Israel’s Gantz says military focus needs to shift to Lebanon
"We have enough forces to deal with Gaza and we should concentrate on what is going on in the north,"...Geostrategy
Israel set for general strike after Gaza hostages found dead
A nationwide strike aimed at ramping up pressure on Israel's government to secure the release of the remaining hostages in...Geostrategy
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
India-Middle East trade corridor hits Turkey hurdle, alternate route proposed
Ankara, Turkey - Turkey is engaged in “intensive negotiations” with regional partners to propose an alternative to the India-Middle East...The country has proposed $17 billion Iraq Development Road initiative which would take goods from the Grand Faw port in Iraq through 10 Iraqi provinces and into Turkey
The project will utilize a high-speed rail and road network and is divided into three phases, with the final phase expected to be completed by 2050
Iraq pledges to raise financial support for Kurdistan
Days after thousands of people took to the streets in the Kurdistan region over unpaid civil service salaries which they...Three state-banks will loan the funds and then be reimbursed by the finance ministry in Baghdad
Baghdad has been blamed long by Iraqi Kurdistan for not sending the necessary funds to pay civil servants
Chinese FM Wang Yi to visit Russia Sept 18-21: foreign ministry
Beijing, China - China's top diplomat Wang Yi will begin a four-day visit to Russia for security talks on Monday,...China and Russia are strategic allies, with both countries frequently touting their "no limits" partnership and economic and military cooperation
Their ties became even closer after Russia invaded Ukraine in February last year, which China has refused to criticize
