US envoy meets Israeli hostage families in Tel Aviv
US envoy Steve Witkoff on Saturday met the anguished families of Israeli hostages still held in Gaza, as fears for...
Geostrategy
Israeli writer Grossman denounces Gaza ‘genocide’
Rome, Italy -- Award-winning Israeli author David Grossman called his country's campaign in Gaza "genocide" and said he was using...
Geostrategy
Economy
German economy grew more than estimated in third quarter
Gross domestic product grew "despite difficult general conditions in the global economy such as the continuing Covid-19 pandemic, delivery bottlenecks,...
- Europe's biggest economy expanded by 0.4 percent between July and September compared to the second quarter
- Analysts had forecast a contraction in the third quarter as the fallout from Russia's war in Ukraine takes a toll on European economies
Geostrategy
Iran defends strikes on northern Iraq, in letter to UN
The Islamic republic has launched a series of cross-border missile and drone strikes on Iranian-Kurdish opposition groups, based in Iraq,...
- Iran has repeatedly accused Iranian-Kurdish opposition groups of fomenting unrest in the country since Amini's death in September
- Iranian-Kurdish groups have long inhabited areas of northern Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region, previously waging an armed insurrection against Tehran
Economy
Libya expels over 200 migrants across land borders
The United Nations had previously handled the repatriation of refugees from Libya, but the deal between authorities in the west,...
- The group of returnees included "105 Egyptians, 101 Chadians and 20 Sudanese."
- The operation was organized by the Interior Ministry of Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah's Tripoli-based government
UAE president, Jordan king meet, discuss ties, regional issues
The two leaders reviewed existing areas of partnership and explored opportunities to develop ties further.
- The two leaders reviewed existing areas of partnership and explored opportunities to develop ties further
- The meeting also covered a number of regional and international issues of mutual concern
Asian federation chief dismisses criticism of Qatar’s rights record
The AFC chief lavished praise on the Gulf country's organisation of the tournament."The organisation is luminous, the environment is positive,"...
- AFC chief Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa launched a sharp attack on Qatar's critics
- L1, Asian Football Confederation, business, World Cup host, Qatar, human rights record, Gulf, tournament.
Geostrategy
Lebanon parliamentarians fail to pick President for seventh time
Lawmaker Michel Moawad, who is seen as close to the United States, won the support of 42 of parliament's 128...
- Parliament is split between supporters of Hezbollah movement and its opponents, neither of whom have a clear majority.
- Lebanon's total contraction of 37.3 percent in real GDP since 2018, among the worst the world has seen, has already wiped out 15 years of economic growth.
Economy
Turkey reduces main policy rate for fourth successive month
With the latest cut, the rate has reached "a sufficient level with regard to growing risks concerning global demand", the...
- On the wishes of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish bank said it had lowered its benchmark rate from 10.5 percent to nine percent.
- Erdogan had vowed to lower interest rates to single digits by the end of 2022 as he prioritizes economic growth and jobs over price stability.
Geostrategy
UN rights council orders international probe of Iran crackdown
With 25 votes in favour, six opposed and 16 countries abstaining, the UN's highest rights body agreed to create an...
- Iran denounced the move. "Europe and the US lack the moral credibility to preach... on human rights," said Khadijeh Karimi, Iran deputy of the vice president for women.
- UN rights chief Volker Turk said he had offered to visit Iran but had received no response from Tehran.
Geostrategy
Saudi Arabia storm closes schools, cuts main road to Makkah
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia---Heavy rains in the Saudi coastal city of Jeddah on Thursday delayed flights, forced school suspensions and closed...
- Images posted to social media on Thursday showed standing water snarling traffic in Jeddah and partially submerging some vehicles.
- The city's King Abdulaziz International Airport said that "due to weather conditions, the departure of some flights has been delayed" and urged passengers to contact carriers.
Geostrategy
Gas price cap divides EU energy ministers’ meeting
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - EU energy ministers met Thursday to debate measures to mitigate the energy crunch in Europe but were...
- They were to discuss a proposal by the European Commission, unveiled just two days earlier, that would set a cap on gas prices at 275 euros per megawatt hour.
- Many members complained that the plan comes with such conditions attached that it was designed never to be used.
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US envoy meets Israeli hostage families in Tel Aviv
US envoy Steve Witkoff on Saturday met the anguished families of Israeli hostages still held in Gaza, as fears for...
Geostrategy
Company News
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Palestinian fighters release video of Israeli hostage alive in Gaza
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum campaign group identified him as Alexander (Sasha) Trupanov, and called on the Israeli authorities...
Palestinians flee Rafah as Israeli expands ground assault
Rafah, Palestinian Territories -- Hundreds braved roads in Rafah in south Gaza Tuesday as they fled Israel's expanding ground assault, with...
Geostrategy
UAE president on state visit to S Korea, meets top business chiefs
President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is the first sitting UAE president to make a state visit to Asia's fourth-largest...
Business
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Geostrategy
Saudi king chairs cabinet meeting after ‘recovery’
The meeting comes nearly 10 days since the royal court said the king had a lung infection and was undergoing...
- King Salman "thanked his sons and daughters, the people of the kingdom, for their kind prayers" during his recovery
- He also expressed his gratitude to everyone who sent him wishes of health and well-being
Egypt military says guard killed in ‘shooting’ at Rafah border
Al-Qahera News, which has links to Egyptian intelligence, quoted a defence official as saying an initial probe of the shooting...
- The Israeli military reported a "shooting incident" on the Egyptian border and said it was discussing the incident with Egypt
- Since May 7, Israeli forces have been operating in Rafah, a city in the far south of the Gaza Strip bordering Egypt
Geostrategy
Spain, Ireland and Norway recognize Palestinian state
The plans were unveiled last week in a coordinated announcement by their prime ministers, with formal recognition to take place...
- The three European countries believe their initiative has strong symbolic impact, which will likely encourage others to follow suit
- "Recognising the state of Palestine is about justice for the Palestinian people," Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said on Monday in Brussels