Bridges in the Gulf: wealthy states mediate crisis after crisis
Dubai, United Arab Emirates - When US and Iranian negotiators meet in Oman on Saturday they will be just the...Geostrategy
Israel seizes Gaza territory as Macron signals imminent French recognition of Palestinian statehood
French President Emmanuel Macron meanwhile said that France plans to recognise a Palestinian state in the "coming months", a move...Geostrategy
Saudi Arabia, Bahrain begin joint security exercise ‘Haris’
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - The Saudi Royal Guard and the Bahrain Royal Guard have started the joint security exercise “Haris”...The joint exercise is part of the continuous cooperation between the Saudi Royal Guard and the Bahrain Royal Guard.
The exercise was inaugurated by Major General Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Omari, Chief of Operations Department
Russia’s PM to sign trade, infrastructure deals in China visit
The two countries have in recent years ramped up economic cooperation and diplomatic contacts, with their strategic partnership having only...The Russian PM will take part in a Russian-Chinese Business Forum and visit a petrochemical research institute in Shanghai
A number of sanctioned Russian tycoons, including from the key fertilizer, steel and mining sectors to take part in the forum
End of COVID-19 emergency doesn’t end its threat
“The threat of another variant emerging that causes new surges of disease and death remains, and the threat of another...WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warns of potential future surges from new variants and the emergence of deadlier pathogens
The global health body chief also stresses the importance of readiness for future pandemics with decisive, collective, and equitable responses
Lawmakers clash in Iraqi Kurdistan’s parliament
Lawmakers came to blows in Iraqi Kurdistan's parliament in a dispute between the two biggest parties over the upcoming polls...Fresh polls for the 111-seat parliament are planned for November 18 and the KDP currently holds 45 seats, trailed by the PUK which has 21.
The tumult broke out after the KDP scheduled a late vote to activate the commission organizing the elections.
What’s next for Syria after Assad’s regional comeback?
Beirut, Lebanon -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has returned to the Arab fold after more than a decade of isolation, eyeing...Several Arab capitals cut ties with Assad after the Damascus regime's repression of anti-government protests sparked war in 2011, with some supporting the opposition instead.
States that once bet on Assad's demise have warmed to him as he clung to power and clawed back territory with Iranian and Russian support.
EU sanctions Iran Revolutionary Guards’ wing over brutal crackdown
The European Union imposed an asset freeze on the investment arm of Iran's Revolutionary Guard, over Tehran's brutal crackdown on...The 27-nation bloc added the IRGC Cooperative Foundation, which handles the Guards' investments, to an EU asset freeze and visa ban blacklist.
The EU also blacklisted the Student Basij Organization, which it said acts as enforcers for the Revolutionary Guards on university campuses.
Norwegian delegation in Abu Dhabi discusses legal issues with ADJD
ABU DHABI, UAE - The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) discussed legal and judicial issues with a delegation from Norway.The...The delegation was briefed about applicable regulations, the Judicial Department's initiatives to establish specialized courts for foreigners.
It was also briefed about the pioneering experience with remote litigation at the stage of registration of claims, case preparation and hearing.
Iraq artist battles to save old boating tradition
The elegant water craft have long been vastly outnumbered by modern, motorised vessels and are threatened further as Iraq's waterways...Iraq must save "from extinction an essential facet of our civilisation which has existed for four or five millenia", said Salim, co-founder of Safina Projects
The flotilla on the Tigris in Baghdad was a landmark event in Salim's efforts -- 18 of the boats took to the water on a spring afternoon as part of a cultural festival
Iran’s Raisi replaces longtime security chief and leading Gulf mediator Shamkhani
Shamkhani, an ethnic Arab who had also previously served as a Revolutionary Guards commander, had been credited with defusing Iran's...Ahmadian, who studied at the National Defence University, was in charge of the strategic centre of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps before his appointment to the new post
The presidential decree ends the nearly decade-long tenure of Ali Shamkhani, 67, who played a key role in Iran's landmark rapprochement with Sunni powerhouse Saudi Arabia
Israeli army kills three Palestinian fighters in West Bank raid
The Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, the armed wing of Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah party, said that the three were among...According to the witnesses, gunfire and loud explosion shook the camp even as a house was demolished by the Israeli army
At least 153 Palestinians, 20 Israeli, a Ukranian and an Italian have been killed since the start of the year in the violence linked to the conflict
