Pakistan conducts second missile test, India readies civil defence drills
Islamabad, Pakistan - Pakistan conducted a second missile test and India ordered civil defence drills in an escalating stand-off over...Geostrategy
Trump’s solar tariffs could drive Asia transition boom
Bangkok, Thailand -- Massive planned US duties on solar panels made in Southeast Asia could be a chance for the...Geostrategy
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
Three firefighters die in Turkey helicopter crash
ISTANBUL, TURKEY - Turkish divers searched on Sunday for the bodies of three firefighters who died when their helicopter crashed into...Turkey has funnelled resources into its emergency response efforts after being gripped by devastating fires in 2021.
Global warming is changing weather patterns and contributing to a years-long drought across swathes of Turkey.
Egypt coalition says it will shun presidential election
The coalition's potential presidential candidate, Hisham Kassem, was Saturday sentenced to six months in jail. The presidential election, expected to...The only candidate campaigning so far, Ahmed al-Tantawi, has denounced repeated harassment by the security forces against his teams and supporters.
Kassem's Free Current coalition, formed in June by opposition parties, advocates economic liberalization and calls for an end to the army's stranglehold on Egypt's economy.
WHO tells China to provide ‘full access’ to Covid investigators
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND - The head of the World Health Organization told the Financial Times he was ready to send a new...WHO chief said he had already written to China asking "to give us information " and for the organization to send a team "if they allow us to do so".
He said WHO would not abandon its investigation and has called on China for transparency in sharing data and carrying out investigations.
Saudi Arabia participates in global meet to bridge digital divide
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – The Kingdom’s Governor of the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) Dr. Mohammed Saud Al-Tamimi participated...The meeting aims to enhance the contribution of the communications, space and technology sectors for attaining sustainable development objectives.
The meeting also aims to propose policies and recommendations to bridge the digital divide and promote and develop the digital economy.
Jordan’s interconnection projects to serve as hub for energy exchange
AMMAN, JORDAN -The Kingdom’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has emphasized the significance of current and upcoming electrical interconnection...Jordanian authorities are working on a project to connect the Kingdom’s Risha electrical station to Iraq's Rutba station.
The interconnection line will allow the Iraqis to power the Rutba area's loads, using the Jordanian grid.
