Israel marks first anniversary of Hamas’s October 7 attack
Israel began its commemorations Monday of the one-year anniversary of Hamas's deadly October 7 attack, with an outpouring of emotion...Geostrategy
Updates: Israel attacks 2,000 sites in Lebanon, kills over 40 rescuers, and destroys hospitals
Israel has intensified its attacks against Lebanon striking emergency services and professionals - a possible war crime. Several hospitals in...Geostrategy
Egypt’s president calls for recognition of Palestinian state
Speaking at a joint press conference with with the prime ministers of Spain and Belgium in Cairo, Sisi said revival...The president's remarks come on the first day of the four-day truce between Israel and Hamas
Israel's aerial and ground offensive in the Gaza Strip has left 14,854 Palestinians dead
For a diaspora soccer club in Chile, ‘Palestine exists’
Santiago, Chile - Thousands of miles from the Middle East, in a stadium in Santiago, Chile, the nation of Palestine exists,...A banner reading "In memory of those who are no longer with us" was displayed in the stands, where a section of seats was left empty to represent the dead
Chile is home to the largest Palestinian community outside the Arab world, with the first immigrants arriving from Bethlehem, Beit Jala and Beit Sahour
Saudi minister says 6,225 industrial firms from Kingdom invest US$30bn in Egypt
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - A total of 6,225 Saudi industrial businesses are operating in Egypt with US$30 billion worth of...At least 518 Egyptian companies are operating in the Saudi market, the minister said.
He said that over 285 Egyptian brands are spread out across the Kingdom.
Gaza focus as French foreign minister meets China’s PM, FM
Beijing has this year sought to play a greater role in the Middle East, facilitating a historic rapprochement between Saudi...Colonna's talks in Beijing come the same day that a truce between Israel and Hamas took effect, with the group set to release a first group of 13 hostages
"China is an actor with growing weight in the region" due to its "strong relationship" with Iran, a French diplomatic source said this week
39 Palestinians freed in exchange for 13 Israeli hostages as truce sets in
Weeks of talks involving Israel, Hamas, Qatar, Egypt and the US saw three girls and a boy, aged from two...Israel is set to release three times as many Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails -- women and teenage boys.
A dozen Thai hostages kidnapped during Hamas's October 7 raids into Israel were also released on Friday, Thailand's Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced.
Qatar posts trade balance surplus of US$16.7bn in Q3 2023
DOHA, QATAR - The merchandise trade balance of Qatar (difference between total exports and imports) recorded a surplus of US$6.7...In Q3 2023, Asia was the principal destination of Qatar’s exports and imports, representing 74.9 percent and 36.3 percent respectively.
In Q3 2023, the European Union, accounting for 10.4 percent and 27.5 percent of Qatar's exports and imports respectively.
8 pacts on trade, investment inked in Saudi-Algerian Business Forum
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - The Saudi-Algerian Business Forum concluded its activities with the two countries signing eight agreements aiming at...The agreements cover trade, investment, information technology, business incubators and accelerators, tourism services, elevators, and spare parts.
The pacts were signed by the Federation of Saudi Chambers, the Council for Algerian Economic Renewal and several Saudi and Algerian firms.
Afghan embassy in India announces ‘permanent closure’
Most foreign nations -- including India -- do not officially recognize Afghanistan's Taliban government but acknowledge them as the de...New Delhi evacuated its entire mission from Kabul as Taliban closed in on Afghan capital in August 2021, but last year sent back a small team to reopen its sprawling embassy
Most foreign nations similarly withdrew diplomatic staff at the time and have not returned, although a handful of embassies including Pakistan, China and Russia never closed
Germany says raided homes of Hamas supporters
Germany on November 2 banned Hamas and Samidoun. According to official figures, Germany hosts an estimated 450 members of Hamas,...Around 500 members of the security forces led the operation, with 13 places searched in the capital Berlin, the interior ministry said
Four other regions were targeted to a lesser extent as police seized smartphones, laptops and various writings, the ministry added
Israel-Hamas truce begins, hostages to be released
An Egyptian security source told AFP that Israeli security officials, International Red Cross-Red Crescent staff and an Egyptian team would...The deal, facilitated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States, is to take effect in stages that can be extended and broadened.
The agreement follows weeks of war in the Gaza Strip after Hamas members attacked Israel on October 7.
