Israel calls for immediate release of hostages, reports two Thai people held in Gaza killed
The Israeli army said Thursday that two Thai hostages earlier believed to be alive in Gaza were killed in the...Geostrategy
Israel PM says no ‘humanitarian catastrophe’ in Rafah as almost 500,000 evacuated
The United Nations said Tuesday that nearly 450,000 people had been displaced from Rafah since Israel first began issuing evacuation...Geostrategy
Qatar appoints new PM, after resignation of Sheikh Khalid
Doha, Qatar-- Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdul Aziz Al Thani has resigned from his job, according...According to the state news agency, the emir has appointed Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani in the post
The outgoing PM Sheikh Khalid was appointed to the office in January 2020, after having been head of the Amiri Diwan
Pentagon chief in Iraq, 20 years after US-led invasion toppled Saddam
Iraq has recently hosted a raft of foreign officials, including the Iranian, Russian and Saudi foreign ministers and UN chief...His visit comes ahead of the March 20 anniversary of the ground invasion which ushered in two decades of bloodshed that Iraq is only now beginning to exit
"I'm here to reaffirm the US-Iraq strategic partnership as we move toward a more secure, stable and sovereign Iraq," Austin tweeted as he landed in Baghdad
World Bank pauses Tunisia program over president’s migrant remarks
In the message sent on Sunday evening, the bank's outgoing President David Malpass said Saied's tirade had triggered "racially motivated...World Bank President David Malpass noted that measures announced by the Tunisian government to protect and support migrants and refugees marked a "positive step"
According to official figures, there are around 21,000 undocumented migrants from other parts of Africa in Tunisia, which is home to around 12 million people
UAE shares view at first G20 Culture Working Group meeting
ABU DHABI, UAEÂ - UAE Ministry of Culture and Youth (MCY) participated in the First G20 Culture Working Group (CWG)...G20 members, invited countries and international organizations attended the meetings of the Culture Working Group.
The meeting discussed the challenges and opportunities in the cultural ecosystem on a global scale.
Turkey’s opposition scrambles to select consensus candidate
Analysts view the opposition's failure to put aside their differences just two months before the vote as one of the...Tayyip Erdogan faces the fight of his political life in what many view as Turkey's most consequential election.
The 68-year-old leader will need to overcome the twin hurdles of an economic crisis and a devastating earthquake.
Saudi Arabia to deposit $5 bn in quake-hit Turkey’s central bank
Ahmed Al Khateeb, the Saudi tourism minister and board chairman of the Saudi Fund for Development, signed an agreement with...The decision, which will shore up Turkey's foreign reserves and help it combat inflation, was made on the order of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Turkey was already suffering from skyrocketing inflation and a weakening currency before last month's massive 7.8-magnitude earthquake.
Severe punishment for people behind poisoning, says Iran
Iran's Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said those behind the poisoning of schoolgirls in recent months should face "severe punishment",...Female pupils have reported suffering symptoms such as shortness of breath, nausea and vertigo after detecting "unpleasant" or "unknown" odors
Last week, deputy health minister Younes Panahi said that the suspected attacks were aimed at shutting down education for girls.
UNESCO chief in Iraq to visit war-battered cultural sites
UNESCO chief Audrey Azoulay was to visit reconstruction projects and meet top officials including Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and...Audrey Azoulay will on Monday tour Iraq's national museum and the historic centre of Baghdad, including Al-Mutanabi streets, home to generations of booksellers
On Wednesday, he will head to Arbil, capital of the autonomous region of Kurdistan and home to an ancient citadel that is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Israeli Air Force reservists protest over legal reforms
Dozens of Israeli Air Force pilots have said they will boycott military training in protest at government legal reforms that...Judicial reform is a cornerstone of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's extreme-right administration.
Netanyahu presents the overhaul as key to restoring balance between the branches of government in a system.
Afghan universities reopen after winter break, but women still barred
The university ban is one of several restrictions imposed on women since the Taliban stormed back to power in August...The Taliban government imposed the ban after accusing women students of ignoring a strict dress code
Many officials say the ban on women's education is temporary but, despite promises, they have failed to reopen secondary schools for girls
