Israel troops push into central Rafah
In central Gaza, the Israeli army said it was "intensifying operations" and had carried out air strikes that "eliminated several...Geostrategy
Palestinian fighters release video of Israeli hostage alive in Gaza
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum campaign group identified him as Alexander (Sasha) Trupanov, and called on the Israeli authorities...Geostrategy
Stress and trauma: Mental toll of Turkey’s quake
Sleeping troubles, fear of spending time indoors and profound fear of the mountains are some of the symptoms survivors in...Volunteer psychiatrist Eralp Turk tries to heal the anguish by zipping around the disaster zone with a box full of pills in his car and a notepad for recording emotions.
Social worker Aysen Yilmaz said the people she consults in Turkey's tent cities were showing all the symptoms of post-traumatic stress.
Tunisia intercepts over 14,000 migrants in January to March 2023
TUNIS, TUNISIA - Tunisia's coastguard said Friday it had intercepted over 14,000 migrants trying to reach Europe from January to March,...The figure has risen from 2,532 intercepted in the same period last year, including 1,657 from sub-Saharan Africa.
Tunisia has long served as a launchpad for people fleeing conflict in countries as far afield as Cameroon and Sudan.
SDF signs $240m loan pact for Pakistan hydropower project
Dubai, UAE -- The Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) has signed a US$240 million loan agreement to support Pakistan's Mohmand...The project is co-financed by the Saudi Fund for Development, OPEC, Islamic Development Bank, and the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development.
By using renewable energy sources, the project will generate 800 MW of electricity production capacity.
World food prices fall for 12 consecutive months, says UN
World food prices are still high but have fallen by a fifth compared to a year ago when prices soared...FAO said the fall in benchmark prices was "driven by declines in world quotations for cereals and vegetable oils."
The UN agency added that food remained expensive for developing countries highly dependent on imports.
French foreign minister has rare meeting with Iranian counterpart in China
France's foreign minister has held a rare face-to-face meeting with her Iranian counterpart in China, urging Tehran to release French...Foreign minister Amir-Abdollohian was leading the Iranian delegation in separate reconciliation talks in Beijing between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
Contacts between Iran and European powers have reduced over Tehran's deadly crackdown on the protest movement that erupted in September.
Lebanon dismantles loaded rocket launcher primed to fire at Israel
On Thursday, the Israeli army said more than 30 rockets had been fired from Lebanese territory into Israel in the...Shells hit a field and damaged a house near the Palestinian refuge camp of Rashidiyeh, an area from where rockets were fired at Israel, AFP correspondents said.
"There are no Hezbollah or Palestinian military positions here. The Israeli are unleashing their anger on banana groves," Mohsen Mortada, a resident of Qlayle, told AFP.
Children to be vaccinated in quake-hit northwest Syria
CAIRO/AMMAN, EGYPT/JORDAN - Measles and polio vaccination campaign will be launched on Saturday across northwest Syria to protect some 800,000...The vaccination drive is supported by WHO, the Vaccine Alliance, UNICEF, in partnership with local NGOs and the Syria Immunization Group.
Raising immunization levels among children is a priority in an area where the earthquakes partially or totally destroyed 67 health facilities.
Russia’s Lavrov holds talks in Turkey to extend grain deal
The Russian foreign ministry said Lavrov, who last visited Turkey in June, will discuss the grain deal, which Moscow says...Sergei Lavrov joined Turkish Foreign Minister, at a dinner breaking the fast during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan before the pair headed into talks on Friday
The foreign ministers are due to address a joint news conference at the presidential palace where Lavrov will also meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
UAE rejects extradition of Gupta brothers, says South Africa
South Africa's Justice Minister Ronald Lamola said the government was notified on Thursday evening of a Dubai court decision not...South Africa filed the extradition request in July last year after the two were arrested in Dubai a month earlier.
The ultra-wealthy brothers ran a sprawling family business empire in South Africa for more than two decades after migrating from India.
Samsung expects profit to plunge
Memory chip sales hammered by a global downturn.The firm said in a regulatory filing that January-March operating profits were expected to drop 95.7 percent to $455 million, their lowest level since the first quarter of 2009
The anticipated drop in profits was because of "continuing weak demand for IT products that have aggravated the performances of all sectors", Samsung said in the statement
