China defense minister calls for ‘negotiation’ to end Ukraine, Gaza wars

China defense minister calls for ‘negotiation’ to end Ukraine, Gaza wars

  • “Promoting peace and negotiation is the only way out,” Dong Jun tells global gathering of military officials in Beijing
  • “There is no winner in war and conflict, and confrontation leads nowhere,” he said
By AFP ·

The UN’s special envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, addresses a UN Security Council meeting on Thursday. (Screenshot)

UN envoy repeats call for prioritization of efforts to end war in Yemen

  • Hans Grundberg urges all parties ‘to put Yemen first’ and work toward settlement of the conflict
  • Houthis have attacked more than 80 merchant ships since the war in Gaza began, seizing 1 vessel, sinking 2 and killing 4 sailors
By Zaynab Khojji ·

Deadly Israeli strike on Gaza school draws global condemnation

Deadly Israeli strike on Gaza school draws global condemnation

  • UN chief Antonio Guterres branded the strike “totally unacceptable“
  • EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said he was “outraged” by the deaths and that the strikes showed a “disregard of the basic principles” of international humanitarian law
By AFP ·

As war rages in Gaza, Israel’s crackdown on West Bank insurgency is killing Palestinian youths

As war rages in Gaza, Israel’s crackdown on West Bank insurgency is killing Palestinian youths

  • More than 150 teens and children 17 or younger have been killed in the embattled territory since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on southern Israel
  • Most died in nearly daily raids by the Israeli army that Amnesty International says have used disproportionate and unlawful force
By AP ·

Pope ends Asia trip with same message at the start: Interfaith tolerance to heal troubled world

Pope ends Asia trip with same message at the start: Interfaith tolerance to heal troubled world

  • Francis presided over a gathering of young people Friday from some of the religious traditions that are present in Singapore
By AP ·

Closing Bell: Saudi main index ends higher at 11,842.55

Closing Bell: Saudi main index ends higher at 11,842.55

  • Parallel market Nomu increased by 170.05 points, or 0.66%, closing at 25,934.60
  • MSCI Tadawul Index climbed, adding 8.32 points, or 0.57%, to end at 1,471.48
By NADIN HASSAN   ·

Saudi artist Safeya Binzagr, best known as the pioneer of the Kingdom’s fine art movement, died on Thursday.

Founder of Saudi Arabia’s fine art movement Safeya Binzagr dies at 84

  • Pioneer forged a path of opportunities for many artists to follow
  • Her first exhibition was in 1968
By Arab News ·
Unwanted history as Afghanistan-New Zealand test match is rained out after 5 days of trying

Unwanted history as Afghanistan-New Zealand test match is rained out after 5 days of trying

  • After continuing steady rain, officials called off the test match on the fifth and final scheduled day on Friday
By AP ·