Israel strikes southern Gaza after ordering evacuations
Other parts of the Gaza Strip were reeling from continued fighting nearly nine months into the devastating conflict. Witnesses and...Geostrategy
Polls open in Iran for presidential election amidst vote boycott calls
Polls in Iran opened on Friday for a presidential election following the death of ultraconservative president Ebrahim Raisi in a...Geostrategy
EU bicycle exports surged to US$1.1bn in 2022
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - The EU exported US$1.1 billion (€1.1 billion) worth of bicycles in 2022 (both electric and non-electric, a...The EU exported 365,000 electric bicycles and imported 1.2 million in 2022 while the imports were worth US$2.6 billion.
The overall increase in the trade of bicycles can be attributed to an increase in the export and import of electric bicycles.
Dane, two Austrian-Iranian citizens released by Tehran arrive home
One Dane and two Austrian-Iranian citizens released from detention by Tehran arrived in their home countries, after the latest in...Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib welcomed them at the airport along with Danish and Austrian diplomats.
The trio's release, as well as that of a Belgian aid worker a week earlier, were part of a prisoner swap.
Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iraq, other regional powers plan naval coalition
Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Shahram Irani has declared the formation of a new naval coalition. This alliance, encompassing regional...The move reflects the region's understanding of the need for synergy and cooperation in establishing security
Iran, Russia, and China's annual naval exercises pointed to as a model for this regional coalition
Erdogan commences third term today amid economic crisis, West tensions
Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been sworn in for a third term as president, promising to serve "impartially" after winning...Despite the devastating February earthquake and economic crisis, Erdogan secures 52.18 percent of the vote
Erdogan's economic policy, including his unconventional approach to interest rates, is under scrutiny
Human fraternity, climate change among top priorities for UAE as president of UNSC
The UAE will host three high-level Council meetings in June, aiming to promote interfaith dialogue, address climate change impacts on...The UAE will host three high-level Council meetings in June, aiming to promote interfaith dialogue, address climate change impacts on worldwide conflicts
The UAE also seeks to host a high-level briefing on cooperation between the UN and the League of Arab States will take place on June 8
Saudi Foreign Minister meets with Iranian counterpart on BRICS sidelines
Cape Town, South Africa -- Saudi Arabia Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, met Friday with...The two ministers reviewed bilateral relations in various fields, in addition to following up the steps to implement the agreement between the two countries signed in Beijing
Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates foreign ministers attended the BRICS meeting in South Africa this week, as the bloc seeks to expand its membership
US secretary of state Antony Blinken to visit Saudi Arabia
Blinken's June 6-8 trip comes as both the United States and Saudi Arabia are seeking to broker a durable cease...He will participate in a ministerial meeting on Wednesday with the Gulf Cooperation Council, and on Thursday in a meeting in Riyadh of the coalition of countries fighting the ISIS.
Blinken's trip follows a recent visit to Saudi Arabia by White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and nearly a year after President Joe Biden visited the country.
Danish, two Austrian-Iranian citizens freed by Iran
Iran released one Danish and two Austrian-Iranian citizens it had been holding after mediation by Oman, and they are being...Thanking Belgium, Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said, "Our years of diplomatic efforts to secure their release have borne fruit."
The Danish man, who was not immediately identified, had been arrested in Iran in November 2022 on the sidelines of a demonstration for women's rights.
UN evokes ‘specter of food inflation’ as Ukraine grain exports slow down
"In May, 33 vessels departed Ukrainian ports, half of the number compared to April. Only three of those departed from...UN says Russia "has informed of its decision to limit registrations to the port of Yuzhny/Pivdennyi as long as ammonia is not exported"
Moscow is calling in particular for a resumption of operations on the Togliatti-Odessa pipeline for deliveries of ammonia
Morocco to teach Berber language in more schools
Morocco has the largest population of Berbers in North Africa, and Thursday's decision responds to a long-standing demand by activists...The decision will affect some four million children in 12,000 schools between now and the end of the decade, Chakib Benmoussa told reporters
Last month, King Mohamed VI declared that the Berber new year's day on January 13 would be an official public holiday from next year
