Bashar Al Assad of Syria seeks support from allies as extremist rebels take over key city of Aleppo
Extremist-dominated rebel alliance, including ISIS supporters, runs over Syrian city of Aleppo allegedly backed by Turkey. Russia and Iran push...
Geostrategy
Palestinian leader Abbas lays ground for succession
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas announced his replacement . Under current Palestinian law, the speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC)...
Geostrategy
UN court rejects most of Ukraine’s ‘terror’ case against Russia
Kyiv had accused Moscow of being a "terrorist state" whose support for pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine was a harbinger...
- But ICJ tossed out most of Ukraine's claims, ruling only that Russia was "failing to take measures to investigate facts... regarding persons who allegedly committed an offence".
- This case predates Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The ICJ will decide on Friday whether it has jurisdiction to rule in a separate case over that war.
Geostrategy
IMF says Red Sea shipping down one-third due to Houthi attacks
"Container shipping... has declined by almost 30 percent," said Jihad Azour, director of the IMF's Middle East and Central Asia...
- The Iran-backed Houthis have launched more than 30 attacks on commercial shipping and naval vessels since November 19, the Pentagon said on Tuesday
- Houthi attacks have prompted some shipping companies to detour around southern Africa to avoid the Red Sea, a route that carries about 12 percent of global trade
Geostrategy
Yemen’s Houthis fire missiles at US warship: rebel statement
The Houthis, part of the anti-Western, anti-Israel "axis of resistance" of Iranian-backed groups, have been harassing Red Sea shipping for...
- "Iranian-backed Houthi fighters fired one anti-ship cruise missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward the Red Sea," a Centcom statement said
- The Houthis have launched more than 30 attacks on commercial shipping and naval vessels since November 19, the Pentagon said on Tuesday
Geostrategy
Palestinian aid agency can’t be replaced, UN says
Several countries, including the United States, Britain, Germany and Japan, have suspended funding to the UNRWA agency, and the UN...
- UNRWA said it has acted promptly over allegations by Israel
- Israel accused UN Palestinian refugee agency of "hiring terrorists on a massive scale"
Geostrategy
Pakistan ex-PM Imran Khan and wife get 14 years jail in graft case
Since being ousted in 2022, Khan has been buried by court cases he claims have been triggered to prevent his...
- Khan and his wife were found guilty of graft in a case involving gifts he received while premier, after he was Tuesday handed 10 years in a case related to leaking state secrets
- Pakistan goes to the polls next Thursday in a ballot already marred by allegations of rigging, with Khan barred from running and his party subject to a massive crackdown
Geostrategy
Kuwait’s new emir makes first foreign trip to Saudi
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the 38-year-old de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, greeted Sheikh Meshal at the airport in...
- Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, who is 83, was sworn in last month following the death of his predecessor and half-brother, Sheikh Nawaf
- He is faced with the task of overcoming longstanding political paralysis and reforming a bloated public sector
Geostrategy
Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan handed 10-year prison term
Islamabad, Pakistan - Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan was sentenced on Tuesday to 10 years in prison, less than two...
- Tuesday's sentence for leaking classified state documents was handed down inside Adiala jail -- where Khan has been confined for much of the time since his August arrest
- Local media reported the convictions and sentences although state TV did not use Khan's name, obeying strict censorship measures that have alarmed rights monitors
Geostrategy
Israeli strikes on Gaza continue as mediators push for new truce
Heavy Israeli strikes and urban combat across the besieged Gaza Strip killed 128 more people overnight, the health ministry in...
- The World Health Organization called the row over UNRWA "a distraction from what's really going on every day, every hour, every minute in Gaza".
- Israel's top ally the United States expressed hope for a deal, with Blinken telling reporters that "very important, productive work has been done".
Business
Ras Al Khaimah witnesses rise in issue of valid business licenses in 2023
RAS AL KHAIMAH, UAE - The economic growth of the Emirate continued to accelerate in 2023, with the Department of...
- The industrial sector in Ras Al Khaimah achieved a 5.3 percent annual growth rate in valid licence capital.
- Commercial licences experienced a 14.4 percent annual increase, bringing their total capital to $1.3 billion.
Geostrategy
Canada revokes ban on military exports to Turkey
Canada will now require that Turkish importers provide assurances about the weapons' use as well as a government statement "clearly...
- Permits for military items and certain types of weapons destined for Turkey "will now be reviewed on a case-by-case basis," the Canadian government said
- The export ban affected some 30 permits, and applied to a wide variety of military goods and technologies including components for the production of aircraft
Bashar Al Assad of Syria seeks support from allies as extremist rebels take over key city of Aleppo
Extremist-dominated rebel alliance, including ISIS supporters, runs over Syrian city of Aleppo allegedly backed by Turkey. Russia and Iran push...
Geostrategy
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Blinken presses for Gaza aid on Jordan visit
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Health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza says 16 killed in strike on school
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said two of its workers were killed in a strike at Al-Bureij in...
Geostrategy
Calling for better ties with West, Iran reformist wins presidency
In the mausoleum of Imam Khomeini in southern Tehran, Pezeshkian gave a speech thanking his supporters, saying their votes have...
Geostrategy
Israel says negotiators to hold fresh Gaza truce talks next week
Jerusalem, Undefined - Israel said Friday that "gaps" remained with Hamas on how to secure a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release...
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Geostrategy
Reformist faces ultraconservative as Iran votes for president
In a contest between reformist Masoud Pezeshkian and ultraconservative Saeed Jalili, the election comes amid heightened regional tension
- The election follows a first round marked by a historically low voter turnout last week
- Regardless of the result, Iran's next president will be in charge of applying state policy outlined by the supreme leader
Geostrategy
Lebanon’s Hezbollah rains rockets on Israel as Gaza war rages
Fire and smoke billows after rockets fired from southern Lebanon hit areas in northern Israel on July 4, 2024. (AFP).
- The Israeli military said its forces were "striking launch posts in southern Lebanon"
- UN chief Antonio Guterres is "very worried about the escalation of the exchange of fire"
Geostrategy
Iraqi armed groups say ready to fight Israel if Lebanon war breaks out
Baghdad, Iraq - As war rages in Gaza and threatens to spread to Lebanon, Iraqi militant groups warn they are ready...
- A field commander of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq said there would be "escalation for escalation" in the event of a full-scale war in Lebanon
- The commander, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, said the Iran-backed group had already sent "experts and advisors" to Lebanon