Israel says will not allow Gaza-bound aid flotilla to break its blockade
The Global Sumud Flotilla, also carrying prominent pro-Palestinian advocates including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, set sail for Gaza earlier...
Geostrategy
India again refuse handshake with Pakistan in Asia Cup
Dubai, United Arab Emirates -- India skipper Suryakumar Yadav again refused to shake hands with Pakistan's Salman Agha as he...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
Kuwait elects new parliament dominated by opposition
Lawmakers from opposition won 29 of the 50 seats up for grabs in the election, according to results announced by...
- According to the Kuwait Transparency Society, an NGO, turnout touched 50 percent one hour before polls closed, which is lower than last year's voter turnout of 63 percent
- Janan Bushehri. the only female member to be elected in the new parliament, said that she expected it to seek stability and make progress on economic or political issues
Geostrategy
China firms under sanction by US for assisting Iran missile program
WASHINGTON, US- The United States placed sanctions on Tuesday on several Chinese and Hong Kong firms it said were supplying Iran's...
- The US Treasury said the Chinese companies shipped centrifuges for producing fuels, non-ferrous metals with potential military use.
- Washington is concerned that Iran plans to develop nuclear weapons that could be loaded on ballistic missiles to menace Israel.
Geostrategy
Italian PM says making efforts for Tunisia IMF bailout
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Rome backed efforts to secure an IMF bailout for Tunisia and support to tackle...
- The IMF has called for legislation to restructure over 100 state-owned firms, which hold monopolies over many parts of the economy.
- Tunisia is struggling under crippling inflation and debt estimated at around 80 percent of its gross domestic product.
Geostrategy
Iran reopens embassy in Saudi Arabia, confirming China-brokered detente
"We consider today an important day in the relations of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Kingdom of Saudi...
- The Iranian mission resumes in its former premises in Riyadh's diplomatic quarter -- near Syria's embassy is also expected to reopen soon following Saudi outreach to Damascus.
- In March, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to restart their respective embassies and work towards resuming ties, after Riyadh in 2016 broke off relations following Iranian protests.
Economy
World Bank lowers MENA’s growth forecast to 2.2 percent in 2023
DUBAI, UAE - The World Bank raised its global growth forecast for 2023 to 2.1 percent (in June 2023) from...
- The World Bank expects global growth to reach 2.4 percent in 2024, compared to 2.7 percent in January 2023.
- The possibility of widespread banking disruptions and tighter monetary policy may also lead to weaker global growth.
Geostrategy
Egypt, Israel vow cooperation after deadly border skirmish
Speaking at the opening of a cabinet meeting on Sunday, Netanyahu said his government had sent a "clear message" to...
- President Sisi i received a telephone call from Netanyahu about Saturday's deadly violence on the normally calm border.
- Egypt has said the policeman crossed into Israel while chasing drug smugglers, leading to exchanges of fire with Israeli soldiers.
Geostrategy
UAE highlights efforts in space sector at UN committee meet
ABU DHABI, UAE - A high-level UAE delegation at the 66th session of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful...
- The UAE highlighted the significance of the peaceful use of outer space, acknowledging the right of all member states to develop their capabilities.
- The UAE also focused on the importance of international collaboration to ensure space technologies benefit humanity in times of disaster.
Geostrategy
Blinken on three-day Saudi Arabia visit to rebuild strained ties
Blinken's trip will also focus on efforts to end conflicts in Sudan and Yemen, the joint battle against the Islamic...
- Blinken, due to land in Jeddah in the evening, is expected to meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, before heading to Riyadh on Wednesday
- On the eve of his Saudi trip, Blinken reiterated that "the US has a real national security interest in promoting normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia"
Geostrategy
Iran unveils hypersonic missile, says will boost country’s deterrence
Iran's Revolutionary Guards unveiled an intermediate range ballistic missile capable of traveling at hypersonic speeds of up to 15 times...
- Several top military commanders were present, including Guards chief General Hossein Salami.
- Like slower ballistic missiles, hypersonic missiles can be equipped with nuclear warheads.
Geostrategy
Obliterate global plastic pollution on urgent basis
“We must work as one – governments, firms and consumers alike – to break our addiction to plastics, champion zero...
- Over 400 million tons of plastic is produced worldwide every year, a third of which is used only once, says UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres
- 2,000 garbage trucks' worth of plastic is dumped into global bodies of water daily, while microplastics have permeated our food, water, and even the air
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Israel says will not allow Gaza-bound aid flotilla to break its blockade
The Global Sumud Flotilla, also carrying prominent pro-Palestinian advocates including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, set sail for Gaza earlier...
Geostrategy
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South Korean police raid president’s office
#South #Korean police raided President #Yoon Suk #Yeol's office as part of the investigation into his declaration of #martial law....
New Syrian rulers pledge stability, accountability, and reconstruction after Assad’s ouster
Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, the Islamist leader who headed the rebel offensive, had previously announced talks on a transfer of power...
Syria rebel leader vows to pursue former officials for torture, war crimes
Syria's Islamist rebel leader on Tuesday vowed to pursue former senior government officials responsible for torture and war crimes, a...
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Geostrategy
Celebrations erupt across Syria to mark end of 50 years of Baath party rule
Bashar al-Assad's whereabouts not clear, but his key backer Russia said he had resigned from the presidency and left Syria....
- Protests spread like wildfire in neighbouring provinces, with anti-government demonstrators toppling statues of late president Hafez al-Assad in the Jaramana suburb of Damascus
- The Israeli army said Saturday that its troops were assisting UN peacekeeping forces in the Syrian-controlled part of the Golan Heights in repelling an attack "by armed individuals
Syria: Assad faces stunning setbacks as rebels seize Daraa, Hama, and Aleppo in quick succession
While Aleppo and Hama, the two other main cities taken from government control in recent days, fell to an Islamist-led...
- Since a rebel alliance led by the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) launched its offensive on November 27, the government has lost Aleppo and subsequently Hama in central Syria
- Syria's civil war, which began with Assad's crackdown on democracy protests, has killed more than 500,000 people and forced more than half the population to flee their homes
Geostrategy
Turkey confirms Syria talks with Russia and Iran
A meeting was expected on the forum's sidelines between Turkey, and Damascus allies Iran and Russia.
- Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan "will meet with the Russian and Iranian ministers"
- The so-called Astana process involving the three countries was launched by Kazakhstan in 2017