French president announces measures to quell riots

• French President Macron attempted to strike a balance between political pressure for a harsh response and fears of triggering a still stronger backlash.
• "Additional means" would be mobilized by government to tackle the rioting, Macron said, without specifying how many more officers might be involved.

Iran to join Shanghai alliance with China, Russia next week: Lavrov

• Iran has intensified its diplomacy with friends and foes alike in recent months, seeking to reduce its isolation, improve its economy and project strength.
• The SCO, which has its headquarters in China, is a diplomatic organization with eight members, including India and Pakistan.

Arab world expresses outrage over Quran desecration in Sweden

• The organizations emphasize the importance of respect for human rights and all religious beliefs.
• The UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs summons Swedish envoy to lodge protest and condemnation.

Canada, others to seek damages from Iran at UN court over downed jet

• Iranian forces shot down Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 shortly after takeoff from Tehran on January 8, 2020, killing all 176 people on board
• Canada, Britain, Sweden and Ukraine - which had a number of citizens on board - have been seeking reparations on behalf of victims' families

UN General Assembly creates body to probe fate of Syria’s missing

• Resolution calls for the UN chief, and other relevant parties to define the new organization's mandate in the next 80 days
• Thursday's vote came after UN secretary-general Antonio Gutterres called for the formation of such a body in a report in August

US to sell $440m in ammunition, parts to Taiwan

Lack of Lebanon reforms threatens stability, says IMF

• In April 2022, Lebanon and the IMF reached a conditional agreement on a $3-billion-dollar loan needed to save the economy.
• Lebanese officials have still yet to enact the substantial changes required to kickstart the 46-month financing program.

UAE Head of Cyber Security leads delegation to conference in Israel

• The UAE delegation met with the stakeholders in the Israeli cyber ecosystem including investors and top experts.
• The visit provided valuable insights into the latest global trends in cybersecurity and allowed the participants to explore potential collaborations.

Turkmenistan unveils $5 bn city in honor of national leader

• The new city is named after Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, who ruled over the country between 2006 and 2022 and now carries the title Hero Arkadag (Protector).
• The former president, who turned 66 on Thursday, remains the real decision-maker in the country, observers say.

EU presses Tunisia in bid to stem Med migrant flow

• The discussion will come two weeks after a boat believed to have been carrying hundreds of migrants capsized off Greece in one of the worst such tragedies in years
• Amnesty International and other rights groups say the tragedy resulted from Brussels' "Fortress Europe" policy implemented over the past seven years