said Tehran... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 12 Aug 2026 14:00 LONDON
Putin warns of tit-for-tat seizures of European vessels amid sanctions dispute
Russia's President Vladimir Putin has threatened to seize European vessels if European states move ahead with plans to take ships carrying Russian cargo. He said Russia would respond "wherever we deem it necessary and appropriate" if such measures are carried out. The warning was delivered on Wednesday while he was aboard a Russian cruiser off the Pacific island of Sakhalin, where the navy was holding a drill.Putin said "relevant instructions" had already been given to the Ministry of Defence and the Pacific Fleet. He framed the possible response as retaliation for what he described as attempts to restrict the movement... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 12 Aug 2026 13:00 LONDON
Lebanon abolishes death penalty as parliament backs historic reform
Lebanon's parliament has approved a law abolishing capital punishment, confirming a major change to the country's criminal justice system. The vote took place on Tuesday in the 128-member assembly, and the new penalty replaces death sentences with life imprisonment with aggravated hard labour. The reform makes Lebanon the first country in the Middle East to formally end the death penalty.The move gives legal force to a long-standing pause in executions. Lebanon has observed an unofficial moratorium since January 2004, but courts have continued to issue death sentences, and 85 people were still facing such sentences at the end of 2025,... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 12 Aug 2026 12:29 LONDON
Germany approves draft law to expand spy agency powers after recent attacks
Germany's government has approved a draft law that would lift many of the postwar restraints on the country's intelligence agencies. The move comes after two recent security incidents that have intensified pressure on ministers to show they can respond more effectively to modern threats. The bill still needs parliamentary approval before it can take effect.Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the changes would turn the intelligence services into "genuine secret services" and give them the operational capabilities needed to confront modern state terrorism and extremist groups. He said Germany should be able to operate on an equal footing with partner services... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 12 Aug 2026 12:07 LONDON
Taiwan protests China-Indonesia military exercise plan off east coast
Taiwan has condemned China's plan to hold a navigation exercise with an Indonesian warship east of the island, calling the move unilateral and irresponsible. The planned drill was announced by China's defence ministry for mid-August, with no details given on what it would involve. Taiwan said it had immediately sought clarification from the parties involved and asked Indonesia for further information.According to the available statement, the exercise would take place off Taiwan's east coast, an area where China has already stepped up activity in recent months. Taiwan said China's military operates around the island on an almost daily basis, and... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 12 Aug 2026 12:04 LONDON
Trump confirms secret plane swap after alleged Iran threat during NATO summit travel
United States President Donald Trump has confirmed that he secretly changed aircraft during travel linked to a NATO summit in Turkiye after what he described as a potential assassination threat from Iran. He said the move was made on the advice of the Secret Service and the military, and that he complied with their instructions. The aircraft change took place on 8 July and was not disclosed publicly at the time.Trump told reporters that he was moved between planes in a catering truck in Ankara, while journalists and top aides remained on the original aircraft. He said the plane he... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 12 Aug 2026 09:29 LONDON
Russia frees ailing ex-US Marine Robert Gilman as he returns to the United States
Russia has freed former US Marine Robert Gilman, who had been detained since 2022, and he has now returned to the United States for medical care. The release was described by US officials as being on humanitarian grounds after discussions involving President Vladimir Putin and US special envoy Steve Witkoff. Gilman arrived at Dulles airport near Washington on a State Department plane before continuing on to a rehabilitation centre in San Antonio, Texas.US officials said Mr Putin approved a pardon for Gilman and that Russia did not seek any concessions in return. Mr Witkoff said Gilman could now return to... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 12 Aug 2026 08:01 LONDON
Dubai Property Market Faces Litmus Test as Nakheel Waterfront Investors Await Final Judicial Verdict
Hundreds of international and local investors who purchased land plots in Nakheel’s massive "Waterfront" project nearly two decades ago are holding their breath. Following the official cancellation of the project by the Dubai Land Department and its integration under Dubai Holding, a special judicial committee appointed by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has been tasked with resolving the liquidation and settling investor claims. Because the decisions of this specialized committee are legally binding and final, with no avenue for appeal, the upcoming rulings are being viewed as a critical turning point for the regulatory reputation of Dubai's... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews-Opinion | 28 Jun 2026 09:20 LONDON
The Ghosn Paradox The Imperial Savior, His Cinematic Escape, and the Desperate Call to Salvage a Crumbling Nissan
