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The Cradle is an online news magazine covering West Asian geopolitics from within.
⭕️ Iran must halt its uranium enrichment activities under any agreement with the United States and would only be allowed to import the necessary material for a civilian nuclear program, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said ahead of upcoming talks between Tehran and Washington.
"There's a pathway to a civil, peaceful nuclear program if they want one," Rubio said on the "Honestly with Bari Weiss" podcast on Tuesday.
"But if they insist on enriching, then they will be the only country in the world that doesn't have a 'weapons program,' ... but is enriching. And so I think that's problematic," he added.
US West Asia envoy Steve Witkoff stated last week that Iran does not need to enrich uranium beyond 3.67%, prompting questions about whether Washington still seeks a full dismantling of Tehran’s enrichment efforts. The following day, Witkoff clarified that Iran must "stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment."
⭕️ The World Bank has approved a $250 million loan to Lebanon to help address ongoing electricity shortages, the finance ministry announced on Thursday. Lebanon has also received preliminary approval to raise the loan to $400 million as part of a broader $1 billion reconstruction program, with the remaining funds expected from international donors.
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⭕️ Cyprus will receive free portable desalination plants from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to address a water shortage, with units producing 15,000 cubic meters of water daily.
This comes after a fire disabled one of the island’s desalination plants, exacerbating water supply issues during the summer tourist season. Cyprus also plans to implement additional desalination plants and support hotel-level solutions to reduce the impact on tourism. (AP)
❗️Medical sources report that the death toll has risen to 20 in ongoing Israeli airstrikes since dawn today on several areas in Gaza.
(Al Jazeera)
Lebanon granted 'preliminary approval' for higher reconstruction loan from World Bank
Israeli attacks on Lebanon devastated large areas of the country, causing extensive damage to civilian infrastructure and agricultural land due to the continued use of white phosphorus
Syria’s stolen daughters: The HTS campaign to enslave Alawite women
In post-Assad Syria, the mass abduction and sexual enslavement of Alawite women under Sharaa’s rule mirrors the darkest atrocities of ISIS—yet is met with global silence.
INFOGRAPHIC | According to figures compiled by Al-Manar, Israel has violated the ceasefire agreement with Lebanon at least 2,970 times, including 1,488 ground incursions, 1,411 airspace violations, and 71 maritime breaches. Israel has also killed at least 147 people and injured 343.
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❗️Israeli drones are flying low over Beirut despite strong winds and reduced visibility caused by a dust storm affecting the region.
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Massive fires have broken out in the Israeli settlement of Beit Shemesh and its surroundings, near occupied Jerusalem.
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Israeli settlers attack the town of Sinjil, north of Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank and burn farmers' property.
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BREAKING | Jordan's Interior Minister:
“We are announcing the banning of the Muslim Brotherhood group and deeming it illegal due to activities by some of its members aimed at destabilizing security and stability, including the manufacture of explosives and rockets in Jordan.”
❗️Secretary-General of the Palestinian National Initiative, Mustafa Barghouti, to Al Araby TV in response to the statements made by the head of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas:
"The victim cannot be held responsible for the crimes of the occupation. Today, we face the threat of a new catastrophe that may be more horrific than the 1948 Nakba."
Iran FM calls for cooperation against 'bullying, unilateralism' during China visit
Araghchi’s visit coincided with an ongoing trade war between Beijing and Washington, as well as continued US sanctions on Iran despite the current nuclear talks
⭕️ France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot began his first visit to Baghdad on Wednesday as part of a regional tour to promote the "two-state solution."
Barrot, who will also visit Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, aims to prepare for an international conference on the two-state solution set for June, co-organized by Paris and Riyadh.
French President Macron recently stated that France plans to recognize a Palestinian state, potentially by June, to encourage other recognitions, including of Israel.
Iraq has long recognized Palestine but has never recognized Israel.
❗️Dr. Ahmad al-Farra, Director of Al-Tahrir Hospital at Nasser Medical Complex in Gaza:
– "Children in the Gaza Strip are experiencing severe stages of malnutrition, and it is increasingly difficult to follow up on their medical needs due to the shortage of therapeutic medicines and infant formula."
