Only 1.5% of Gaza farmland usable, reveals latest satellite survey published by FAO
The survey, which dates from July 28, found that 8.6 percent of Gaza's farmland was accessible, but only 1.5 percent,...Geostrategy
Meta says working to thwart WhatsApp scammers
San Francisco, United States -- Meta on Tuesday said it shut nearly seven million WhatsApp accounts linked to scammers in...Technology 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...The circular included limiting the procedure of deduction from the pension or end-of-service gratuity for the benefit of GPSSA's debt.
In cases of unlawful disbursement, GPSSA has the right to deduct from other beneficiaries' shares, proportional to their entitlements.
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...The names of these countries will be announced after the completion of the ongoing consultations, the OPEC chief said.
He said the Charter helps facilitate dialogue and exchange views regarding conditions in the global oil and energy markets.
Vessel reports missile attack off Yemen’s coast: security firms
Another security firm, Ambrey, said the Marshall Islands-flagged, Greece-owned bulk carrier "was targeted by missiles in two separate incidents" within...The incident occurred before 0400 local time (0100 GMT) in an area where Houthi rebels have repeatedly targeted Red Sea shipping in recent months, UKMTO said
Houthis' attacks prompted some shipping companies to detour around southern Africa to avoid Red Sea, a vital route that normally carries about 12 percent of global maritime trade
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
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
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
More than 50 people killed in Israeli strikes on Rafah
Witnesses heard an intense series of strikes and saw smoke billowing above the city, which now hosts more than half...Israeli military said that it had conducted a series of strikes in the Gaza Strip
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered his army to prepare a ground offensive on Rafah
India says Qatar freed eight ex-navy personnel
"The Government of India welcomes the release of eight Indian nationals working for the Dahra Global company who were detained...In October, India said it was "shocked" after a Qatari court had sentenced them to death, but the sentence was reduced in December
The Hindu newspaper reported the men were spying for a "third country", while the Times of India has said that "they were accused of spying for Israel."
Saudi Arabia sends $250m to bolster Yemeni government
Saudi Arabia said it had disbursed $250 million in aid to the internationally-recognized government in Yemen. The money follows an...The Yemeni government relocated to Aden, a port city on the southern coast, after the Iran-backed Houthis seized the capital Sanaa in 2014.
In 2015 Saudi Arabia mobilized an international coalition intended to oust the Houthis.
IMF chief says Israel-Hamas war ‘devastating’ Palestinian economy
"The Palestinian economy's dire outlook is worsening as the conflict persists," managing director Kristalina Georgieva told the World Governments Summit...In the war-ravaged coastal territory, economic activity dropped 80 percent from October through December compared with a year earlier, the IMF chief said.
The IMF now sees the economies of the region expanding 2.9 percent this year, a decrease of half a percentage point from its October forecast.
