Oil tanker hit by missile off Yemen, no casualties
"At approximately 1 am (Sanaa time) May 18, Iranian-backed Houthis launched one anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) into the Red Sea...Geostrategy
Hamas chief says group to decide on post-war Gaza rule with Palestinian factions
Ismail Haniyeh on Wednesday said the movement will be involved in deciding post-war rule in Gaza along with other Palestinian...Geostrategy
Saudi Arabia hints Syria could return to Arab League
As relations thaw after more than a decade of isolation, Saudi Arabia has suggested that closer cooperation with Syria may...Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud reaffirmed the Arab world's growing understanding that communication with Damascus was necessary
Syria was largely cut off from the rest of the Arab world following its leader Bashar al Assad's brutal suppression of 2011 uprisings against his government
Inter-Parliamentary Union urged to take up Bahrain rights issue
BEIRUT, LEBANON - Lawmakers attending an inter-parliament gathering in Bahrain's capital this week should seize the "opportunity" to address the Gulf...Human Rights Watch and Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy have urged the participants to tackle human rights issues.
The Inter-Parliamentary Union ,the oldest and largest organization of parliaments, is scheduled to be held in Manama from March 11 to 15.
Israeli forces kill Palestinian, injure several others in West Bank
Two witnesses said rockets had been fired at the building housing a group of militants, and reported gunfire in the...Heavy gunfire was reported between militants and soldiers as the Israeli forces surrounded a house.
Since the start of the year, the conflict has claimed the lives of 66 Palestinian adults and children, including militants and civilians.
Quake damages more than $100 billion in Turkey alone: UNDP
The World Bank estimated last week that the devastating quake, which flattened entire cities, had caused damage worth more than...The 7.8-magnitude quake that struck on February 6 and its aftershocks have claimed more than 45,000 lives in Turkey.
The UNDP has been "very disappointed and saddened" by the low level of response to funding appeals to date.
Tunisia’s economic woes to worsen after World Bank lending pause
Migrants from sub-Saharan Africa faced violence and many were made homeless since Saied ordered "urgent measures" against them. In response,...A World Bank official told AFP that it was unlikely any new funding would be approved until the "situation is clarified".
Tunisia has been in talks since 2021 with the World Bank's fellow global lender, the International Monetary Fund, for a $2-billion bailout loan.
New Qatar premier inherits strong economy, world cup glory
Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani takes charge at a time when Qatar’s economy is booming, posting a surplus of $24...Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani succeeds Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdul Aziz Al Thani who was appointed PM in January 2020
Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani's office also announced a cabinet reshuffle that reappointed the finance and energy ministers
Syria health workers launch cholera vaccine drive in rebel-held northwest
MAARET MASRIN, SYRIA - Syrian medics launched Tuesday the first cholera vaccination campaign in the rebel-held northwest since a deadly outbreak...Health workers were going door to door to inoculate people in homes and displacement camps in Syria's Idlib region.
Across Syria around 85,000 suspected cases have been logged, according to the United Nations.
Iran makes first arrests as mystery school poisoning cases hit 5,000
Scores of Iranian schools have been hit by poisonings since late November, with pupils suffering symptoms ranging from shortness of...Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had called Monday for the perpetrators of the "unforgivable crime" to be tracked down "without mercy" as public anger mounts.
Deputy health minister Saeed Karimi said symptoms included "respiratory irritation, stomachache, weakness and lethargy".
Israeli warplanes hit Syria’s Aleppo airport, says ministry
Israeli warplanes struck Aleppo airport before dawn, causing significant damage that halted flights to and from Syria's war- and quake-battered...The damage forced authorities to close the airport to all flights, the Syrian government said.
Aid deliveries have been diverted to Damascus and Latakia airports, a Syrian transport ministry statement said.
Japan allots US$1.6bn to contentious Australia hydrogen project
In a statement, HESC said the project has entered its commercial demonstration phase with money from Japan's Green Innovation Fund,...The Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain (HESC) project is a joint Japanese-Australian undertaking intended to produce plentiful and affordable fuel for Tokyo
Its backers argue it will create economic opportunity in Victoria, but NGO Environment Victoria has also warned about the HESC's CCS claims