The Man Who Defied Corporate Gravity Few corporate sagas in modern history possess the cinematic drama, geopolitical friction, and sheer psychological tension as the rise and fall of Carlos Ghosn. Once lauded as the ultimate transnational executive, a multi-lingual titan capable of bridging disparate business cultures, Ghosn became the absolute center of a global firestorm. His story cuts through the pristine facade of global corporate governance to reveal a messy underbelly of nationalism, legal vulnerability, and strategic failure. Rebuilding an Empire from the Ashes of Bankruptcy The mythos of Carlos Ghosn began in 1999. Nissan, one of Japan's proudest manufacturing... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews-Opinion | 27 Jun 2026 08:19 LONDON
Is the Italian Prime Minister the Visionary Leader Europe Needs? An Analysis of Executive Decisiveness, National Security, and the Contrast in European Integration Policies
A Continent in Institutional Deadlock While the rest of Europe remains entangled in a web of bureaucratic deadlock and human rights litigation, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has quietly established herself as a leader operating far ahead of her continental peers. For years, European leaders have debated how to handle radicalism and unchecked migration, often waiting for institutional consensus that arrives too late. Meloni, conversely, has demonstrated a willingness to prioritize state security over political correctness, offering a blueprint for a continent facing asymmetric threats. The Contrast in European Legislative Approvals The contrast between Italy’s swift, executive decisiveness and the... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews-Opinion | 25 Jun 2026 09:58 LONDON
THE BATTLE FOR ALI AL-TAHER: HOW A SOUTHERN LEBANON AMBUSH SHATTERED TRUMP’S WASHINGTON AGREEMENT
A catastrophic military escalation in Southern Lebanon has successfully disrupted the highest levels of global diplomacy. Just days after the signing of the United States and Iran Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), an armoured battlefield clash on the strategic heights of Ali al-Taher has effectively frozen implementation talks scheduled to begin today in Switzerland. The crisis provides an alarming look at how kinetic actions on the ground can instantly sabotage geopolitical blueprints designed in Washington. The Official Statement from Hezbollah Following the midnight clashes, the media wing of Hezbollah issued a formal, comprehensive statement outlining their strategic justification and rejecting accusations... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews-Opinion | 19 Jun 2026 12:24 LONDON
The Unspoken Stats: Who is Raping Europe?
Answering this question requires a direct look at the empirical data so, below is the comprehensive, data-verified draft for my article, formatted to analyse the relationship between immigration demographics and police-recorded sexual offense figures across Europe. Data vs. Perception: An Asymmetric Analysis of Migration and Sexual Offence Statistics in Europe While my primary field of research is rooted in macro-geopolitics, the responsibilities of independent journalism often demand transitioning from international balance-of-power metrics to domestic social realities. A recent high-profile criminal incident in England involving the gang rape of a 17-year-old girl by four Afghani nationals where one of them is... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews-Opinion | 16 Jun 2026 20:09 LONDON
Fear the Shia, Arm the Sunnis: The Uncomfortable Numbers Behind America’s War Narrative
“When fear is managed carefully enough, a nation can be taught to look away from the blood on the floor and stare instead at the shadow on the wall.” A friend of mine, whose name I will not reveal because he asked me not to, sat across from me over dinner and placed a question on the table that would not leave me alone. He was born into a Muslim Shia background, and for the angle of this article, that detail matters, not because I wish to reduce a man to a sect, but because sect has become one of... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews-Opinion | 23 May 2026 08:00 LONDON
GAS, GOD, AND GUNS: The Secret Agenda Behind the Washington Talks and the Death of the Maritime Border
The mahogany tables of the U.S. State Department are hosting a ghost today. As official delegations from Israel and Lebanon convene for a third round of high-stakes negotiations this Friday, May 8, 2026, the air in Washington is thick with the scent of a "peace" that looks increasingly like a strategic ambush. While the world watches the diplomatic theatre, the reality on the ground in Southern Lebanon tells a story of a predatory recalibration. Prime Minister Netanyahu isn’t just looking for a ceasefire; he is aiming to hit three birds with one single, devastating stone: the annexation of land, the... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews-Opinion | 08 May 2026 12:29 LONDON
The Mirage of the Umbrella: The Shifting Sands of the U.S.-Israel-GCC Alliance
As I sat in a recent debate at the historic Carlton Club in London, listening to Faisal Abbas, the Editor-in-Chief of Arab News, I felt a tangible shift in the room, not because a new fact had been revealed, but because an old illusion had finally lost its last breath. The old-world order has not merely changed, it has evaporated, leaving the Gulf to realize it is no longer watching a distant fire from the safety of marble towers and air-conditioned ministries, but is instead standing directly inside the smoke. The GCC today is caught in a lethal crossfire between... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews-Opinion | 29 Apr 2026 21:40 LONDON
The Glass Elevator to Nowhere: A World Trapped in a Chocolate Factory
