Blinken in Israel as under-pressure Netanyahu blames ‘obstinate’ Hamas
Making his ninth trip to the Middle East since the Gaza war began when Hamas attacked Israel in October, the...Geostrategy
40,000 and counting: the struggle to keep track of Gaza deaths
Palestinian Territories -- With Gaza largely in ruins after more than 10 months of war, the Hamas-run territory's health ministry...Geostrategy
Egyptians, Zambians in court over gold on mystery plane
The Drug Enforcement Commission said the chartered aircraft was transporting "dangerous goods". Judge Davies Chimbwili said that they were accused...Drug and law enforcement authorities said 11 suspects, including a senior Zambian police officer, had been arrested and charged with "espionage"
Court papers seen by AFP list a former Egyptian military person and businessman as well as a Zambian police officer among the suspects
Hezbollah seeks restriction on UN’s Lebanon peacekeepers
The mandate of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, which expires Thursday, was extended last year with a slight modification...Under the modified mandate the peacekeeping force "is allowed to conduct its operations independently", the UN resolution said
On Monday, Lebanon's Foreign Minister Abdallah Bouhabib met in New York with UN chief to convey Lebanon's position
Doctors Without Borders loses contact with 2 foreign staff in Yemen
Dubai, UAE--The Doctors Without Borders (MSF) charity has "lost contact" with two of its foreign staff in Yemen, the group...The aid group said that the two employees, from Germany and Burma, were in the northern province of Marib, without giving any more details
Some month back, one of the employees of the UN World Food Program had been killed in an attack in the southern province of Taez
Bahrain and US review partnership in political, economic and security fields
Manama, Bahrain--Bahrain and the United States have reviewed joint cooperation, partnership and strategic dialogue in the political, economic and security...Both officials lay stress on continuing efforts to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and ensure cyber security
The Bahraini official underscored the importance of exchaning expertise on the use of modern technologies and AI in space affairs
Iran vows to respond if Iraq fails to disarm Kurdish rebels
Tehran, Iran - Iran on Monday warned Iraq that it would take action if Baghdad does not honor its commitment by...The Iraqi government has pledged to disarm armed terrorist groups in Iraq by September 19," Iran's foreign ministry spokesman said.
He said that Baghdad had agreed to evacuate the groups from their bases and "transfer them to camps provided by the Iraqi government".
NEOM to set up education, research and innovation center
TABUK, SAUDI ARABIA – NEOM has announced plans to establish a world-class education, research and innovation (ERI) center, following last...NEOM’s ERI center will enable access to a world-class education, research and innovation ecosystem at any stage of the life of a learner.
The curricula deployed across NEOM’s ERI pillars will prepare a digitally fluent workforce, equipping students with real-life skill sets.
French President says change in existing world order would weaken West, Europe
PARIS, FRANCE - Attempts to change the existing world order threaten to weaken the West and especially Europe, French President...Emmanuel Macron said the role of the UN Security Council, International Monetary Fund and World Bank are constantly being challenged.
Emmanuel Macron said the role of the UN Security Council, International Monetary Fund and World Bank are constantly being challenged.
Saudi Arabia and Iran invited to Moscow-led defense bloc’s military drills
Moscow, Russia -- Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) member states have invited observers from Saudi Arabia, Iran, China and Mongolia...China and Mongolia are the other two countries invited to monitor the Combat Brotherhood-2023 drills in Belarus, CSTO Joint Staff Chief Colonel General Anatoly Sidorov said.
Combat Brotherhood, a joint operational and strategic exercise, will be held in Belarus on September 1-6.
Turkey’s Erdogan to visit Russia for talks with Putin
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is to visit Russia "soon" for talks with Vladimir Putin on reviving a deal to...Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that a meeting was being prepared "intensively", without giving a time or place for the talks.
Erdogan has used his good relations with Russia and Ukraine to try to bring the two sides into formal peace talks.
Israel strikes force closure of Syria airport: state media
Israel has launched hundreds of air strikes in the last 12 years of civil war in Syria, primarily targeting Iran-backed...Syrian transport ministry official said the damage centred on the only functioning runway
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the strikes also targeted an adjacent military airport
