Palestinians relaunch bid to become UN member state
The Palestinians, who have had observer status at the world body since 2012, have lobbied for years to gain full...Geostrategy
World powers condemn deadly Gaza air strike on aid workers
World Central Kitchen -- one of two NGOs spearheading efforts to deliver aid by boat -- said a "targeted Israeli...Geostrategy
Bangladesh gets new president before general election
Mohammed Shahabuddin, a former judge and a ruling party official, was sworn in as the president of Bangladesh, just months...The opposition in Bangladesh has staged a series of protests, demanding that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina step down.
The opposition accuses Hasina, who has been in power since 2009, of rigging the previous two elections.
UN chief calls for ceasefire in Sudan, says conflict may affect region
Foreign nations pushed with evacuations of their citizens from Sudan which, the UN chief warned, is "on the edge of...The US, European, Middle Eastern, African and Asian nations have launched emergency missions to bring to safety their citizens from Sudan.
At least 427 people have been killed and over 3,700 wounded, as per UN agencies, which said Sudanese civilians fleeing the affected areas.
Saudi Fund for Development to provide $130m loans to Kyrgyzstan
Two loan agreements were signed in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek by the SFD CEO Sultan bin Abdulrahman Al-Marshad with the...The first agreement worth $100 million involves financing the construction of 3000 housing units covering an area 255,000 square meters.
The second agreement is related to financing of the Taraz-Talas Road Project (Phase 4), which aims to reconstruct 93 km of road to improve road safety.
Australia sets in motion largest defense renovation in decades
Australia launched its biggest defense overhaul in decades, vowing to turn a military that is "no longer fit for purpose"...The biggest changes may be felt in the Australian army, which will now have a sharper focus on coastal defense.
Australia's military will develop the ability to strike from air, land and sea, strengthen northern bases and recruit more troops.
China rejects envoy’s claims on ex-Soviet countries sovereignty
China insisted it respects the sovereignty of all ex-Soviet countries, after comments by its ambassador to France drew ire in...Beijing distanced itself from Lu's remarks - while also defending its claimed neutral stance on Russia's war in Ukraine.
Lu said countries that emerged after the fall of the Soviet Union "don't have effective status under international law.
West imposed nearly 800 sanctions on Iran since Sept 2022: Analyst
Tehran, Iran -- The West has intensified economic pressures on Iran in recent months and imposed nearly 800 sanctions on...Several Western governments imposed new sanctions on Iran in the aftermath of the protests against the death in custody of Mahsa Amini.
Mohsen Pakaeen, a foreign policy analyst, asked Iran to improve the economic structure of the country to avoid the negative consequences of the sanctions.
Iraq president to visit Iran as Middle East peace process gathers pace
Tehran, Iran-- Iraq's President Abdul Latif Rashid will make an official visit to Iran in the near future as the...The visit of Iraqi president to Iran was raised in a phone call between the Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian
The two foreign ministers also reviewed ways to widen strategic cooperation and the need for consultations on various issues of mutual interest
Israel arrests Jordan MP for smuggling arms, gold into West Bank
Jordan's foreign ministry said that Israel has arrested Imad Adwan, a member of parliament, suspected of smuggling weapons and gold...The foreign ministry said that Jordan is seeking to find out the details of his arrest and address "it as quickly as possible"
According to Israeli media, he was arrested at the King Hussein (Allenby) crossing in the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967
Chinese diplomat’s views on post USSR nations draw EU ire
Brussels, Belgium - Comments made by the Chinese ambassador to France questioning the sovereignty of post-Soviet countries were "unacceptable," EU foreign...Ambassador Lu Shaye suggested countries that emerged after the fall of the Soviet Union "don't have effective status under international law.
Ukraine and other independent post-Soviet nations -- including EU members Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania -- have condemned Lu's remarks.
Syrians in rebel-held Idlib rally against Arab-Assad detente
"We came to send a message to the whole world that with this normalization, you will gain Bashar al-Assad the...Several hundred Syrians, some displaced from other parts of the country by the 12-year war, took part in the protest, according to an AFP reporter.
Idlib is home to about three million people. The enclave is controlled by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the former Syrian branch of Al-Qaeda, and other rebel groups.