Iran appoints new Revolutionary Guards intelligence chief
Major General Mohammad Pakpour, the commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), appointed Brigadier General Majid Khadami as the...
Geostrategy
Almost 3,000 Australians seek to flee Israel-Iran conflict
Australia has started evacuating almost 3,000 citizens caught up in the rapidly spiralling conflict between Israel and Iran, Foreign Minister...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
Iran urges ‘vigilance’ after drone attack on Iraqi PM
Iran on Sunday said it condemned a drone attack targeting Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi and urged "vigilance to foil...
- "Such incidents are in the interest of those who have violated the stability, security, independence"
- "They have sought to achieve their sinister regional goals by creating terrorist groups"
Geostrategy
Iraqi PM calls for restraint after drone strike on his home
Iraq's Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi said he was unhurt and appealed for "calm and restraint" after a drone attack on...
- The attack in Baghdad's Green Zone was the first to target the residence of Kadhemi
- Security sources said three drones were launched, but two were shot down
Business
Colombia targets $1bn trade and direct flights with UAE
Colombia sees the UAE as a potential partner for growth in bilateral trade, economy, and tourism.
- Non-oil bilateral trade between the two countries amounted to $176 million in the first half of 2019
- The two nations are also in talks over signing a MoU for double taxation avoidance
Geostrategy
The Western Sahara conflict timeline is heating up
The Western Sahara conflict pits Morocco against the Polisario Front independence movement.
- Western Sahara is a former Spanish colony with extensive phosphate reserves and rich Atlantic fishing grounds
- Morocco sees it as its own sovereign territory, but the Polisario Front has proclaimed a democratic republic there with support from Algeria
Geostrategy
Iraq PM calls for ‘calm’ after house attacked
The attack came during a period of soaring tensions over the results of the October 10 elections.
- The attack in Baghdad's Green Zone was the first to target the residence of Kadhemi, who has been in power since May 2020
- It and came as Iraq's political parties wrangle over who will run the next government
Geostrategy
Iran says world powers must be ‘realistic’ in nuclear talks
Tehran has said the world powers should not exceed the bounds of the 2015 deal they are seeking to revive....
- The nuclear talks are being brokered by European Union mediators as Tehran refuses to deal with US negotiators directly
- The talks are aimed at bringing Washington back into a 2015 agreement with Iran that was abandoned by former US president Donald Trump
Geostrategy
Erdogan holds closed-door meeting with Libyan PM
Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Libya's prime minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh had a one-on-one closed-door meeting at the Vahdettin...
- The leaders later attended a meeting between the countries' delegations
- Turkey and the North African country have seen closer ties in recent years, especially after the signing of security and maritime boundary pacts in November 2019
Geostrategy
World food prices rise highest in a decade: FAO
The UN barometer of world food prices has surged to a new peak, reaching its highest level since July 2011,...
- Reduced harvests in Canada, Russia, US lead to an increase of 3.2 percent in cereal prices.
- The vegetable oil index went up 9.6 percent, hitting an all-time high, and dairy rose by 2.6 points.
Geostrategy
Iraqi security forces clash with pro-Iran protesters
Hundreds of supporters of pro-Iran groups clashed with security forces in Iraq's capital on Friday, expressing their fury over last...
- The political arm of the pro-Iran Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary network saw its share of parliamentary seats decline substantially in the election
- Demonstrators from groups loyal to the Hashed threw projectiles and "blocked... access to the Green Zone" on three sides
Geostrategy
Poverty fuels despair in oil-rich south Iraq
Basra province gets only 1 trillion dinars out of the total Iraqi budget of 130 trillion Iraqi dinars ($89 billion),...
- Basra province produces about 70 percent of crude oil in Iraq, itself the second biggest exporter in the Middle East after Saudi Arabia.
- Unemployment in Basra affects 20 to 25 percent of the people and almost 30 percent of youth.
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Iran appoints new Revolutionary Guards intelligence chief
Major General Mohammad Pakpour, the commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), appointed Brigadier General Majid Khadami as the...
Geostrategy
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Nobel winner Yunus convicted in Bangladesh labor law case
Yunus, 83, is credited with lifting millions out of poverty with his pioneering microfinance bank but has earned the enmity...
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Taiwan’s president urges China to seek ‘peaceful coexistence’
Taiwan is less than two weeks from an election, closely watched from Beijing to Washington as it determines the future...
Geostrategy
Palestinian fighters target Tel Aviv in barrage of rockets fired from Gaza
Dubai, UAE--Several rockets fired from the Gaza Strip targeted Tel Aviv and southern Israel as the country rang in the...
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Geostrategy
Israeli minister calls for return of settlers to Gaza
Israel unilaterally withdrew the last of its troops and settlers in 2005, ending a presence inside Gaza that began in...
- The minister said that in order to have security "we must control the territory"
- He said Israel should "encourage" Palestinians in Gaza to relocate to other countries
Geostrategy
New Year celebrations in GCC tempered by Gaza war
In Dubai and Abu Dhabi, lights and fireworks illuminated the skies as international tourists soaked up the celebratory scenes. The...
- Sheikh Zayed Festival put on display the region's largest firework lasting 40 minutes
- Across Dubai, the hotels reported occupancy rates soaring above 90 percent
Business
UAE announces reduction in fuel prices for January
ABU DHABI, UAE - The prices of petrol and diesel are set to decrease in the country in January following...
- This change reflects a continuous trend observed in the fuel prices over the past few months.
- September and October witnessing increases and November and December seeing reductions.