Hamas claims to have taken Israeli soldier ‘prisoner’
The armed wing of Hamas said it had taken "prisoner" at least one Israeli soldier in an ambush on Saturday....Geostrategy
Israel furious as 3 European countries recognize Palestinian state
Israel reacted with fury after three European countries said Wednesday they would recognize a Palestinian state, more than seven months...Geostrategy
Denmark asks Nord Stream owner to help recover mystery object
COPENHAGEN, DENMARK - Denmark has invited the Russian-controlled operator of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline to help recover a mystery object...Russian energy giant Gazprom holds a majority stake in the twin pipelines, with the rest owned by German, Dutch and French companies.
The Danish energy agency released a photo of the cylindrical object standing near the Nord Stream 2 pipeline at the bottom of the sea.
Saudi on track to achieve UN sustainable goals by 2030: Minister
Dubai, UAE -- Saudi Arabia has said that the kingdom is on track to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development...Deputy Minister for Water Abdulaziz Al-Shaibani told UN Water Conference that the kingdom has restructured the water sector and developed the National Water Strategy.
The kingdom has allocated $80 billion for water projects in the coming years as part of its efforts to achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water.
Israeli judicial reforms: Netanyahu vows unity as protests linger
Netanyahu, in a televised address, said he was determined to advance the reforms but wanted to reach a solution acceptable...Thousands of Israelies rallied against proposed judicial reforms in Jerusalem outside Netanyahu's residence as well as in the northern city of Haifa
Israeli prime minister says the proposed changes are necessary to diminish the powers of the Supreme Court, which they argue has become politicized
US airstrikes in Syria kill eight pro-Iran fighters after contractor death
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Thursday that at the direction of President Joe Biden, he had authorised "precision airstrikes tonight...On Friday, Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor, said eight people had been killed by US strikes
Two of the US service members wounded on Thursday were treated on site, while the three other troops and one US contractor were medically evacuated to Iraq
UN warns funding shortfall can slash support for Yemen children
Warning that it could be left with no option but to cut support for children in Yemen without a funding...According to some estimates, some 11,000 children are known to have been killed or maimed since the conflict escalated in 2015
The UN says that fighting in Yemen has sparked off what it describes as one of the world's worst humanitarian tragedies
After Iran deal, KSA in talks with Syria to resume consular services
Riyadh has been hinting at a rapprochement with Syria for weeks. It sent aid to both rebel-held and government-controlled parts...The report gave no timeline for the move, which would mark the latest Saudi step towards mending rifts with regional rivals
Earlier this month, a Chinese-brokered deal was announced to restore diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran
Israeli parliamentarians adopt strict limits on removing PM
Israeli parliament approved legislation restricting grounds for declaring a premier unfit for office, a move the opposition has called a...Lawmakers voted 61 against 47 to approve an amendment to one of Israel's Basic Laws specifying the conditions to declare a prime minister unfit for office.
The previous version of the law stated that a premier could be declared incapacitated, but did not specify on what grounds or the necessary steps.
Eco-friendly goods buck global downward trade slide: UNCTAD
Trade in such goods grew by around four percent in the second half of 2022, with their combined value hitting...Global trade surged to a record $32 trillion in 2022 before reversing course in the second half of the year amid deteriorating economic conditions and swelling uncertainties.
UNCTAD said it expected green industries to boom further as countries scale up their efforts to cut emissions and battle global warming.
Saudi, Iran foreign ministers hold Ramadan call, vow to meet ‘soon’
Reaffirming their resolve to implement a landmark bilateral reconciliation deal, the Saudi and Iranian foreign ministers spoke by phone to...The Saudi foreign ministry in a statement said the bilateral meeting to be held soon would pave the way for the reopening of embassies and consulates
The reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran has the potential to reshape relations across the region hit by turbulence for decades
Algeria dismantles Syria-Europe international trafficking network
In a crackdown on organized crime, Algeria has dismantled an international network specializing in trafficking people through Algeria to Europe,...According to new reports, the Algerian police uncovered a network transporting the migrants to Benghazi airport in Libya during a five-month probe
The police also reportedly impounded more than $11,000 along with almost 9,000 euros during the operation
