Israel says more troops to ‘enter Rafah’ as operations intensify
Israeli forces took control earlier in May of the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing with Egypt, in a push...Geostrategy
Quarter of Gazans displaced again as fighting rages north to south
Fighting has flared in north Gaza four months after the army said Hamas's command structure there had been dismantled, and...Geostrategy
Saudi, Qatar slam Israel minister’s Palestinian town remarks
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia--Saudi Arabia and Qatar on Friday condemned a call by an Israeli minister for a flashpoint Palestinian town...The Saudi foreign ministry expressed its "complete rejection of such racist and irresponsible statements"
Qatar described Smotrich's comments as "hateful and provocative" and said it considered them "a serious incitement to a war crime"
UN nuclear chief to meet Raisi during crucial Iran talks
Grossi was greeted Friday at Mehrabad International Airport by Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, and...Grossi had made clear "that he was only prepared to go to Tehran if he had an invitation to speak with the president," the source told AFP
The two-day visit by the head of the IAEA comes as the Vienna-based organisation seeks greater cooperation with Iran over its nuclear activities
Tunisia warns trade unions against inviting foreigners for protest
Warning the country's powerful trade union federation against inviting foreigners to a planned weekend demonstration, Tunisian President Kais Saied said...The president said the presence of foreigners at protests "is totally unacceptable" and that Tunisia "is not a domain without a master."
He has pushed through sweeping changes to the North African country's political system, concentrating near-total power in his office
Hungary unsure of shifting Israeli embassy to Jerusalem
"I also read news in the press,” the Hungarian President Novak said. “In Hungary, a decision so far has not...The Times of Israel reported Friday the decision by Hungary is an act of support for Israel by Prime Minister Orban
If Hungary shifts its capital to Jerusalem, it would become the first European Union country to do so
Lebanon paralysis grows as security chief retires without replacement
Lebanon is navigating a devastating economic crisis that has plunged more than 80 percent of the population into poverty. Strikes...Former president Michel Aoun left office at the end of October, and sectarian leaders have been squabbling over a replacement ever since.
During more than a decade in the job, Abbas Ibrahim had to tackle numerous thorny challenges including the Syrian war's spill-over into Lebanon.
UN House to open in Doha during least developed countries’ summit
Doha, Qatar-- Qatar is preparing to inaugurate the UN House in Doha, on the sidelines of the fifth UN Conference...The house include offices for important international organizations, including the UN Children's Fund
Since its accession to the UN, Qatar has been providing financial support to its affiliated bodies and entities
UN nuclear chief heads to Iran after near weapons-grade uranium find
UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi is expected in Tehran for discussions with officials after International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors...The IAEA chief's visit comes amid deadlock in negotiations on reviving the 2015 deal
Iran last week said it had not made any attempt to enrich uranium beyond 60 percent purity
Palestinians form night vigil groups after Israeli settler attacks
Tensions are high, especially after the nearby Palestinian town of Huwara came under attack by Israeli settlers on Sunday, hours after...Each night, the team gathers at Turmus Ayya in the north of the West Bank, ready to raise the alarm in the event of a raid by Israeli settlers.
The team first formed last year after tensions with the settlers rose following a clash, but they increased patrols after attacks this year.
Renewables help offset rise in coal emissions in 2022, IEA says
"The impacts of the energy crisis didn't result in the major increase in global emissions that was initially feared –-..."Without clean energy, the growth in CO2 emissions would have been nearly three times as high," he added.
The IEA noted that CO2 emissions grew the fastest from oil, at 2.5 percent, but still remain below pre-pandemic levels.
UAE’s FNC highlights role of parliaments in addressing climate change
RABAT, MOROCCO - UAE's Federal National Council (FNC) highlighted the critical role of parliaments in addressing the repercussions of climate...The FNC stressed on the need to strengthen the economic, social and environmental cooperation between countries.
The UAE’s clean energy production capacity is expected to reach 14 gigawatts by 2030.
