International
Saudi Arabia leads Arab condemnation of military targeting Iran
Saudi Arabia leads Arab condemnation of military targeting Iran
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia condemned on Saturday the military targeting of Iran, denouncing it as a violation of Tehran’s sovereignty and a breach of international laws and norms, state news agency SPA reported.
In a statement, the Kingdom urged all involved parties to exercise maximum restraint and to work toward de-escalation and warned of the grave consequences that prolonged military confrontations could have on the region.
Saudi Arabia reiterated its steadfast stance against the ongoing escalation in the region and the widening scope of conflicts that threaten the security and stability of neighboring countries.
It called on the international community to fulfill their responsibilities in promoting peace, reducing tensions, and supporting efforts to end conflicts in the Middle East.
The UAE also condemned the targeting of Iran and stressed the importance of exercising “maximum restraint” to avoid escalation.
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In an official statement, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs underscored commitment to diplomatic channels as the optimal path to de-escalate tensions, urging parties to move away from confrontation and escalation.
Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, at war with Israel in Gaza, said it strongly condemned Israeli strikes on military targets in Iran.
“We… condemn in the strongest terms the Zionist aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the targeting of military sites in several provinces,” the movement said in a statement, calling the move “a blatant violation of Iranian sovereignty and an escalation that threatens the security of the region.”
Qatar’s foreign ministry condemned Israel’s airstrikes on Iran and urged restraint and dialogue to avoid regional instability.
Oman, which has long played a mediating role between Iran and Western countries, said Israel’s attack on Iran “fuels the cycle of violence and undermines efforts” to de-escalate.
It said the international community should “put an end to these blatant violations on the territory of neighboring countries”.
#بيان || تُعرب وزارة الخارجية عن إدانة سلطنة عُمان واستنكارها الشديد للقصف الجوي الذي شنّته إسرائيل على أراضي الجمهورية الإسلامية الإيرانية صباح اليوم، الأمر الذي يعد انتهاكا صارخا لسيادتها وخرقاً واضحاً لقواعد القانون الدولي pic.twitter.com/TuovV31xOu
— وزارة الخارجية (@FMofOman) October 26, 2024
Kuwait’s foreign ministry also expressed condemnation and accused Israel of “endangering the security of the region”.
Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry described the strikes as a violation of Iranian sovereignty and a serious threat to regional and international peace and security.
Bahrain’s foreign ministry condemned military action against Iran, urging an immediate ceasefire to protect civilians and reduce regional tensions.
Meanwhile, Jordan said no military planes were allowed to cross its airspace by any conflicting regional parties, state media cited an armed force source as saying.
Expressing its “solidarity” with Iran, the Syrian foreign ministry said in a statement that it supported “Iran’s legitimate right to defend itself and protect its territory and the lives of its citizens.”
The Egyptian foreign ministry expressed grave concern over the Israeli attack on Iran, saying it condemns all measures that threaten regional security and stability.
On Saturday morning, Israel struck military sites in Iran in retaliation against Tehran’s strikes on Israel this month, risking fears of wider war in the Middle East.
Saudi Arabia leads Arab condemnation of military targeting Iran
ARAB NEWS
International
Israeli strikes pound central Beirut, suburbs
Israeli strikes pound central Beirut, suburbs
BEIRUT: Israeli strikes pounded a densely-populated part of the Lebanese capital and its southern suburbs on Tuesday, hours ahead of an anticipated announcement of a ceasefire ending hostilities between Israel and Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.
A strike on Beirut hit the Noueiri district with no evacuation warning and killed at least one person, Lebanon’s health ministry said in a preliminary toll.
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Minutes later, at least 10 Israeli strikes hit Beirut’s southern suburbs. They began approximately 30 minutes after the Israeli military issued evacuation orders for 20 locations in the area, the largest such warning yet.
As the strikes were under way, Israel’s military spokesperson Avichay Adraee said the air force was conducting a “widespread attack” on Hezbollah targets across the city.
