Politics

BEIRUT/WAM The Lebanese Parliament on Thursday elected General Joseph Aoun, Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces, as Lebanon’s 14th President. His election marks the end of a presidential vacancy that lasted for more than two years, Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported. Aoun secured 99 votes in the parliamentary session, while 9 MPs cast blank ballots.

CAIRO/WAM Egyptian Foreign Minister Dr. Badr Abdel Aaty and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held a phone call today to discuss the latest developments in Gaza and Syria. During the call, Badr Abdel Aaty emphasised the importance of intensifying regional and international efforts to achieve an immediate ceasefire and ensure the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Abdel ...

AMMAN/WAM His Majesty King Abdullah II of the Hashimite Kingdom of Jordan on Friday reaffirmed Jordan’s support for Syria in building a free, independent, and fully sovereign state that fulfils the aspirations of all components of the Syrian people, Petra News Agency reported. In a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, His Majesty reiterated the centrality of Syria’s security ...

LONDON/WAM More than 800 million adults have diabetes worldwide – almost twice as many as previous estimates have suggested – and more than half of those aged over 30 who have the condition are not receiving treatment, according to a new study. In 2022, there were around 828 million people aged 18 years and older with type 1 and type ...

WASHINGTON/WAM US President Biden welcomed President-elect Donald Trump back to the White House on Wednesday for a nearly two-hour meeting as part of the transition process. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called the meeting “substantive,” and said the two men discussed national security and domestic policy issues, as Biden raised important items on Congress’ to-do list. “Well Mr President-elect ...

FLORIDA/WAM Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump addressed the American people following his announced victory in the US presidential election, calling for an end to divisions and a commitment to unity. He stated, “Let’s make America great again.” Trump addressed his supporters in the nation early on Wednesday morning after earning more than 270 electoral votes, and expressed joy over his ...

ABU DHABI / WAM The UAE has continued its humanitarian aid for Lebanon, with the dispatch of three more planes carrying necessary relief aid including medical and food supplies, ambulances, and shelter equipment. With these, the country has so far sent 12 aircraft carrying 515 tonnes of aid supplies. This is part of the two-week national relief campaign “The UAE ...

GAZA/WAM Israeli occupation forces committed four massacres against families in the Gaza Strip over the last 24 hours, resulting in the killing of at least 40 Palestinians and the injury of 58 others, according to medical reports. According to Palestinian News & Information Agency (WAFA), local health authorities confirmed that the Palestinian death toll from the Israeli onslaught since 7th ...

NEW YORK/WAM Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, stated that the new school year, which was set to begin today across the Gaza Strip, cannot commence in any of its 200 schools, most of which are being used as shelters for displaced Palestinians. In a statement, Dujarric said that after 11 months of hostilities, more than 600,000 students are ...

PARIS/WAM  French President Emmanuel Macron appointed Michel Barnier, the European Union’s former Brexit negotiator, as prime minister on Thursday. Barnier is tasked with forming a new government, which is likely to end weeks of political deadlock after Macron called a snap election that delivered an unwieldy hung parliament. Barnier will now have to survive a no-confidence vote in the National ...