Israel strikes Lebanon, says thwarted large-scale Hizbollah attack
The result was perhaps the biggest exchange of fire in 10 months of a war which began with a Hamas...Geostrategy
Israel kills top Palestinian militant as Gaza truce talks stumble
The Israeli military killed a senior Palestinian militant in Lebanon on Wednesday, leading to accusations from the Fatah movement that...Geostrategy
Transfer of Iran’s unfrozen foreign assets to Qatari banks soon
TEHRAN, IRAN – The foreign minister of Qatar said the procedures for the transfer of Iran’s unfrozen foreign assets to...Qatar has been a mediator in talks that led to a prisoner exchange deal between Iran and the United States.
The deal involves the release of five prisoners from each side and the unfreezing of some US$6 billion worth of Iranian funds.
Saudi hosts Yemen’s Iran-backed rebels for talks on ending war
Houthis headed for Riyadh on an Omani plane, days after Saudi de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met...Senior Houthi figures took off from Yemen's capital Sanaa for their first public visit to oil-rich Saudi since Riyadh began spearheading a military intervention
The official Saudi Press Agency said Riyadh "invited a delegation from Sanaa to visit the kingdom" to complete talks held in the Yemeni capital earlier this year
Turkey casts doubt on need for new Russian gas hub
Putin first raised the idea of creating "a gas hub in Turkey for supplies to other countries" during talks with...Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar told a group of reporters on Thursday that Turkey already had a well-functioning gas trading platform
Russia currently ships gas to Turkey via two pipelines running under the Black Sea and Turkey sends some of that gas onto southeastern European countries
Palestinian fighters in Lebanon camp agree on truce
SIDON, LEBANON - Palestinian fighters agreed a new ceasefire on Thursday after more than a week of deadly violence in Lebanon's...At least 17 people have been killed and around 100 wounded in the fighting in Ain al-Helweh refugee camp, on the outskirts of Sidon, Lebanon.
Previous ceasefires had collapsed when the warring parties failed to honour commitments to hand over fighters wanted by the other side.
Leaders of China’s National People’s Congress, UAE’s FNC hold talks
BEIJING, CHINA – Chairman of China’s National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee Zhao Leji held talks in Beijing with the...China, the UAE have consolidated political mutual trust and expanded cooperation.
China supports the UAE in playing a bigger role in international and regional affairs.
Tunisia bars entry to European Parliament delegation of five MEPs
"We condemn the decision of the Tunisian authorities to refuse entry for the delegation," the delegation, made up of five...Legislators from the parliament's foreign affairs committee were due to head to the North African country on Thursday on a fact-finding mission.
However, Tunisia's foreign ministry said on Thursday that the lawmakers would not be allowed entry due to "multiple reservations" about the visit.
Yemen peace push: Houthi delegation to visit Saudi Arabia
The Houthis' visit, expected within the coming days, will raise hopes of a breakthrough in the quagmire conflict that has...Yemen was plunged into war when the Houthis seized control of the capital Sanaa in September 2014, prompting the Saudi-led intervention the following March.
The ensuing fighting has forced millions from their homes, causing one of the world's worst humanitarian crises in a country already pummeled by decades of conflict and upheaval.
Diverse business models needed for trade with China, say Union of Arab Chambers
BEIRUT, LEBANON – The secretary general of the Union of Arab Chambers has called for diversified business models to facilitate...The secretary general of the Union of Arab Chambers said there was a rise in the variety of goods traded between China and the Arab world in recent years.
Arab nations and China cannot simply rely on the traditional pattern of cooperation that emphasizes on imports and exports of products.
Relations with Iran will be strong, says Saudi envoy
TEHRAN, IRAN - Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to Iran Abdullah bin Saud al-Anzi has said that relations between the two countries...The Saudi envoy expressed satisfaction with his country's ties with Iran and the two sides' resumption of bilateral diplomatic relations.
He said that any pact between Saudi Arabia and Iran will lead to the enhancement of peace and security in the entire region.
Israel deprives 400 Palestinian kids of life-saving treatment: Report
The report published on Wednesday by the UK-based organization Save the Children said that nearly 400 children in Gaza, at...Nearly 100 children’s applications to Israeli authorities were denied or left unanswered in the month of May alone, said the report ‘I Can’t Run, Play, or Get Treatment’.
“Neither chemotherapy nor radiology treatments are available due to Israeli Government restrictions on medical equipment and medication entering Gaza,” it said.
