Massive US bunker-buster bombs make combat debut in Iran strikes
The US military says the GBU-57 -- also named Massive Ordnance Penetrator -- is designed to penetrate up to 200...Geostrategy
India will ‘never’ restore Pakistan water treaty: minister
New Delhi will "never" reinstate a key water treaty it suspended with Pakistan over deadly violence in India-administered Kashmir, the...Geostrategy
Saudi Arabia, Japan sign 26 new cooperation deals
The deals signed during Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's official visit to Saudi Arabia reflect the shared commitment to the...The deals signed during Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's official visit to Saudi Arabia reflect the shared commitment to the Saudi-Japanese Vision 2030
The two nations' trade volume reached $47.489 billion in 2022 as Saudi Arabia continues to be a key energy partner to Japan, providing 40 percent of its oil needs
Fears over Syria’s proposed control on aid to rebel-held areas
They worry over the fate of residents in Syria's last remaining rebel strongholds, in the north and northwest, after the...But expiry of the UN mechanism, as well as Syria's decision to change course on the delivery of aid to those areas, has sparked fears and questions among the humanitarian community
The crossing is the main entry point for aid to rebel-held areas, though it also occasionally trickles in from areas under the control of Damascus.
MBRGI joins UAE delegation, takes part in UN forum on sustainable development goals
DUBAI, UAE - Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI) joined the UAE delegation to the United Nations High-Level...Established in 2012, the High-Level Political Forum is the UN’s central platform for the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for SDGs at the global level.
The UAE delegation discussed ways to bolster mutual collaboration, strategic partnerships and knowledge-sharing, in line with MBRGI’s mission.
Morocco, Shell sign 12-year natural gas deal: ministry
Morocco has sought to diversify its energy sources particularly since neighbouring Algeria stopped supplying natural gas via the GME in...The agreement includes the annual delivery of 500 million cubic meters of LNG to Morocco, the value of the 12-year deal has not been disclosed
In the initial years, the gas will be delivered through Spanish ports and the Maghreb GME, It will eventually be delivered through planned Moroccan LNG terminals
Iraqi Christian leader leaves Baghdad as tensions with president soar
Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, the patriarch of Iraq's Chaldean Catholic Church and architect of Pope Francis' historic visit to the...Kildani is the leader of the Babylon Movement, whose armed wing is part of Hashed al-Shaabi - a network of largely pro-Iran paramilitaries that were integrated into Iraqi forces
In a statement on Saturday, the cardinal condemned the government's "silence" over what he described as a campaign against him by the Babylon Movement
Iraq honey production at the mercy of heat and drought
Bees thrive in temperatures of around 30-35 degrees Celsius, not in searing heat, when the thermometer climbs to 50, said...A bee needs to constantly forage for the pollen and nectar necessary for honey production but the drought is forcing bees to travel longer to pollinate
In 2022, honey produced in parts of Iraq controlled by the Baghdad federal authorities reached 870 tonnes, while in Kurdistan 850 tonnes were produced
Israelis continue protests as judicial reform advances
Following stiff opposition and growing international criticism -- including from US President Joe Biden -- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered...Saturday's rallies, the 28th since the reform agenda was unveiled in January, come days after parliament approved in its first reading the bill
The proposals on Judicial reforms would also give the Netanyahu's government a greater say in the appointment of judges
Tensions lurk behind facade of Gulf Arab detente: Crisis Group
Dubai, UAE - Six years after imposing a comprehensive blockade on Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and...The roots of the Gulf dispute stemmed from Qatar's foreign policy, which was viewed as a threat by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt
While the four-year blockade of Qatar may be over, deep-seated fault lines remain, and new ones are emerging
Modi’s visit: India, UAE sign pact to trade in local currencies
Abu Dhabi, UAE - The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Saturday...CBUAE and RBI aim to develop the foreign exchange market, facilitate bilateral trade, encourage direct investment, and facilitate financial transfers
The pact enables acceptance of local cards in both countries for ATM cash withdrawals and direct point-of-sale purchases without relying on external payment networks
UAE, India pledge for success of Dubai’s COP28 event
The UAE and India vowed to make this year's COP28 conference in Dubai a success, as Indian Prime Minister Narendra..."The UAE and India are united in their determination to ensure the successful outcome of COP28 as an inclusive and action-oriented conference," said a statement.
The leaders of both the countries said they were "committed to enhance cooperation on climate ambition, decarbonization and clean energy".
