Israel hits Rafah despite US warning on arms transfers
In an interview with CNN on Wednesday, Biden warned he would stop some US weapons supplies to Israel if it...Geostrategy
Hamas accepts Gaza truce proposal, Israel urges Rafah evacuation
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said the proposal "is far from Israel's essential demands", but the government will send...Geostrategy
Saudi, Iran exchange ambassadors after years-long rupture
Saudi Arabia's embassy in Tehran resumed operations last month. In June, Iran marked the reopening of its embassy in Riyadh...Two countries agreed to resume diplomatic relations and reopen their respective embassies following a China-brokered deal announced in March
Riyadh and Tehran severed ties in 2016 after Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran were attacked during protests over Riyadh's execution of the cleric Nimr al-Nimr
Egypt president calls for measures to slow birthrate
Cairo, Egypt -- Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi called Tuesday for measures to slow the birthrate in the Arab world's most..."We need 400,000 births per year," said the leader of the country of 105 million inhabitants which recorded nearly 2.2 million births in 2022.
Sisi intervened when his minister of health and population, Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, told a conference that "having children is a matter of complete freedom".
World inches step closer towards plastic pollution deal: UN
Some 175 nations are working to reach a landmark agreement by end-2024 that will curb plastic pollution, which ends up...Global plastic production has more than doubled since the start of the century to reach 460 million tons and could triple by 2060 if nothing is done. Only 9% is currently recycled.
The draft deal, published by the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, will form the basis of fresh talks in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, on November 13-19.
Xi’s G20 no-show hints at China’s shifting diplomatic priorities
Beijing, China - President Xi Jinping's unexplained decision to snub the G20 summit underlines Beijing's frayed ties with other major powers...Beijing's foreign ministry said Monday that Premier Li Qiang would join the leaders of the world's biggest economies in New Delhi this weekend, effectively confirming Xi's absence
No reason was given why Xi will not attend the summit, which he has not skipped since coming to power, except Rome in 2021 when he participated by video link owing to pandemic
Israel’s sports team makes landmark visit to Saudi Arabia
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - An Israeli sports delegation arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday to participate in the World Weightlifting...Three Israeli weightlifters are set to compete in different weight classes during the World Weightlifting Championships
Israeli athletes are expected to participate in a competition in Qatar in December, even though neither Saudi Arabia nor Qatar maintains diplomatic ties
UN ‘alarmed’ by clashes at Eritrean protests in Israel
Trouble erupted on Saturday when a demonstration against an Eritrean government event turned violent, injuring nearly 140 people, including a...The clashes between police and demonstrators began outside a south Tel Aviv venue that was set to host a pro-regime event organised by the Eritrean embassy in Israel
Hundreds of anti-government Eritreans came to prevent the event from taking place, Israeli police ordered the street to be emptied calling the gathering an illegal demonstration
UN envoy arrives in Western Sahara for talks on disputed territory
A statement said he was "looking forward to conducting visits in the region and meetings, engaging all concerned ahead of the...UN said de Mistura's trip would focus on the prospects of constructively advancing the political process on Western Sahara in the course of these regional engagement
The Security Council called in October last year for all parties to the dispute to engage in talks to come up with a "lasting and mutually acceptable political solution"
Saudi Arabia and Iran two most influential countries in Islamic world: Raisi
Tehran, Iran--Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi has termed Saudi Arabia and Iran as the two most influential countries in the region...Iranian president in his meeting with Alireza Enayati, the new ambassador to Saudi Arabia, spoke of strengthening relations between the two countries
In June, the Islamic republic reopened its embassy in Riyadh and then followed it up with the reopening of its consulate in Jeddah
UAE and Africa strengthen carbon market collaboration
"Our collaboration with the Africa Carbon Markets Initiative provides carbon market buyers in the UAE and wider region with access...The UAE Carbon Alliance has signed a Letter of Intent for a US$450 million purchase of African carbon credits by 2030
Collaboration with Africa Carbon Markets Initiative will provide UAE with access to high-quality carbon credits from Africa
Saudi Arabia forms Global Water Organization to secure sustainable resources
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia--Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has announced the establishment of Global Water Organization in order to...The body will seek to exchange knowledge, expertise, the advance of water technology, innovation, and share research and development experiences
It will also press for the funding of high-priority projects to ensure the long-term sustainability of water resources while ensuring access to water for all