Bahrain calls for Mideast peace conference at Gaza-focused Arab League
King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa was addressing fellow heads of state and government at the 22-strong grouping in Manama,...Geostrategy
Palestinians mark ‘Nakba’ anniversary as thousands flee Gaza’s Rafah
Tens of thousands of civilians fled the southern Gaza city of Rafah ahead of a threatened Israeli ground offensive, as...Geostrategy
52 nations facing debt payment issues need urgent help: UNDP
Achim Steiner, head of the United Nations Development Programme, said that 25 of the 52 were spending more than a...Steiner did not name the countries involved but the UNDP last week released a report which called for a 30 percent write-off of external debt for 52 countries at 2021 values.
Poor nations' debt has multiplied over the past decade because of the coronavirus pandemic, high food and fuel bills and financial crises.
Sheikh Ahmad Al-Sabah re-appointed Kuwait Prime Minister
Kuwait's government resigned on January 23, three months after it was sworn in, following disputes with lawmakers that have plunged...A long-running standoff between the government and the elected parliament has hampered efforts by the country to push through fiscal reforms.
In September 2022, Kuwait held its sixth election in a decade, leading again to an opposition-led parliament.
UN calls for resettlement of quake-hit Syrian refugees from Turkey
"Many refugees who fled to Turkey in search of safety and protection have now faced the trauma of loss and...The United Nations made the call as 89 Syrian refugees arrived in Madrid from Turkey
For almost 12 years, Turkey has hosted some 3.5 million Syrian refugees fleeing the civil war
Iran to reconnect nuclear surveillance cameras: IAEA
UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi earlier said he had held "constructive" talks with Iranian officials in Tehran after the...IAEA chief earlier said he had held "constructive" talks with Iranian officials in Tehran after the discovery of uranium particles enriched to near weapons-grade level
Grossi arrived in Iran on Friday talks deadlocked on reviving a landmark 2015 accord on Iran's nuclear activity, known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action
Israelis take to streets for ninth week to protest judicial reform
The latest rally in Tel Aviv came after a similar demonstration on Wednesday when police employed stun grenades and water...Netanyahu presents the overhaul as key to restoring balance between the branches of government in a system he believes gives judges too much power over elected officials
Another element of the reforms would give the 120-member parliament power to overrule Supreme Court decisions with a simple majority of 61 votes
UAE, Italy enhance bilateral relations to Strategic Partnership level
ABU DHABI, UAE - The United Arab Emirates and Italy on Saturday announced the enhancement of their  bilateral relations to...A pact for cooperation on energy projects and sustainability initiatives between Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and the Italian energy group Eni was signed.
The MoU aims to strengthen cooperation in the field of emissions reduction, new energy technologies and low-carbon solutions.
Earthquake caused direct damage of $5.1bn in Syria, says World Bank
A massive earthquake and aftershocks in February caused an estimated US$5.1 billion in direct physical damage in Syria, said the...The earthquake hit Turkey and Syria, devastated scores of cities and killed over 50,000 people in both countries.
World Bank said that its report does not cover broader economic impacts and losses for Syria, such as production or business interruption.
Ocean conference participants pledge US$19bn
Panama City, Panama - Delegates to a global conference on saving the world's oceans pledged US$19 billion, the host country Panama...European Union announced it would dedicate $865 million to ocean-related projects this year
The total included a $6 billion from the United States, announced by White House climate envoy John Kerry
‘Schoolgirls in 5 Iran provinces treated for new poisonings’
Dozens of Iranian schoolgirls across five provinces were hospitalized in a new wave of suspected poisoning attacks, local media reported....Last week, Iran's deputy health minister, Younes Panahi, said the poisonings were aimed at shutting down education for girls
The string of poisonings come over five months into nationwide protests following the death in custody of Iranian Kurd Mahsa Amini
Six EU countries urge Israel to stop settlement expansion in West Bank
LONDON, UK-  Six European countries on Saturday called on Israel to stop expanding its settlements in Palestine's West Bank.Britain, France,...The EUs envoy to the Palestinians has called for accountability and action after Israeli settlers went on a rampage.
Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Poland have condemned the recent attack on Israeli citizens by Palestinian groups
