Libya's Haftar offers Ramadan ceasefires
Eastern Libya's Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar has announced a cessation of hostilities for the month of Ramadan following international calls for a ceasefire due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
As yet, the Government of National Accord in Tripoli has yet to respond to the offer from the head of the Libyan National Army and AFP reported explosions in the centre of the capital after Field Marshal Haftar’s announcement.
Germany outlaws Hezbollah with dawn raids on 'terror group'
Germany has banned Iran-backed Hezbollah activity on its soil and designated the group a terrorist organisation, the Interior Ministry said on Thursday.
Police conducted early morning raids in Germany to detain suspected members of the group. Security officials believe up to 1,050 people in Germany are part of Hezbollah's extremist wing.
Germany had previously distinguished between Hezbollah's political arm and its military units, which have fought alongside President Bashar Al Assad's army in Syria.
Israel and the United States had been pushing Germany to ban the organisation.
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Yemen's STC says implementing power-sharing deal can end crisis
Yemen's Southern Transitional Council who declared a plan for self-rule at the weekend says that the crisis could be resolved if a power-sharing deal with the government overseen by Saudi Arabia in November is implemented.
The STC spokesman, Nizar Haitham, told the Saudi daily Asharq Al-Awsat on Thursday that the group has had a "consistent" stance towards the Riyadh agreement as a route to resolving the dispute with the government it accuses of corruption.
Mr Haitham said the move late on Saturday was sparked by "unjustified procrastination" in implementing the Riyadh deal that would give the southerners a 50 per cent representation in a new government.
Joe Biden would not move US embassy in Jerusalem if elected
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden said Wednesday that the US embassy in Israel would remain in Jerusalem if he’s elected, even as he called President Donald Trump’s decision to move the diplomatic base from Tel Aviv “short-sighted and frivolous.”
Mr Biden, speaking during a virtual fundraiser, suggested relocating the embassy again would not help the stagnant peace process between the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority that have fought for generations over how to divide land and power, especially Jerusalem.
Man shoots at Cuban embassy in Washington
A person was arrested early Thursday after opening fire on the Cuban embassy in Washington, the US Secret Service said. No one was injured.
The unidentified person fired multiple rounds from what some reports said was a high-powered assault rifle.
"This morning at approximately 2:15 am, US Secret Service officers responded to the Embassy of Cuba following reports of shots fired," the Secret Service said in a statement.
"One individual was arrested for being in possession of an unregistered firearm as well as unregistered ammunition, assault with the intent to kill, and possession of a high capacity feed device.
"No injuries were reported at the scene."
