Author: Daily Sabah With Reuters

Qatar’s Prime Minister said in Davos on Tuesday he hoped the Palestinian Authority would return to play a governing role in Gaza once the war with Israel comes to an end. Speaking at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Switzerland, two days after the ceasefire Qatar helped broker came into effect in Gaza, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani cautioned that Gazans — and not any other country — should dictate the way the enclave will be governed. “We hope to see the PA back in Gaza. We hope to see a government that will really address the issues…

UK premier Keir Starmer told Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu Tuesday that the peace process in the Middle East should pave the way for a Palestinian state, Downing Street said. “The prime minister added that the UK stands ready to do everything it can to support a political process, which should also lead to a viable and sovereign Palestinian state,” a UK government spokesperson said following a call between the two leaders.

Turkish and Greek Cypriot leaders said on Monday that they supported opening more crossing points on the 1974 cease-fire line as an essential step to foster greater confidence-building between their communities on the ethnically divided island. Nikos Christodoulides, the Greek Cypriot leader, and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar discussed the modalities of new checkpoints at a rare meeting hosted by the United Nations in the divided capital Lefkoşa (Nicosia). But they stopped short of announcing additional easings in movement over the truce line, which runs along a roughly east-west trajectory on the eastern Mediterranean island. “The leaders both believe that…

Jannik Sinner overcame illness to reach the Australian Open quarterfinals on Monday, while the grueling demands of Grand Slam tennis forced French veteran Gael Monfils and American teenager Learner Tien to bow out. Iga Swiatek was in excellent shape as she continued her bid for a maiden title at Melbourne Park and sixth major by downing lucky loser Eva Lys 6-0, 6-1, but Elena Rybakina could not shake off a back problem and fell 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 to Madison Keys. Monfils, 38, was forced to retire with his own back issue while trailing American young gun Ben Shelton 7-6(3), 6-7(3),…

Jannik Sinner overcame illness to reach the Australian Open quarterfinals on Monday, while the grueling demands of Grand Slam tennis forced French veteran Gael Monfils and American teenager Learner Tien to bow out. Iga Swiatek was in excellent shape as she continued her bid for a maiden title at Melbourne Park and sixth major by downing lucky loser Eva Lys 6-0, 6-1, but Elena Rybakina could not shake off a back problem and fell 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 to Madison Keys. Monfils, 38, was forced to retire with his own back issue while trailing American young gun Ben Shelton 7-6(3), 6-7(3),…

Sides are looking for a potential deal to find a solution to a complex issue for Syria in the aftermath of the fall of the Assad regime: the YPG, the Syrian wing of the PKK terrorist group that enjoyed vast U.S. support during the unrest in the country. The YPG occupied parts of northeastern Syria and declared a so-called semi-autonomy. It has few options than succumbing to the demands of new rulers and Türkiye, which is worried about terrorist attacks. Diplomatic and military negotiators from the United States, Türkiye, the YPG and the new administration of Syria are engaged in…

Newly sworn-in U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that he would declare illegal immigration a national emergency, send troops to the U.S.-Mexico border, and reinstate his “remain in Mexico” policy as part of a sweeping immigration crackdown. Trump also said he would seek to stop all illegal entries and detain all migrants caught crossing illegally.

Ukrainian air defences downed 93 of 141 drones launched by Russia overnight, Ukraine’s air force said on Monday. The air force said 47 of the drones were “lost”, in reference to Ukraine’s use of electronic warfare to redirect Russian drones. Two of the lost drones returned to Russia, it said.

President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming national security adviser, Mike Waltz, said on Sunday that if Hamas reneges on the Gaza ceasefire-for-hostages deal, the United States will support Israel “in doing what it has to do.” He added in an interview with CBS’ “Face the Nation,” “Hamas will never govern Gaza. That is completely unacceptable.” Waltz said Trump and his team have made clear to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, adding “I want the Israeli people to hear me loud and clear.” “If Hamas reneges on this deal and Hamas backs out, moves the goalpost, what have you, we will support Israel…

Ukrainian air defences shot down 43 out of 61 drones launched by Russia in an overnight attack on Sunday that targeted nine regions across Ukraine, the air force said. It said that 15 other drones were “lost” in reference to Kyiv using electronic warfare to redirect them. No major damage or casualties were immediately reported by officials.