Battles rage in Rafah as Biden blames Hamas for truce delay
On Monday, the UN Security Council adopted a US-drafted resolution supporting the plan, and on Thursday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz...Geostrategy
Erdogan visits opposition party headquarters first time in 18 years
Istanbul, Turkey - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited the opposition CHP party headquarters on Tuesday, the first time in 18...Geostrategy Politics
Saudi Arabia, US leading diplomatic drive for Sudan truce, end to fighting
fighting and looting raged most of Thursday in the capital Khartoum and US diplomats were frank about the obstacles in...Sudan's warring military factions signed a commitment to respect humanitarian principles in their spiralling conflict late Thursday but they did not reach a ceasefire
The agreement commits both sides in general terms to let in badly needed humanitarian assistance after looting and attacks targeting aid in the impoverished country
GCC-China economic relations move beyond oil trade
China aims to play a more central role in the Gulf region, focusing on investment opportunities beyond the oil and...China aims to play a more central role in the Gulf region, focusing on investment opportunities beyond the oil and energy relationship
Brokering talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran highlights China's ambition to challenge the US dollar's hegemony in the Gulf region
Global leaders urge ceasefire between Israel, Palestinian groups
The foreign ministers of Egypt, France, Germany and Jordan called for an end to the violence between Israel and Gaza..."The bloodletting must end now," said German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.
Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi also said the "negative developments must end.
Iraqi museum damaged by IS works toward reopening
IS militants used sledgehammers and power tools to deface ancient statues and pre-Islamic treasures housed in the museum.A gaping hole remains in the floor of the museum's famed Assyrian gallery, caused by a bomb explosion.
The artefacts are being revived with financing from the International Alliance for the Protection of Cultural Heritage in Conflict Areas (ALIPH).
Yemen peace push ‘serious’ but next steps unclear: Saudi envoy
"Everybody is serious. Serious means everybody is looking for peace," Mohammed al-Jaber said in his first extensive comments after meeting...Jaber, Riyadh's ambassador to Yemen, travelled to Sanaa in April as part of a plan to "stabilize" the truce, which officially expired in October.
The Houthis see Saudi Arabia as a party to the conflict, whereas Jaber indicated that Riyadh sees itself as more of a mediator trying to facilitate a truce.
Iraqi Kurds hold their breath as key Turkish election draws closer
Iraqi Kurds are watching with anxiety the tightest electoral battle yet for Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the outcome of which could...Iraq's Kurdish government scarcely reprimands Ankara, despite Turkey routinely bombarding its territory and causing civilian casualties
Kurdish leaders have built relationships with Erdogan, if the president changes, the whole relationship between Arbil and Ankara changes,
Austria to stop TikTok use on government devices
Vienna, Austria - Austria said on Wednesday it will ban TikTok on federal employees' work phones, joining a growing list of..."The federal government has decided to ban the private use and installation of TikTok on work devices of federal employees," said Austrian government.
Similar measures have recently been taken by the United States, Britain, Australia, France, the Netherlands and the European Commission.
Global warming raises risk of heat-related deaths among workers
The Occupational Heat Stress conference in Qatar, which focused on climate change and how rising temperatures threaten workers' health, heard...There is no international standard for temperatures for outdoor working, but climate change has forced new scrutiny.
Last year's World Cup in Qatar drew attention to workers toiling in temperatures that can top 50 degrees, prompting Qatar to ban outdoor working from 10am to 3.30pm.
Oman to ramp up ‘military and defense industry’ ties with Iran
Tehran, Iran-- Oman is keen to improve the military and defense ties with Iran in order to ensure the security...Sultan of Oman underscored the importance of developing military and defense industry cooperation between the two countries
The visiting Iranian Major General Mohammad Bagheri termed Tehran-Muscat relations as stable and positive
Saudi diplomats to return to Damascus to restore broken ties
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was politically isolated in the region since the conflict began, but a flurry of diplomatic activity...The kingdom would seek to develop joint Arab action, Saudi foreign ministry said, two days after Syria was readmitted to the Arab League
The move comes weeks after Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met in Damascus with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan
