Israel, Hamas reject bid before ICC to arrest leaders for war crimes
Israel and Hamas, engaged in heavy fighting in the Gaza Strip, both angrily rejected on Monday moves to arrest their...Geostrategy
Prayers and concern in Iran as President Ebrahim Raisi’s helicopter remains missing
Search and rescue teams are looking for the crash site in the remote mountain area, says Iranian state media, adding...Geostrategy
China rejects US disinformation accusations, calls Washington ’empire of lies’
Beijing, China - China on Saturday accused the United States of being an "empire of lies", hitting back after a State...The report, released Thursday by the US State Department's Global Engagement Center, accused China of financing propaganda, disinformation.
"It is the U.S. that invented the weaponizing of the global information space," a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said in a statement.
UN conference adopts plan to reduce harmful chemicals
PARIS, FRANCE - A new roadmap to reduce the environmental risks from chemicals and waste was adopted at a United Nations...The plan sets out 28 concrete targets and guidelines for key sectors across the entire lifecycle of chemicals, from production to waste.
It calls for a transition to more sustainable chemical alternatives, responsible management of chemicals in industry, agriculture and healthcare.
Libya resumes flights to Italy after nearly 10 years of EU ban
Tripoli, Libya - A Rome-bound aircraft departed on Saturday from Libya's capital, restarting flights to Italy after a nearly decade-long suspension...The European Union in 2014 halted flights operated by Libyan airlines and banned them from entering member states' airspace
Restarting flights is "part of intensive government efforts to lift the European ban on Libyan civil aviation", said Libya's UN-recognized government
ADB capital reforms unlock $100bn to support Asia and the Pacific region
MANILA, PHILIPPINES - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved capital management reforms that unlock US$100 billion in new funding capacity...The expansion of available funds will be further leveraged by mobilizing private and domestic capital required to tackle the climate crisis.
The reforms also create a Countercyclical Lending Buffer to support ADB developing member countries facing unexpected crises.
At $75bn, Saudi defense budget beats several European countries in 2022
Last year, Saudi Arabia led the Middle East in military investments, ranking fifth globally with a defense budget of $75...Qatar's military expenditure reaches $15.4 billion, ranking close to the Netherlands
The United States remains the global leader with $877 billion in military spending
Rights group urges justice an year after Iran’s ‘Bloody Friday’
Paris, France - Campaign groups on Saturday demanded the perpetrators of the killing of dozens of protesters in southeast Iran one...Reportedly, Iranian forces used live fire to suppress a protest on 30 September. 2022 which resulted in death of 104 people.
Also known as "Bloody Friday", the day is considered the single deadliest day of months-long protests that erupted in Iran last year.
Fourth soldier dead due to Houthi attack, says Bahrain
Manama, Bahrain - A fourth Bahraini soldier has died after an attack this week on his country's contingent in the Saudi-led...First Lieutenant Hamad Khalifa al-Kubaisi had on Friday "succumbed to serious injuries as a result of the treacherous Houthi attack", Bahrain said.
Bahrain had previously announced the deaths of three of its soldiers in Monday's attack near the Saudi border with Yemen.
IMF approves $1.3bn for Morocco to help transition to a greener economy
WASHINGTON, US - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Executive Board approved a Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) for Morocco of...The arrangement will help Morocco strengthen its preparedness and resilience against natural disasters, including from climate change.
The 18-months arrangement, "Will help Morocco address climate vulnerabilities, bolster its resilience against climate change,” the IMF said.
The many ways US government shutdown affects people
WASHINGTON, US - The United States is heading toward a government shutdown this weekend with no foreseeable way out of a...Sharp disagreements in the Republican Party has prevented passage of the bills needed to keep the government funded and open.
The credit ratings agency Moody's warned this week that a shutdown would be "credit negative" for US sovereign debt.
Iran proposes to Saudi Arabia to set up working group for visa cancellation
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia--Iran has proposed to Saudi Arabia to set up a working group to look into the idea of...The idea of visa cancellation was put forward by Iranian deputy tourism minister while visiting Saudi Arabia
Iran and Saudi Arabia in March agreed to a Chinese-brokered deal to revive relations after years of hostility