Arab ministers condemn Israel ‘ban’ on planned West Bank visit to meet president Abbas
The ministers condemned "Israel's decision to ban the delegation's visit to Ramallah (on Sunday) to meet with the president of...Geostrategy
No permit, no hajj: Saudi intensifies crackdown after heat deaths
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia is ramping up a crackdown on unregistered worshippers at next week's hajj pilgrimage, a...Geostrategy
CIA chief heading to Europe for Gaza negotiations: US media
According to Axios, Israel has offered Hamas a two-month pause in fighting in Gaza in exchange for the release of...
French court censures parts of controversial immigration law
PARIS, FRANCE - France's top constitutional authority on Thursday rejected parts of a controversial immigration bill adopted under pressure from the...The bill is a flagship reform of President Macron's second term but its text, hardened under pressure from the right, caused a revolt among ruling party's lawmakers.
Around a quarter of the 251 lawmakers in Macron's camp voted against the bill or abstained, and several left-wing ministers have registered their opposition to the bill.
Libya requires $1.8bn to rebuild flood-devastated areas, says report
TRIPOLI, LIBYA - The flood that devastated Libya's eastern port city of Derna last year has impacted up to 1.5 million...Nearly 44,800 people were displaced by the disaster, including 16,000 children, and their access to care and education has severely deteriorated since.
UN humanitarian agency OCHA confirmed 4,352 deaths and over 8,000 missing persons, "making Storm Daniel the deadliest storm in Africa since 1900".
UN says Israel army orders Gazans to leave shelter hit by tank fire
"The army called the UNRWA official through the loudspeaker, she went over to them next to the tanks, and they...Twelve people were killed Wednesday when two tank shells struck the shelter, where thousands had taken refuge, UNRWA said.
The health ministry said Israeli forces on Thursday killed 20 people waiting for humanitarian aid to be distributed on the outskirts of Gaza City.
UAE plans to issue bonds, Sukuk valued at $1.3bn in Q1 2024, says official
HONG KONG - UAE Ministry of Finance Undersecretary Younis Haji Al Khoori announced that the ministry's issuance of bonds and...The Islamic Treasury Sukuk launched in 2023 and valued at US$299 million experienced robust demand, with bids received worth US$2.2 billion.
The UAE is Hong Kong's largest trading partner in Middle East, with non-oil trade reaching $6 billion (AED22.2 billion) in the first half of 2022.
Israel far-right minister slams Qatar over Hamas attack
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich commented after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was caught on tape allegedly telling hostages' families this week...Qatar is the "patron of Hamas and is largely responsible for the massacre committed by Hamas of Israeli citizens", Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said on X
Smotrich's remarks come as Biden's Middle East envoy was in the region for talks aimed at brokering a new deal to free the remaining captives in exchange for a pause in fighting
ECB to urge patience on rate cuts in battle against inflation
The central bank is tipped to leave rates unchanged for a third consecutive meeting, keeping the benchmark deposit rate at...Frankfurt institute launched an unprecedented rate hiking cycle in mid-2022
ECB watchers will be more interested in president Christine Lagarde's press conference
Clean energy largest driver of Chinese GDP growth in 2023: report
China is the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases driving climate change, but it is also the top producer of...Investment in "clean-energy" sectors accounted for 40 percent of China's GDP expansion last year, researchers at the Finland-based CREA said
The researchers examined investment in solar power, electric vehicles, energy efficiency, railways, energy storage, electricity grids, wind, nuclear and hydropower
Fighting focuses on Gaza’s Khan Yunis after deadly shelling hits UN shelter
The deadly incident came after the Israeli army said it had encircled the city, where footage released by the military...Wednesday's attack on the UN shelter for displaced people saw the site hit by two tank rounds, killing nine and injuring 75, said Thomas White, the Gaza head of UNRWA
US condemned the attack, with State Department spokesman Vedant Patel saying "civilians must be protected and the protected nature of UN facilities must be respected
Bahrain and South Korea seek to bolster economic, parliamentary ties
Manama, Bahrain--Bahrain and South Korea have reviewed ways to enhance diplomatic, economic and parliamentary cooperation and partnership to benefit the...The two sides looked to boost partnership in order to benefit the two countries and contribute to consolidating security, stability, economic growth in the MENA region
The South Korean official underscored the deep friendship between the two countries, noting the steady growth of bilateral ties at the political, economic, and parliamentary level
