Hamas says Israeli hostages to be freed before Trump peace summit
As part of the deal's first phase, Hama will free the captives, 20 of whom Israel believes are still alive,...
Geostrategy
Lebanon, Syria seek reset on ties as FM visits Beirut
Lebanon and Syria on Friday committed to turning a new page on ties as Damascus's foreign minister visited Beirut, with...
Geostrategy
Economy
Saudi energy minister warns oil short-sellers ahead of OPEC+ meet
Speaking on the sidelines of the Qatar Economic Forum, Saudi Arabia's Minister of Energy Prince Salman said OPEC+ pursued three...
- “I keep advising them that they will be ouching — they did ouch in April,” Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said. “I would just tell them: Watch out!”
- Prince Salman said that a future source of energy cannot be tackled amid foggy vision. He had called OPEC+ to stick to its Oct 2022 agreement.
Geostrategy
Assad must face trial for chemical use: French foreign minister
Colonna nevertheless said Paris would not be changing its policy towards the Syrian ruler. "We have to remember who Bashar...
- Asked during a television interview if she wanted Assad to be tried, the French foreign minister Catherine Colonna said "the answer is yes"
- Assad last week returned to the regional scene with an appearance at a summit of the Arab League, he had been banned from for a decade
Geostrategy
Saudi Arabia, Bahrain begin joint security exercise ‘Haris’
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - The Saudi Royal Guard and the Bahrain Royal Guard have started the joint security exercise “Haris”...
- The joint exercise is part of the continuous cooperation between the Saudi Royal Guard and the Bahrain Royal Guard.
- The exercise was inaugurated by Major General Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Omari, Chief of Operations Department
Business
Russia’s PM to sign trade, infrastructure deals in China visit
The two countries have in recent years ramped up economic cooperation and diplomatic contacts, with their strategic partnership having only...
- The Russian PM will take part in a Russian-Chinese Business Forum and visit a petrochemical research institute in Shanghai
- A number of sanctioned Russian tycoons, including from the key fertilizer, steel and mining sectors to take part in the forum
Science
End of COVID-19 emergency doesn’t end its threat
“The threat of another variant emerging that causes new surges of disease and death remains, and the threat of another...
- WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warns of potential future surges from new variants and the emergence of deadlier pathogens
- The global health body chief also stresses the importance of readiness for future pandemics with decisive, collective, and equitable responses
Geostrategy
Lawmakers clash in Iraqi Kurdistan’s parliament
Lawmakers came to blows in Iraqi Kurdistan's parliament in a dispute between the two biggest parties over the upcoming polls...
- Fresh polls for the 111-seat parliament are planned for November 18 and the KDP currently holds 45 seats, trailed by the PUK which has 21.
- The tumult broke out after the KDP scheduled a late vote to activate the commission organizing the elections.
Geostrategy
What’s next for Syria after Assad’s regional comeback?
Beirut, Lebanon -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has returned to the Arab fold after more than a decade of isolation, eyeing...
- Several Arab capitals cut ties with Assad after the Damascus regime's repression of anti-government protests sparked war in 2011, with some supporting the opposition instead.
- States that once bet on Assad's demise have warmed to him as he clung to power and clawed back territory with Iranian and Russian support.
Geostrategy
EU sanctions Iran Revolutionary Guards’ wing over brutal crackdown
The European Union imposed an asset freeze on the investment arm of Iran's Revolutionary Guard, over Tehran's brutal crackdown on...
- The 27-nation bloc added the IRGC Cooperative Foundation, which handles the Guards' investments, to an EU asset freeze and visa ban blacklist.
- The EU also blacklisted the Student Basij Organization, which it said acts as enforcers for the Revolutionary Guards on university campuses.
Geostrategy
Norwegian delegation in Abu Dhabi discusses legal issues with ADJD
ABU DHABI, UAE - The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) discussed legal and judicial issues with a delegation from Norway....
- The delegation was briefed about applicable regulations, the Judicial Department's initiatives to establish specialized courts for foreigners.
- It was also briefed about the pioneering experience with remote litigation at the stage of registration of claims, case preparation and hearing.
Arts & Culture
Iraq artist battles to save old boating tradition
The elegant water craft have long been vastly outnumbered by modern, motorised vessels and are threatened further as Iraq's waterways...
- Iraq must save "from extinction an essential facet of our civilisation which has existed for four or five millenia", said Salim, co-founder of Safina Projects
- The flotilla on the Tigris in Baghdad was a landmark event in Salim's efforts -- 18 of the boats took to the water on a spring afternoon as part of a cultural festival
Hamas says Israeli hostages to be freed before Trump peace summit
As part of the deal's first phase, Hama will free the captives, 20 of whom Israel believes are still alive,...
Geostrategy
Company News
Latest News
Syria Foreign Minister in Saudi Arabia, hopes the visit opens ‘new, bright page’
Last week, in an interview with Saudi-owned Al Arabiya television, Sharaa said Saudi Arabia "will certainly have a large role...
UN: Israel’s strikes on Gaza hospitals may constitute war crimes, urges independent probe
The UN's 23-page report, "Attacks on Hospitals During the Escalation of Hostilities in Gaza," documented 136 strikes on 27 hospitals...
Geostrategy
South Korea’s Yoon: from star prosecutor to president facing arrest
Yoon is under investigation for his martial law declaration and faces criminal charges of insurrection, which could result in life...
Most Read
Former US president Jimmy Carter dies aged 100
Carter had been in hospice care since mid-February 2023 at his home in Plains, Georgia -- the same small town...
- Carter died "peacefully" at his home in Plains, "surrounded by his family," the Carter Center said in a statement
- Carter was the longest-lived US president -- an outcome that seemed unlikely back in 2015 when the Southern Democrat revealed he had brain cancer
Geostrategy
New Dawn over Damascus: Residents reclaim Mount Qasyun after years of curbs under Assad’s rule
Mount Qasyun, once closed due to war, reopens as a vibrant community space where Damascus residents gather to reclaim joy,...
- Through the long years of Syria's civil war, which began in 2011 with a government crackdown on pro-democracy protesters, people were not allowed access to the mountain
- When night falls, long queues of vehicles slowly make their way up a twisting road to a brightly lit corniche at the summit
Israeli strikes hit Yemen as Netanyahu fires warning
Israeli air strikes pummeled Sanaa's international airport and other targets in Yemen on Thursday, with Huthi rebel media reporting six...
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Israel's strikes would "continue until the job is done"
- Iran's foreign ministry condemned the strikes as a "violation" of peace and security