As a journalist in my mid-fifties, I thought my skin had thickened to the point of being impenetrable. I have covered the rise and fall of regimes, the grinding gears of the Cold War's leftovers, and the digital revolutions that promised to unite us. I thought I had seen every trick in the political playbook. Then came Donald Trump’s 2026 foreign policy, and I realized I was not watching a statesman; I was watching a child play with a chemistry set he does not understand. The Willy Wonka of the West: Rule by Whim Walking into a press briefing lately... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews-Opinion | 02 Apr 2026 09:44 LONDON
When Deterrence Becomes Reality
Yesterday the war crossed a line! For years the Sejjil ballistic missile existed mostly as a symbol. A weapon paraded in military videos, discussed in defense briefings, whispered about in strategic circles as one of Iran’s most serious capabilities. A weapon that analysts described as deterrence, not something meant to be used. But on March 15, 2026, that line disappeared. Iran reportedly launched the Sejjil (also known as Ashoura) as part of what Tehran called the 54th wave of Operation True Promise 4, a massive strike package that also included the Fattah hypersonic missile and the Qadr ballistic missile system.... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews-Opinion | 16 Mar 2026 18:34 LONDON
The Madness of Power, From Balfour to the Edge of World War Three
A Voice in the Wilderness of War: Who Still Dares to Speak Truth While Empires March There are moments in history when the world suddenly accelerates toward disaster, moments when anyone who has studied history can feel the temperature rising even before the explosions reach their peak. The current escalation in the Middle East is one of those moments. According to the facts we now see unfolding, the United States and Israel made the unilateral decision to attack Iran without the approval of the United Nations, without a global coalition mandate, and without the support of most of the international... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews-Opinion | 06 Mar 2026 17:20 LONDON
The Proving Ground, When “Decent” Reporting Meets High-Tech Warfare
For two decades I have watched wars unfold not only on battlefields, but on screens. Today’s incident over Kuwait, involving the downing of a U.S. F-15 Strike Eagle, is not just another headline in the Iran conflict. It may be a signal that something larger is unfolding behind the noise. Iranian state outlets rapidly circulated imagery of an ejected pilot. Washington responded cautiously. But beneath the spectacle lies a deeper question, whose technology was truly being tested? The Gulf as a live-fire laboratory For years, China has refined export-ready variants of its air defense systems, particularly the HQ-9 family and... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews-Opinion | 02 Mar 2026 09:36 LONDON
WAR CRIMES OR HUMANITY ON LIFE SUPPORT?
The Thin, Bloody Line Between Justice and Jungle Rule IS KILLING WITHOUT MERCY NOW LEGAL? By Anthony Sterling In September 2025, the United States military launched what became known as Operation Southern Spear, a lethal campaign targeting suspected drug smuggling vessels in international waters. The stated objective was to combat narco trafficking networks operating beyond territorial jurisdiction. The ethical shock came on 2 September 2025, when a double strike in the Caribbean left survivors clinging to wreckage for nearly an hour. Drone footage reportedly showed two individuals waving from debris after the first impact. Instead of rescue, three additional munitions... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews-Opinion | 23 Feb 2026 17:39 LONDON
Shadows of Fire: The Long Arc of Iran–United States Tensions
A Region on Edge: The Latest Escalation In recent months, tensions between Iran and the United States have intensified once again, fueled by disputes over regional security, nuclear development, maritime incidents in the Persian Gulf, and the broader strategic balance in the Middle East. Officials in Washington have expressed renewed concern over Iran’s uranium enrichment levels, while leaders in Tehran have accused the United States of economic warfare through sanctions and diplomatic isolation. The fragile equilibrium that followed earlier rounds of indirect negotiations appears increasingly strained, with both sides engaging in sharp rhetoric at the United Nations, reinforcing military postures... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews-Opinion | 19 Feb 2026 08:49 LONDON
There Is Good in Every Bad
Power, Greed, Oil, and the Theater of Modern Geopolitics The Business Model of Power Donald Trump does not govern like a traditional politician. He governs like a negotiator who believes every geopolitical crisis is leverage, every war threat is a bargaining chip, and every market panic is an opportunity. When markets tremble, someone profits. The question is, who? Global markets react instantly to political tension. Gold rises when conflict looms. Oil spikes when instability threatens production. Stock markets collapse on fear, then rebound on reassurance. Volatility is not chaos, it is opportunity. Historically, gold has surged during major geopolitical crises,... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews-Opinion | 18 Feb 2026 17:11 LONDON
Navigating the Perils of Information in a Global Age
Navigating the Perils of Information in a Global Age In today’s world, where information flows ceaselessly and unchecked, the stakes for migrants have never been higher. Critical thinking is not just a skill, it’s a lifeline. The ability to sift fact from fiction, especially in matters as consequential as migration, is essential for individuals, communities, and the institutions that serve them. The migration landscape is uniquely vulnerable to the hazards of mis-, dis-, and mal-information, collectively known as MDM. The consequences of inaccurate or misleading information can ripple far beyond the individual, affecting entire communities and the systems that govern... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews-Opinion | 12 Feb 2026 09:21 LONDON
