Author: News Desk

News Desk CYPRUS / PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France, alongside allied nations, is preparing a “defensive and supportive” operation to reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz amid the escalating Middle East conflict. Macron, visiting Cyprus and aboard the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier deployed to the Mediterranean, said the mission will focus on escorting container ships and oil tankers, gradually restoring maritime traffic once the most intense phase of the conflict subsides. He emphasized that the operation is aimed solely at protecting international trade and ensuring the uninterrupted flow of oil and natural gas from the…

News Desk GAZA/Cairo: Talks to advance U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to end the Gaza war have been paused since last week following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, which escalated the regional conflict. The pause threatens to delay implementation of Trump’s key Middle East peace initiative, which involves persuading Hamas to disarm in exchange for amnesty and facilitating Gaza’s reconstruction. Backchannel communications between Israel and Hamas had been underway but were suspended when the Iran conflict erupted on February 28. A source involved in the negotiations described the delay as temporary, mainly due to travel disruptions preventing mediators from moving…

News Desk WASHINGTON: A new study has cautioned against relying entirely on artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT for medical guidance, highlighting potential risks when seeking health-related advice from AI platforms. Researchers noted that over 230 million people worldwide consult ChatGPT each week with questions about symptoms, safe foods, and home remedies. While the AI often correctly identifies clear medical emergencies, it underestimated the severity in more than half of cases requiring immediate care. The study examined 60 medical scenarios across 21 specialties, ranging from minor ailments to severe emergencies. Responses were less reliable for sensitive issues such as self-harm, where…

News Desk LONDON: A British newspaper has reported that Donald Trump’s military strategy in Iran, based on the so-called “Venezuela model,” has failed after Tehran appointed Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new supreme leader. According to the report, Trump had considered the political approach used in Venezuela—where Delcy Rodríguez was elevated to leadership—as a possible model for influencing leadership change in Iran. However, the election of Mojtaba Khamenei has undermined Washington’s expectations. The newspaper said Israel could attempt to remove the younger Khamenei, while the White House reportedly ignored calls supporting Reza Pahlavi as a potential leader. It added that…

News Desk BEIJING: China has opposed any attempt to target Mojtaba Khamenei, following his appointment as the new supreme leader of Iran. Reacting to the development, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China said the appointment of Iran’s new supreme leader is an internal and constitutional matter of Iran. The spokesperson added that China firmly opposes interference in the internal affairs of other countries under any pretext. #China #Iran #MojtabaKhamenei #SupremeLeader #ForeignPolicy #GlobalPolitics #MiddleEast

News Desk ANKARA: Türkiye has deployed an air defense system and six F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets in Northern Cyprus, as tensions continue to rise in the Eastern Mediterranean region. According to Turkish Ministry of National Defence, the measures were taken to ensure the security of Turkish Cypriots, adding that further steps could be taken if necessary. Regional tensions have also intensified following ongoing missile and drone attacks across Gulf countries. In Bahrain, an alleged Iran drone strike on Sitra Island left 32 people injured, including children. Bahrain’s health ministry said all the injured are Bahraini citizens and four remain…

News Desk NEW YORK: The New York Times has rejected a claim by Donald Trump that Iran was responsible for an attack on a girls’ school, stating that evidence suggests a US missile struck the site. According to the newspaper’s investigation, more than 160 girls were killed when a missile hit the elementary school during a strike near a naval base. Analysts examined video footage of a Tomahawk missile strike along with satellite images, social media posts and other videos. The findings indicated that the school was damaged at the same time nearby facilities linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard…

News Desk GLASGOW: A major fire near Glasgow Central Station, the busiest railway hub in Scotland, has forced the station to close indefinitely. Officials reported that the blaze began at a vape shop on Union Street and quickly spread through a four-story building, causing part of the structure to collapse. Following the incident, the railway infrastructure body Network Rail announced that dozens of trains were canceled on Sunday, and no reopening decision had been made for Monday morning. Authorities advised passengers to make alternative travel arrangements as all train services passing through Glasgow Central Station remain temporarily suspended. #GlasgowFire #GlasgowCentral…

News Desk LONDON: global gold prices fell by 3 percent, with the price dropping by $157 per ounce to reach $5,023 per ounce in international markets. Meanwhile, tensions in the Middle East have caused a sharp and unusual surge in global oil prices. On the international market, WTI and Brent crude oil prices have both increased by up to 30 percent, reflecting concerns over supply disruptions and geopolitical instability. hashtags:#LONDON #GoldPrices #OilPrices #WTI #BrentCrude #MiddleEast #MarketUpdate #GlobalEconomy #SamaaNews #CommodityNews

News Desk BEIRUT: At least 394 people have been killed and 1,130 injured in ongoing Israeli attacks in Lebanon since Monday, according to the country’s health minister, as tensions escalate in the region. Lebanese Health Minister Rakan Nassereddine said during a press conference that the casualties include 42 women and 83 children, while among the injured are 274 women and 254 children. The latest military escalation followed limited rocket fire from the Hezbollah, drawing Israel into a broader campaign amid ongoing regional tensions linked to the US-Israel conflict with Iran. Despite a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah in November 2024, Israel…