– "The case of child Osama al-Raqeb sums up the suffering of Gaza’s children caused by the lack of proper nutrition sources and drinking water."
– "The Gaza Strip is currently in the fifth stage of malnutrition, which is the most severe according to the World Health Organization."
– "The absence of proper nutrition and medications for pregnant mothers is having a dangerously adverse impact on newborns, especially premature babies."
– "The ongoing blockade on food and medical supplies indicates that children in the Gaza Strip are facing a dire and catastrophic situation."
⭕️ The 'Planning and Building Committee' of the Israeli Municipality in Jerusalem is discussing the promotion of a new settlement plan aimed at expanding the "Gilo" settlement.
The plan includes the construction of approximately 1,900 new settlement units, which will be spread over an area of about 1,760 dunams, at the expense of the historical olive orchards and land belonging to the town of Beit Jala, southwest of Jerusalem.
⭕️ New Gaza ceasefire proposal
(according to sources who spoke to Asharq)
– A balanced proposal will be presented by Egypt, in coordination with Qatar and the US, at the end of the week to end the war and establish a 5-7 year truce with international guarantees.
– It aims to reach a 'comprehensive agreement' that will restore the field situation in Gaza to what it was before, halt military operations, and see Israeli forces withdraw according to their January 2025 positions (phase 1 withdrawal), while allowing humanitarian aid under international protocols.
– Hamas demands a comprehensive prisoner swap, releasing all Israeli prisoners in exchange for an agreed number of Palestinian prisoners.
– The deal is contingent on an immediate ceasefire, a full Israeli withdrawal, Gaza’s reconstruction, and lifting the blockade imposed since 2007.
– Hamas will commit to a 5-year ceasefire, with strong regional and international guarantees.
– The proposal addresses Israel’s demand to deal with the weapons of the resistance factions and ensure Hamas won’t participate in Gaza’s administration.
❗️Israel massacres at least 10 people in an air raid targeting a police station in Jabalia, north Gaza.
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Yesterday, 12 year old Mahmoud Abu al-Haija was shot dead by Israeli occupation forces during clashes in Yamoun, west of Jenin in the occupied West Bank.
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Yemen launches hypersonic missile attack on Haifa for first time
A number of Israelis were injured while rushing to shelters, as sirens blared across Haifa and several northern settlements
WATCH | Qassam Brigades release a video of Israeli captive Omri Miran, who is celebrating his birthday for the second time in Gaza, with the following caption:
"Because of you, we are all here! You are pushing this country to collapse."
Jordan bans Muslim Brotherhood for 'disturbing public order'
The ban comes a week after 16 people were detained in connection with a Muslim Brotherhood-linked arms production plot
⭕️ International Monetary Fund (IMF) appoints first mission chief to Syria in 14 years.
Ron van Rooden has been named head of the IMF’s mission to Syria, according to a written statement from Syria’s Finance Minister Mohammad Bernieh. He becomes the first mission chief assigned to the country in 14 years.
A devastated Palestinian father grieves his son's death following an Israeli airstrike on the Shujaiya neighborhood of Gaza City, earlier today.
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❗️On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump stated that he doesn’t plan to “play hardball” with China in the ongoing tariff talks and expressed optimism that an agreement could be reached “pretty quickly.” His remarks came just hours after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent cautioned against an “unsustainable” tariff standoff.
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BREAKING | At least six Palestinians have been killed and others wounded in an Israeli airstrike targeting a residential home in Gaza City’s Shujaiya neighborhood.
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❗️A 6.2-magnitude earthquake has struck Istanbul, with at least six aftershocks reported within the first hour of it occurring according to the Disaster Organization of Turkiye (AFAD).
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❗️A Palestinian fisherman was killed and others injured in an Israeli airstrike on the Sudanese area in northern Gaza.
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Body-cam footage from an Israeli occupation soldier captures a platoon of troops retreating in panic after being repelled by Palestinian resistance fighters inside a Gaza home.
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