14 countries condemn Israel’s expansion of West Bank settlements, say actions ‘violate international law’
Fourteen countries, including France, Britain, and Germany, condemned on Wednesday Israel's recent approval of new Jewish settlements in the occupied...
Geostrategy
Palestinian Authority says Israel tightening control over West Bank with new settlements
The Palestinian Authority condemned on Tuesday Israel's recent approval of 19 settlements in the occupied West Bank, accusing it of...
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Geostrategy
UN appalled by Israeli military raid on Gaza’s Al Shifa hospital
UNICEF's executive director Catherine Russell, on a rare visit to the Palestinian territory by a top UN official, said she...
- Just hours after receiving its first wartime delivery of fuel from outside Gaza, the UN warned Wednesday its operations in the territory were facing collapse.
- Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said the killing "of women, of children, of babies" in the Israel-Hamas war must stop.
Economy
US renews waiver allowing Iraq to buy Iranian gas
Due to US sanctions against Iran, Baghdad cannot pay Tehran directly for its gas. Baghdad's unpaid bills to Tehran for...
- A US official said Iraq can use its own funds to "render payment for Iranian electricity imports into restricted Iranian accounts in Iraq"
- In order to force Baghdad to pay its arrears, Tehran regularly suspends its gas supplies, which are essential for Iraq's power stations
Geostrategy
US wants war between Israel and Hamas contained: Pentagon official
Washington, United States - United States wants to see the war between Israel and Hamas contained to Gaza and not...
- As of today, "we have not seen this war spill over into other neighboring countries and into the region," Sabrina Singh said
- However, Iranian-backed groups in Syria and Iraq have continued attacks on US troops engaged in the defeat-ISIS mission, she added
Geostrategy
Israeli troops storm Gaza City’s Al-Shifa hospital
Israel has repeatedly claimed that Hamas uses the hospital as cover for a command post and weapons stores, a claim...
- Israel said its troops were carrying out "a precise and targeted operation against Hamas"
- Hamas has accused US President Joe Biden of being responsible for the Israeli assault on Al-Shifa
Geostrategy
Israeli army kills eight Palestinians in occupied West Bank
The Israeli army said its forces conducted "counterterrorism activities" in the city, during which "engineering vehicles uncovered explosive devices planted...
- Seven Palestinians were killed during an Israeli military raid on the northern city of Tulkarem, the health ministry and a local hospital said
- In a separate incident near the southern West Bank city Hebron, a 20-year-old Palestinian was killed by "occupation bullets", the Palestinian health ministry said
Geostrategy
179 Palestinians buried in ‘mass grave’ at Gaza hospital complex
A journalist inside the hospital who is collaborating with AFP said the stench of decomposing bodies was everywhere in the...
- "We were forced to bury them in a mass grave," said Al-Shifa hospital director Mohammad Abu Salmiyah
- "There are bodies littered in the hospital complex and there is no longer electricity at the morgues," he said.
Geostrategy
Israel army seizes Gaza parliament, other government buildings
Military units "took over the Hamas parliament, the government building, the Hamas police headquarters and an engineering faculty that served...
- The army said the institutions have been "used for training in preparation for the attack on Israel" on October 7.
- Israel has heavily bombed and invaded the densely populated Gaza Strip, killing more than 11,200 and displacing hundreds of thousands of people.
Geostrategy
Qatar, UAE condemn Israeli attack on Gaza committee building
Doha, Qatar -- Qatar has strongly condemned the Israeli shelling of the Qatar Committee for the Reconstruction of Gaza's headquarters,...
- The incident, viewed as an extension of the occupation's pattern of targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, has sparked international outrage, Qatar said.
- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) joined Qatar in denouncing the attack and emphasized the immediate need for a ceasefire.
Business
Global Media Congress opportunity for showcasing AI advances: Expert
Abu Dhabi, UAE -- Rapid advances in AI technologies have created a major challenge for the media sector: the difficulty...
- Professor Charlie Beckett of LSE says it is important to keep pace with AI advances like ChatGPT and Metaverse.
- He said despite warnings about AI, it remained a useful tool for creating huge content and handling services using algorithms.
Business
COP28 priorities: From climate action progress to energy transition
Dubai, UAE -- As world leaders and climate experts gear up for the COP28 climate summit scheduled to take place...
- COP28 has been strategically organized around four overarching themes: Technology and Innovation; Inclusion; Frontline Communities; and Finance, writes Pedro Gomez of WEF.
- COP28's Trade Day will explore the potential of trade to reduce emissions across the value chain and promote markets for climate-friendly products.
14 countries condemn Israel’s expansion of West Bank settlements, say actions ‘violate international law’
Fourteen countries, including France, Britain, and Germany, condemned on Wednesday Israel's recent approval of new Jewish settlements in the occupied...
Geostrategy
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Trump says wants ‘real end’ to Israel-Iran conflict, not ceasefire
Trump said that he wanted a "complete give-up" by Iran in return for peace, without elaborating on the outcome he...
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MENA brief Jun 17: ADNOC Drilling appoints new CEO, Riyadh up in startup ranking
The DMCC Crypto Centre welcomed Bitcoin.com, which is setting up its first MENA office in Dubai. The Arab Coordination Group...
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China’s Xi in Kazakhstan to cement Central Asia ties
Astana, Kazakhstan - Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet Central Asian leaders at a summit in Kazakhstan on Tuesday, his...
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G7 urges Iran de-escalation as Trump makes hasty summit exit as ally Israel pounds Iran
The G7 statement said that Israel "has a right to defend itself" and stressed "the importance of the protection of...
- After a day of statements backing diplomacy, Trump ominously took to social media to sound a warning to the people of the Iranian capital Tehran
- But after hesitating at backing a joint statement on the crisis, Trump relented during a dinner at the forested lodge under the snow-capped mountains in Kananaskis
Geostrategy
Day 4: Tehran residents flee Israeli attacks as casualties mount
Images verified by AFP, shot by a social media user from an overpass, showed near immobile traffic on a Tehran...
- Iran's health ministry says at least 224 people have been killed and more than 1,200 wounded.
- Iran foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei called the strike on state TV a "war crime".
Geostrategy
France shuts Israeli weapons industry booths at Paris Air Show
The decision added drama to the major aerospace industry event, which was already under the shadow of last week's deadly...
- The booths displayed "offensive weapons" that could be used in Gaza -- in violation of agreements with Israeli authorities, a French government source told AFP.
- The companies -- Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Rafael, Uvision, Elbit and Aeronautics -- make drones and guided bombs and missiles.