Israel’s plan for Gaza draws international criticism
Israel drew international condemnation over its plans for an expanded Gaza offensive, as the country's far-right finance minister called Tuesday...Geostrategy
Hamas says Gaza truce talks pointless as Israel wages ‘hunger war’
Hamas on Tuesday dismissed as pointless ceasefire talks with Israel, accusing it of waging a "hunger war" on Gaza, where...Geostrategy
Erdogan confirms that Turkey will host Netanyahu in the next two months
New York, Washington - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to visit...Two leaders met in New York on the sidelines of the 78th session of United Nations General Assembly
Netanyahu was due to travel to Turkiye in July, but postponed the trip as he had a pacemaker implanted
France warns Lebanon financial aid at risk over presidency deadlock
French President Emmanuel Macron's special envoy urged Lebanese factions to find a "third way" for electing a new president, warning...Lebanon has been without a president for almost a year after ex-head of state Michel Aoun's mandate expired.
Lebanon's president is elected by parliament, where neither side has a majority, rather than by universal suffrage.
Top army officials from 30 nations review threats in Asia-Pacific
New Delhi, India - Army chiefs and senior officers from 30 countries including the United States met in India on Tuesday...US Army chief Randy George said the region was "critically important", speaking to reporters alongside his Indian counterpart Manoj Pande.
Generals from Japan and Australia, which make up the "Quad" defense cooperation forum alongside Washington and New Delhi, also took part.
Dubai Government reduces public debt by US$7.8bn
DUBAI, UAE - The Public Debt Management Office (PDMO) of the Government of Dubai's Department of Finance (DOF) announced a...The achievement has been realized within a year and a half since the establishment of the office in 2022.
This includes a full redemption of Sukuk certificates worth $898 million, the repayment of bilateral and syndicated facilities totaling $1.4 billion.
China grants Approved Destination Status to Saudi Arabia
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – China on Tuesday granted Approved Destination Status (ADS) to the Gulf Kingdom.The bilateral agreement, signed on...The bilateral pact allows Chinese citizens to travel to Saudi Arabia in group tours in addition to facilitating greater ease of access.
ADS will drive greater connectivity between Saudi Arabia and China and unlock new opportunities across the tourism ecosystem.
QatarEnergy inks pact with Marubeni
QatarEnergy will supply naphtha to Marubeni for 10 years.This pact builds on the five-year Naphtha sales agreement signed in 2018 between QatarEnergy and Marubeni Corporation.
Japan-based Marubeni Corporation is the largest petrochemical feedstock trading entity and aggregator in Asia.
Israeli minister in first public visit to Saudi Arabia amid bilateral talks
Israel's Tourism Minister Haim Katz is the first Israeli minister to head an official delegation in Saudi Arabia, where he...Katz's visit comes after a Saudi envoy on a visit to the occupied West Bank pledged that the Palestinian cause will be "a cornerstone" of any normalization deal with Israel.
The visit by a delegation headed by Nayef al-Sudairi was Saudi Arabia's first in three decades to the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since the 1967 Arab-Israel war.
Rising demand for critical metals pose dilemmas for investors
PARIS, FRANCE - Soaring demand for the raw materials needed for the transition towards renewable energy is creating dilemmas for investors...Demand for lithium, an essential component of car batteries, could increase ninefold between 2022 and 2050, said the International Energy Agency.
Lithium and other metals that the IEA calls “key to the clean energy transition” will be the topic of a summit hosted by the global energy watchdog in Paris.
Saudi Arabia, amid Israel talks, sends envoy to West Bank
The delegation was led by the Saudi non-resident ambassador to the Palestinian territories, Nayef al-Sudairi, who was to meet Palestinian...The delegation from Saudi Arabia, which crossed overland from Jordan, was the first from Saudi Arabia to visit the West Bank since the 1993 Oslo Accords
The Saudi visit comes as Washington has been leading talks between Israel and Saudi Arabia on a normalization that would mark a game changer for the Middle East
China slams US sanctions over Iran aircraft program
Washington last week slapped sanctions on "seven individuals and four entities" based in Iran, China, Russia and Turkey it said...China notes that US has included some Chinese enterprises and individuals in the 'Specially Designated Nationals List', a commerce ministry spokesman said
"The United States side should immediately stop its unreasonable suppression of Chinese enterprises and individuals," spokesman said