Israeli strikes pound central Beirut, suburbs
ARAB NEWS
International
Over $100m wasted, Trump mocks Democrats for targeting him
Over $100m wasted, Trump mocks Democrats for targeting him
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has fiercely criticised the legal cases brought against him, calling them “empty and lawless”.
He accused Democrats of weaponising the judicial system to target him as a political opponent.
In a strongly worded statement, Trump alleged that over $100 million in taxpayer money had been wasted in what he described as a politically driven effort to undermine his influence.
“Nothing like this has ever happened in our Country before,” he said, pointing to high-profile prosecutors, including Georgia’s Fani Willis and New York Attorney General Letitia James, as key figures in what he called a “political hijacking.”
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Trump also accused Willis of colluding with Nathan Wade, whom he described as “her lover” and lacking the experience to handle such cases.
He claimed Wade was paid “millions,” allegedly enabling lavish trips and cruises.
Letitia James, who is pursuing a civil fraud case against Trump, was also criticised.
He claimed she had campaigned on a promise to “get Trump” in her bid for office, an action he labelled “unethical” and “probably illegal.”
Trump also mentioned Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, alleging that Bragg initially resisted prosecuting him but was pressured into action by the Justice Department and the Democratic Party.
Describing the series of legal actions as a “low point in the history of our Country,” Trump maintained his resolve, declaring: “I persevered, against all odds, and WON.”
Over $100m wasted, Trump mocks Democrats for targeting him
International
US-based Nigerians get 30-year sentence over $3.5m romance scam
US-based Nigerians get 30-year sentence over $3.5m romance scam
A United States federal jury sentenced two Nigerians, Anthony Ibekie and Samuel Aniukwu, to 30 years in prison for scamming certain US citizens $3,500,000.
This was mentioned in a news statement made public on the US Department of Justice website on Monday.
According to the statement, the Nigerians, Ibekie and Aniukwu mislead their victims by informing them that they had received big inheritances that required payment to claim.
The couple would then ask their victims to transfer money, promising to refund them after the inheritances were claimed.
It also stated that the duo carried out romance scams by establishing romantic relationships with their victims and demanding them to send money after they had built trust in their victims.
It read, “An undercover law enforcement investigation has resulted in federal prison sentences for two Nigerian nationals residing in the Chicago suburbs who conducted online inheritance scams and other fraud schemes.
“Using aliases, Anthony Emeka Ibekie and Samuel Aniukwu communicated with victims throughout the United States, convincing them they had received substantial inheritances and needed to send money to individuals associated with the defendants in order to claim it.
“In addition to the inheritance scam, the pair carried out an online romance scam that involved communicating with victims via social media and dating websites, building trust with the victims through a purported online romance, and convincing them to send money to a predetermined recipient. Aniukwu and Ibekie also orchestrated a ‘business email compromise’ scam that targeted corporate email accounts.
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“The fraud schemes were uncovered by a covert law enforcement investigation. The scams resulted in losses to victims of at least $3.5 million.”
According to the statement, after being arraigned on 14 charges, the duo pleaded guilty to their different alterations.
Following their guilty pleas, Ibekie was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Thursday, and Aniukwu was sentenced to 10 years in prison on November 8.
The statement continued, “A federal jury earlier this year convicted Ibekie, 59, of Oswego, Illinois, on all 14 counts of wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, making false statements to a bank, and passport fraud. U.S. District Judge Steven C. Seeger on Thursday sentenced Ibekie to 20 years in federal prison.
“Aniukwu, 50, of Romeoville, Illinois, pleaded guilty last year to wire fraud and money laundering charges. Judge Seeger on Nov. 8, 2024, sentenced Aniukwu to 10 years in prison.”
Meanwhile, Jennifer Gosha, an accomplice of the Nigerians and a US citizen, is expected to be sentenced on December 18 after pleading guilty.
“A third defendant, Jennifer Gosha, 52, a U.S. citizen from Oak Park, Ill., pleaded guilty earlier this year to charges of wire fraud and making false statements to a federal agent. Gosha is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Seeger on December 18, 2024,” the statement concluded.
US-based Nigerians get 30-year sentence over $3.5m romance scam
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