Putin orders three-day ceasefire; Zelensky slams it as manipulative ahead of Victory Day
Before Putin's announcement, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held new talks with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, having declared that...Geostrategy
Qatar Prime Minister sees some progress on Gaza truce
"We need to find an answer for the ultimate question: how to end this war. That's, that's basically, I think,...Geostrategy
Iran’s non-oil export to ECO countries from Mar 21 to July 22 2023 reaches $3.6bn
TEHRAN, IRAN – Iran’s export of non-oil products to the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) member states in the first four...In the four-month period, Iran exported 8.161 million tons of non-oil commodities to ECO member states.
In the same period, Iran imported 1.394 million tons of goods, valued at $2.445 billion, from the ECO states.
Gulf Federation for Electronic Sports formed, will develop regional talent
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - The Gulf Federation for Electronic Sports was established Thursday on the sidelines of the Next World...A total of 14 MoUs and agreements were signed at the Next World Forum, an event in Riyadh that brings together leaders and experts of the gaming and e-sports.
The agreements included aspects related to federations, sponsorships, proposed values, and education.
UAE, New Zealand discuss economic cooperation, free trade pact
DUBAI, UAE – Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade discussed deeper economic collaboration,...The UAE and New Zealand already share a productive trade relationship, with non-oil trade reaching US$805 million in 2022.
UAE is New Zealand's leading trading partner in the Arab World, accounting for 2.5 percent of Wellington’s total foreign trade.
Iraq jails Iranian, 4 Iraqis for life for killing US citizen
No Iraqi officials or security sources have been able to tell AFP why the killing of Stephen Troell took place...Stephen Troell, who had been living in Baghdad with his family, was shot dead in unclear circumstances on November 7, officials said
The five men had "confessed" to the murder and said that their intention had been to kidnap Troell for ransom, not to kill him, the source said
Hong Kong’s Belt and Road summit expands focus to Middle East
Dubai, UAE - The annual Belt and Road Summit being held on September 13 and 14 in Hong Kong will...The Belt and Road Initiative, China's ambitious plan to boost international trade and connectivity, encompasses both the Middle East and Southeast Asia
Hong Kong aims to leverage its strategic location and expertise to facilitate economic collaboration between these regions
Sudan refugees stranded without healthcare in Chad
The new arrivals in Adre may now be safe from the gunfire, but they soon learn they are still in...The risk of disease soars in the absence of clean water, for which people "begin lining up ... at 2:00 am" amid shortages in some camps, MSF reported
In Sudan, even before the current conflict began in April, 78,000 children under five died every year "from preventable causes, such as malaria", UN says
UN renews Lebanon peacekeeping mission after dispute
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has criticized UNIFIL's inability to fully access certain areas, including sites belonging to a Lebanese environmental...The vote, which was originally scheduled for Wednesday but postponed for further negotiations, came only a few hours before the mission's authorization was set to expire
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), in place since 1978, is tasked with creating a buffer between Israel and Lebanon, which are technically at war
Turkey asks Russia to renew grain deal for global food security
Moscow, Russia - Turkey's foreign minister said on a visit to Moscow on Thursday that reviving a deal to ship Ukrainian..."We underlined its critical role for global food security and stability in the Black Sea," Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said
Fidan was in Moscow to prepare an informal summit between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Vladimir Putin in Russia
Constructive Saudi pledges made for Lebanon assistance: Iran FM
Tehran, Iran -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said Thursday that discussions with Saudi authorities have resulted in constructive statements...Iran wants nothing but good, stability, peace, and development for Lebanon, Hossein Amirabdollahian told reporters in Beirut.
"We expect all regional and international countries to contribute to improving Lebanon's economic situation," he said.
Iraqi security forces seize 15 tons of illegal drugs and precursor chemicals
War-scarred Iraq, originally mainly a drug transit country, has faced an explosion in narcotics use in recent years, mainly of...They said the chemical components confiscated in Baghdad are used to manufacture crystal meth and captagon.
The drug squad made the seizure in an upscale neighborhood of the capital, the interior ministry said in a statement.
