Israel bars Jerusalem’s top Muslim cleric from Al-Aqsa: lawyer
Israeli authorities have banned Jerusalem's top Muslim cleric from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound for six months over a recent...
Geostrategy
Netanyahu says Israel must complete defeat of Hamas to free hostages, secure Israel
Israeli media said the premier was considering ordering the total occupation of the Palestinian territory, with public broadcaster Kan reporting...
Geostrategy
Tunisia electoral board threatens media rights: rights groups
In a joint statement on Tuesday, 28 organisations said ISIE had "targeted freedom of expression to the point where it...
- Last week, the ISIE elections authority filed 24 legal complaints against media organisations and bloggers in the North African nation
- Tunisian and foreign rights groups have warned that his actions threaten the only democracy to have emerged from the Arab Spring uprisings
Geostrategy
Russia to ban oil sales to countries complying with price cap
The price ceiling of $60 per barrel agreed by the European Union, G7 and Australia came into force in early...
- It added that the ban may be lifted in individual cases on the basis of "special decision" from Russian President Vladimir Putin.
- Russia has said the cap will not affect its military campaign in Ukraine and expressed confidence it would find new buyers.
Geostrategy
Israel lawmakers pass legislation for return of Netanyahu as PM
Jerusalem, Undefined - Israel's parliament on Tuesday passed controversial legislation paving the way for the return of veteran hawk Benjamin Netanyahu...
- Netanyahu will present what analysts have said will be the most right-wing government in Israel's history to parliament on Thursday.
- lawmakers passed legislation that now allows anyone convicted of offences but not given a custodial sentence to serve as a minister.
Geostrategy
UN asks Taliban to end anti-women policies in Afghanistan
"No country can develop -- indeed survive -- socially and economically with half its population excluded," Volker Turk, the United...
- "No country can develop -- indeed survive -- socially and economically with half its population excluded," Volker Turk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, said.
- "The ban will significantly impair, if not destroy" these NGOs' capacity to deliver essential services, Turk said, calling it all the more distressing with Afghanistan in the grip.
Economy
Iraq Prime Minister summons central bank governor as currency slides
One US dollar traded at 1,580 Iraqi dinars on the street Tuesday, against the central bank rate of 1,470 dinars,...
- The central bank has blamed the slump on "temporary pressures" sparked by the "adoption of new mechanisms to protect the banking sector, customers, and the financial system".
- Iraq's Association of Private Banks said the rate had risen as a result of changes to the "mechanism" of foreign currency sales due to international requirements.
Business
Elon Musk says close to 100 Starlinks ‘active’ in Iran
San Francisco, United States--Nearly 100 Starlink internet terminals are currently operating in Iran, SpaceX chief Elon Musk said Monday. The tycoon...
- Musk had promised to bring the satellite internet network to the country in September as Iranian authorities imposed increasingly severe access restrictions
- Iranians have long used VPNs to access sites blocked in Iran -- even the foreign minister has Twitter account despite the network being blocked in the country
Geostrategy
Pro-Haftar pilot released in Libya prisoner swap
Tripoli, Libya--Libya's unity government has carried out a prisoner exchange with rival eastern forces, releasing a pilot captured during strongman Khalifa...
- Pilot Amer al-Orfi al-Gajam was exchanged for 15 prisoners held by Haftar's forces, which back a rival government and control much of eastern and southern Libya
- In 2019, Haftar seized large parts of the south and launched an assault on Tripoli
Economy
Tunisia to raise new taxes to close budget deficit
The state, saddled with a crippling public wage bill and politically sensitive subsidies, is set to take in around 46.4...
- The 2023 budget comes as the North African country grapples with eye-watering public debt, shortages of goods from sugar to petrol and inflation at nearly 10 percent
- The latest plans aim to cut the budget deficit from 7.7 percent of gross domestic product to 5.2 percent, Finance Minister Sihem Boughdiri told journalists
Geostrategy
Iran reroutes flight, orders football player’s family off
Iranian football legend Ali Daei, who has supported protests in the wake of Mahsa Amini's death, said that an airplane from...
- Daei said his wife and daughter had flown on a Mahan Air flight, taking off from the capital Tehran's Imam Khomeini Airport, headed to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates
- He used social media to call on the government to "solve the problems of the Iranian people rather than using repression, violence and arrests"
Geostrategy
Six pro-Turkish fighters killed in Syria clashes
BEIRUT, LEBANON - Six Syrian fighters from a pro-Turkish group died in clashes with regime troops that still raged Monday in...
- A pro-Turkey rebel statement said the six were killed and three more wounded in the offensive launched by government forces.
- The dead were fighters from Faylaq al-Sham, an alliance of rebel groups considered close to the Syrian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood.
Most Read
Revenue from Saudi cinema may exceed $1bn by 2030KSA, UAE play well as e-gaming trends across GCCExclusive: Middle East’s retail sector rides on AR and hybrid shopping to become $600bn digital economyTECOM Group profit soars 13%UAE startups eye Saudi Arabia for growth, expansionSaudi Arabia leads GCC AI healthcare raceDisparity remains as Saudis, Emiratis see wealth gains
Israel bars Jerusalem’s top Muslim cleric from Al-Aqsa: lawyer
Israeli authorities have banned Jerusalem's top Muslim cleric from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound for six months over a recent...
Geostrategy
Company News
Apple drops electric car plans
Business
Latest News
Battles in Gaza’s Rafah as US warns Israel over Lebanon
Top Israeli officials have suggested they are open to a diplomatic resolution of the border tensions, though Gallant said Israel...
Geostrategy
Iran picks new president at turbulent time
Iranians vote on Friday to elect a new president from six candidates, including a lone reformist who hopes he can...
Geostrategy
Israel top court rules ultra-Orthodox men must serve in army
Jerusalem, Undefined - Israel's top court ruled unanimously on Tuesday that the state must draft ultra-Orthodox Jewish men into military service,...
Most Read
Geostrategy
Israel PM says ‘intense’ phase of Gaza war winding down
Netanyahu said Israel would be able to "redeploy some forces to the north" on the border with Lebanon, where exchanges...
- The right-wing premier spoke in a TV interview on Sunday as Defence Minister Yoav Gallant travelled to Washington for what Gallant called "critical" talks with Israel's top ally
- With fears growing of full-scale war in Lebanon, Netanyahu said Israel would return its displaced citizens to their evacuated northern border communities
Geostrategy
Dubai to build $8 bn stormwater runoff system after record floods
Dubai, UAE -- Dubai on Monday announced an $8 billion plan for a stormwater runoff system, two months after an unprecedented...
- The rainwater drainage network announced by Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum is set to be completed by 2033 with construction to start in 2033.
- "It will cover all areas of Dubai and will absorb more than 20 million cubic meters of water per day," Sheikh Mohammed said of the plan for Dubai.
Business
UAE energy giant ADNOC offers $12.8bn for Germany’s Covestro
Covestro's shares surged more than six percent in Frankfurt following the announcement, which comes after it first disclosed talks were...
- It said the "starting point" for talks was a "possible offer price" of 62 euros per share from ADNOC. This would value Covestro at $12.57 billion.
- ADNOC welcomed Covestro's decision to start talks on its "final offer", adding that it looked forward to working with the German group to "swiftly progress" the matter.