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Lebanese Minister: Israeli Strike Closes Off Road Used to Flee Lebanon to Syria

Masnaa border crossing between Lebanon and Syria, Lebanon November 1, 2018. Picture taken November 1, 2018. REUTERS/Jamal Saidi
Masnaa border crossing between Lebanon and Syria, Lebanon November 1, 2018. Picture taken November 1, 2018. REUTERS/Jamal Saidi
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Lebanese Minister: Israeli Strike Closes Off Road Used to Flee Lebanon to Syria

Masnaa border crossing between Lebanon and Syria, Lebanon November 1, 2018. Picture taken November 1, 2018. REUTERS/Jamal Saidi
Masnaa border crossing between Lebanon and Syria, Lebanon November 1, 2018. Picture taken November 1, 2018. REUTERS/Jamal Saidi

An Israeli strike on Friday morning near Lebanon's Masnaa border crossing with Syria cut off a road used by hundreds of thousands of people to flee Israeli bombardments in recent days, Lebanon Transport Minister Ali Hamieh told Reuters.
Hamieh said the strike hit inside Lebanese territory near the border crossing, creating a four-meter (12 feet) wide crater.
An Israeli military spokesman had accused Lebanese armed group Hezbollah on Thursday of using the crossing to transport military equipment into Lebanon.
Israel “will not allow the smuggling of these weapons and will not hesitate to act if forced to do so, as it has done throughout this war," Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee said on X.
Hamieh had said at a press conference on Thursday that the crossing was subject to the authority of the Lebanese state.
According to Lebanese government statistics, more than 300,000 people - a vast majority of them Syrian - had crossed from Lebanon into Syria over the last 10 days to escape escalating Israeli bombardment.

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Gulf

Riyadh, Kigali Discuss Regional, Int’l Developments 

Rwanda's President Paul Kagame and Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji meet in Kigali on Tuesday. (SPA)
Rwanda's President Paul Kagame and Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji meet in Kigali on Tuesday. (SPA)
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Riyadh, Kigali Discuss Regional, Int’l Developments 

Rwanda's President Paul Kagame and Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji meet in Kigali on Tuesday. (SPA)
Rwanda's President Paul Kagame and Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji meet in Kigali on Tuesday. (SPA)

Rwanda's President Paul Kagame received Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji in Kigali on Tuesday for talks on regional and international developments.

Elkhereiji conveyed the greetings of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, along with their wishes for continued progress and prosperity for the government and people of Rwanda. Kagame, for his part, wished the Kingdom, its leadership and its people further development and prosperity.

The meeting reviewed bilateral cooperation relations and explored ways to strengthen and expand them across various fields.

Elkhereiji had arrived in Rwanda on an official visit earlier on Tuesday.

Elkhereiji during his visit to the King Faisal Hospital Kigali. (SPA)

He met with Rwanda’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Usta Kaitesi. They discussed ways to boost cooperation between their countries in various fields and addressed issues of common interest.

Elkhereiji later visited the King Faisal Hospital in Kigali to review work progress at the facility.

King Faisal Hospital is the largest referral hospital in Rwanda, having received support exceeding SAR109 million from the Saudi Fund for Development since its establishment through its rehabilitation and expansion.

The hospital provides a wide range of specialized medical services, including disease diagnosis and specialized treatment. It has performed more than 300 complex cardiac catheterization procedures and over 32 kidney transplant operations - the first of their kind Rwanda.

World

Trump Beats Bill Clinton's Record for Longest State of the Union Speech

US President Donald Trump delivered the longest State of the Union address ever (EPA)
US President Donald Trump delivered the longest State of the Union address ever (EPA)
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Trump Beats Bill Clinton's Record for Longest State of the Union Speech

US President Donald Trump delivered the longest State of the Union address ever (EPA)
US President Donald Trump delivered the longest State of the Union address ever (EPA)

US President Donald Trump delivered the longest-ever State of the Union address on Tuesday, beating Bill Clinton's 2000 record of one hour and 20 minutes.

Republican Trump also smashed his own 1 hour and 40 minute record for a presidential speech to Congress, which he set last March in an annual address that was not technically a State of the Union.

The US president's speech primarily focused on domestic issues, making no mention at all of China -- Washington's primary military and economic rival -- and only briefly referring to Russia.

Trump began what became a record-breaking one hour and 47 minute State of the Union by painting an optimistic picture, declaring America was "bigger, better, richer and stronger than ever before."

He said he was working to end the bloody conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and repeated his claim that he had brought eight other wars to an end since returning to office in January 2025.

He claimed Iran is seeking to develop missiles that can strike the United States and accused Tehran of working to rebuild a nuclear program that was targeted by American strikes last year.

Trump also hailed NATO's decision to spend five percent of gross domestic product on defense -- a move made under heavy pressure from Trump and his administration.

Gulf

Saudi Arabia Reiterates Support for Efforts to Consolidate Regional and Int’l Development

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the Cabinet meeting in Jeddah. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the Cabinet meeting in Jeddah. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Reiterates Support for Efforts to Consolidate Regional and Int’l Development

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the Cabinet meeting in Jeddah. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the Cabinet meeting in Jeddah. (SPA)

The Saudi government reiterated on Tuesday the Kingdom’s firm stances and continuous support for efforts to achieve security and peace and consolidate regional and global development and prosperity.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chaired the Cabinet meeting that was held in Jeddah.

He briefed the ministers on his meeting on Monday with Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. The leaders discussed ways to further develop the historic and close relations between their countries across various sectors.

They also covered key issues in the Arab and Islamic worlds, developments in the Middle East, and ongoing efforts to address matters related to the region’s security and stability.

Crown Prince Mohammed also briefed the cabinet on the message he received from President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

The Cabinet reviewed recent developments in the work of joint committees between Saudi Arabia and several countries. (SPA)

The ministers also discussed regional and international developments.

The Cabinet reviewed recent developments in the work of joint committees between Saudi Arabia and several nations, and discussed ongoing progress in coordination and cooperative initiatives, further strengthening and expanding both bilateral and multilateral relations.

It reviewed several internal reports, expressing its deep appreciation for the broad public engagement with national initiatives designed to promote the values of solidarity and giving, while supporting charitable work across the Kingdom.