Israel says more troops to ‘enter Rafah’ as operations intensify
Israeli forces took control earlier in May of the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing with Egypt, in a push...Geostrategy
Quarter of Gazans displaced again as fighting rages north to south
Fighting has flared in north Gaza four months after the army said Hamas's command structure there had been dismantled, and...Geostrategy
UAE, Egypt presidents meet, discuss ties, regional issues
Abu Dhabi, UAE - The UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the UAE and President Abdel Fattah...The two presidents deliberated on economic, investment, and development collaborations between the two countries
They exchanged views on regional and global developments, emphasizing the importance of peaceful resolutions to regional conflicts
Biden pledges to extract ‘costs’ from Iran despite prisoner swap
NEW YORK, US- President Joe Biden said the United States would keep piling "costs" on Iran despite a prisoner swap deal...Biden confirmed that he was imposing new sanctions on Iran's intelligence ministry and former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
His statement did not mention the granting of clemency to five Iranians jailed or awaiting trial for non-violent crimes.
$15m paid in compensation to passengers in 2021-22 in Saudi Arabia, says GACA
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said that national airlines in the Kingdom have issued...These compensations were given primarily to deal with issues such as delays, loss of luggage, flight cancellations.
GACA aims to ensure that passengers are well-informed about their rights and can easily obtain refunds as per the regulations.
14 pro-Turkish fighters killed in Syria attack by Kurdish group
Beirut, Lebanon - A Syrian Kurdish armed group attacked an area controlled by pro-Turkish fighters in rebel-held northern Syria on Monday,...The Kurdish Afrin Liberation Forces took advantage of factional fighting that broke out after midnight on the outskirts of Al-Bab in Aleppo province.
With artillery support, the Kurdish group infiltrated the area, leaving "at least 14 dead" and others wounded in the attack, all pro-Turkish fighters.
Italy to restrict migrants after record entrants from Africa
Meloni, who won the election last year on a vow to stop immigration, said Sunday the defense ministry would also...Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the cabinet would sign off on new measures on Monday, including increasing the time migrants due to be expelled from Italy.
The time limit for detentions used to be 18 months between 2011 and 2014, before being reduced under a center-left government led by Matteo Renzi.
UAE progresses in countering financial crimes in H1 2023, says official
ABU DHABI, UAE – Director-General of the Executive Office of Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Terrorism Financing (EO AMLCTF) Hamid AlZaabi...The UAE confiscated over US$356 million from March 2023 to mid-July 2023, thereby strengthening its financial system.
The country continues to prioritize international cooperation to combat financial and organized crime.
Five freed US detainees leave Iran in prisoner swap
The five, who include a businessman and a conservationist, and who left Iran on a Qatari plane accompanied by two...Biden also granted clemency to the five Iranian ex-detainees. The US insists Iran will only be allowed to use the money to buy food, medicine and other humanitarian goods.
The five Americans -- all considered Iranian nationals by Tehran, which rejects dual nationality -- were released to house arrest when the deal was agreed last month.
UN agencies warn of disease threat in Libya’s Derna city
UN agencies warned that Libya's flood-stricken city of Derna, where thousands were killed a week ago, faces the threat of...The massive flash flood that killed over 3,000 people and left thousands more missing came as Libya was lashed by the hurricane-strength Storm Daniel.
“Teams from nine UN agencies have been on the ground delivering aid and support,” said the UN Support Mission in Libya.
Israeli restrictions hinder Palestinians’ access to healthcare: World Bank
Jerusalem--Israel's restrictions and rising fiscal constraints in the Palestinian territories are severely impacting the economic conditions of Palestinians and hindering...The World Bank, in a report, said that Palestinian economy was performing below potential, with per capita income expected to stagnate
The report added that the restrictions imposed by Israel often makes it hard to provide timely life-saving healthcare to Palestinians
Middle East embraces Mandarin learning in geopolitical shift
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Middle Eastern countries are increasingly embracing the Mandarin language, extending China's soft power influence in the...Saudi Arabia, the largest Arab country in the Middle East, recently mandated Mandarin lessons in all public and private secondary schools, according to Saudi Gazette
The United Arab Emirates was the first Gulf state to include Mandarin in its national education system, launching a Chinese language program in schools in 2019