Ceasefire order fails to halt fighting in Syria’s Druze heartland
Sweida, Syria - Syrian Bedouin and their allies fought Druze fighters in the community's Sweida heartland for a seventh day...
Geostrategy
Trump threatens to sue WSJ over story on alleged 2003 letter to Epstein
Washington, United States - US President Donald Trump threatened to sue The Wall Street Journal Thursday over a story about...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
Sandstorm disrupts life in Riyadh, likely to affect Makkah and Medina
A sandstorm engulfed Saudi Arabia's capital and other regions of the desert kingdom Tuesday, hampering visibility and slowing road traffic....
- A thick grey haze made Riyadh buildings such as Kingdom Centre nearly impossible to see from more than a few hundred meters.
- Saudi Arabia's meteorology center forecast "surface dusty winds" in the country's east and in Riyadh, "reducing horizontal sight".
Geostrategy
Russia may cut gas supplies to Finland over Ruble payment refusal
Russia may cut gas supplies to Finland soon over the Nordic country's refusal to pay Gazprom in rubles, Finnish state-owned...
- On Sunday, Russia suspended electricity supplies to Finland overnight after its energy firm RAO Nordic claimed payment arrears.
- Moscow has repeatedly warned Finland that any NATO membership application would be "a grave mistake far reaching consequences".
Geostrategy
Qatar emir visits Spain as European Union eyes gas alternatives
Qatar's emir began a state visit to Spain on Tuesday as Europe seeks to diversify its natural gas supply sources...
- Qatar, which has the third-largest natural gas reserves in the world, is currently Spain's fifth-biggest supplier of natural gas after the US, Algeria, Nigeria and Egypt.
- The country accounted for 4.4 percent of Spain's total gas imports in April and the Spanish government hopes this share could increase.
Geostrategy
Lebanon reformist independents win at least 13 seats
The reformists, who campaigned on the legacy of a 2019 anti-establishment protest movement, could yet obtain the support of several...
- Twelve of the thirteen reformist candidates are newcomers. They campaigned against Lebanon's ruling elite, composed of sectarian parties that have ruled the country since 1990.
- At least five out of 19 elected MPs for the capital Beirut are independents, with all but one winning a seat for the first time.
Business
Morocco, Spain reopen borders after two-year closure
The gates opened shortly after 11:00 pm local time (2200 GMT) on Monday night, letting dozens of cars and queues...
- borders between the two countries were shut due to Covid restrictions and a major diplomatic row
- Local economies in the border areas of two enclaves depend on the crossing of people and goods
Geostrategy
Lebanon vote weakens Hezbollah bloc as reformists book gains
Scuffles and cases of voter intimidation were reported on polling day, although Interior Minister insisted when announcing partial results that...
- Lebanese Forces Party can emerge as the largest Christian party in Lebanon as it has won several new seats
- Some polling centers lacked electricity in Lebanon, voters had to use their phone lights to cast their ballots
Geostrategy
US Vice President leads large team to meet new UAE leader
US Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday led a high-level delegation to meet the United Arab Emirates' new president, who...
- Day after the death of former leader Sheikh Khalifa, Mohamed bin Zayed was chosen as UAE's new president
- Diplomatic relation between US-UAE were further strained when the UAE abstained from condemning Russia over the invasion of Ukraine
Geostrategy
Iran arrests academic on national security charges
Iranian police have arrested academic and author Said Madani on charges of acting "against the security" of the country and...
- "Suspected of having links with foreign countries and of having committed actions against the country's security, Said Madani Ghahfarokhi was sent to prison," Mehr reported
- Madani has been detained several times in the past, notably in 2012 when he was sentenced to six years in prison
Geostrategy
Kamala Harris leads high-level US team to meet new UAE leader
Harris, whose team includes Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and CIA chief William Burns, is heading...
- Blinken, who arrived in Abu Dhabi early Monday morning ahead of the delegation, offered his "warm congratulations" to Sheikh Mohamed on becoming president.
- Relations between UAE and the US were strained when the former abstained from voting on a UN Security Council resolution demanding a Russian withdrawal from Ukraine.
Geostrategy
First commercial flight in six years leaves Yemen’s capital
The first commercial flight in nearly six years took off from Yemen's rebel-held capital on Monday, a major step forward...
- Before take-off, the plane with red-and-blue tail livery taxied through an honour guard of two fire trucks spraying jets of water. It landed in Amman.
- Sanaa's airport has been closed to commercial traffic since August 2016 because of air strikes by the Saudi-led military coalition, who are fighting Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
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Ceasefire order fails to halt fighting in Syria’s Druze heartland
Sweida, Syria - Syrian Bedouin and their allies fought Druze fighters in the community's Sweida heartland for a seventh day...
Geostrategy
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Grim cycle of death at a hospital in Gaza
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Court asks Netherlands to stop export of F-35 parts to Israel
The Appeals Court in The Hague sided with a group of human rights organizations that argued the parts contributed to...
Geostrategy
GPSSA issues circular on pensions, gratuity in UAE
ABU DHABI, UAE – The Emirates General Pension and Social Security Authority (GPSSA) has issued a circular to government and...
Business
Several nations eager to join Charter of Cooperation, says OPEC Secretary-General
ABU DHABI, UAE - Secretary-General of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries Haitham Al Ghais said that OPEC is in...
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Israeli military says 2 hostages rescued in overnight Gaza operation
The military said in a statement that "during a joint IDF (military), ISA (Shin Bet security agency), and Israel Police...
- During the October 7 attacks, Palestinian fighters seized about 250 hostages, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. Israel says around 130 are still in Gaza
- Dozens of captives taken on October 7 were released during a one-week truce in November that also saw the release of more than 200 Palestinian captives held in Israeli jails
Geostrategy
Iraq resumes talks with US on coalition forces exit
According to the military spokesman for Iraq's prime minister, the discussions aim to schedule a timeline for a pullout of...
- The US-led military coalition was set up in 2014 to fight the Islamic State group
- Since October, US and allied troops have been targeted more than 165 times in the region
Geostrategy
Hospitalized Pentagon chief hands duties to deputy
The latest health scare came weeks after it emerged that Austin, 70, had kept previous hospital stays secret and had...
- Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks "assumed the functions and duties" just before 5:00 pm (2200 GMT), Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder said
- Austin was "admitted into the critical care unit at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for supportive care and close monitoring," the Pentagon said