Author: Daily Sabah With Reuters

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…

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.

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.

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.

Israel retains the right to resume war in Gaza with U.S. backing should the second stage of the ceasefire prove pointless, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday. “If we must return to fighting we will do that in new, forceful ways, Netanyahu said in a video statement. “President Trump and President Biden have given full backing to Israel’s right to return to combat if Israel concludes that negotiations on Phase B are futile,” he said.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday Ukraine and Britain “had no room” for cooperation in the Sea of Azov, commenting on a new 100-year partnership agreement between Kyiv and London the two countries’ leaders announced on Thursday. The Kremlin said on Friday that any placement of British military assets in Ukraine under the new agreement would be of concern to Moscow, in particular in the Sea of Azov, which Russia considers its own, and the ministry echoed those remarks. “Any claims to this water area are a gross interference in the internal affairs of our country and will be…

President-elect Donald Trump is planning to use his executive powers to reduce the regulatory burden faced by cryptocurrency companies and promote digital asset adoption in his first few days in office, according to three people briefed on the plan. Trump, who courted crypto cash on the campaign trail with promises to be a “crypto president,” is expected to sign an executive order creating a crypto advisory council, an idea he first floated in July, said two of the sources who requested anonymity to discuss private deliberations. Bloomberg News first reported on Thursday that Trump was planning to issue an executive…

President-elect Donald Trump is planning to use his executive powers to reduce the regulatory burden faced by cryptocurrency companies and promote digital asset adoption in his first few days in office, according to three people briefed on the plan. Trump, who courted crypto cash on the campaign trail with promises to be a “crypto president,” is expected to sign an executive order creating a crypto advisory council, an idea he first floated in July, said two of the sources who requested anonymity to discuss private deliberations. Bloomberg News first reported on Thursday that Trump was planning to issue an executive…