Lebanon resumes ‘voluntary’ repatriations of Syrians
Syrian state news agency SANA reported that an unspecified number of people had arrived from Lebanon as part of the...Geostrategy
Kuwait emir dissolves parliament in new political crisis
The state's ruler attributed his move to the "interference" of some MPs in the emir's powers and others imposing "conditions"...Geostrategy
FNC Speaker calls for greater coordination at Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union meet
BAGHDAD, IRAQ - Speaker of the UAE Federal National Council (FNC) Saqr Ghobash said that Arab parliaments should are required...Arab parliaments should unify positions on all common issues, activate the role of parliamentary diplomacy.
Many Arab countries are still facing and suffering from terrorism and extremism that know no borders.
UNDP requests $113.5 million to support early recovery in Turkey
ANKARA, TURKEY - Clearing the mountains of rubble due to buildings collapse in the earthquakes that hit Turkey on February...Rubble removal accounts for a large share of UNDP's US$113.5 million request for funding.
UNDP's current focus is to help prevent public health threats to affected populations and emergency responders.
Germany’s Scholz arrives in India to expand business ties
New Delhi, India--German Chancellor Olaf Scholz arrived in India on Saturday seeking to deepen business ties between the world's number four...Scholz would press for progress towards a trade deal between the European Union and India that has long been held up by disagreements on tariffs
Scholz, 64, also said the Group of 20 should not ease up on pressuring Russia during India's current presidency and continue to send a "strong message"
In West Bank nurse discovers own father among casualties from Israel raid
Nablus, Palestinian Territories--When Israel conducted its deadliest raid in the occupied West Bank in almost two decades this week, a young...Ashqar said his father Abdel Aziz, 65, had been returning from prayers in the Old City when he was caught up in the Israeli incursion
Israel said Wednesday's raid targeted two Lions' Den members, as well as a member of the Islamic Jihad militant group
UAE mulls ‘options’ on Russian bank hit by new US sanctions
MTS Bank, approved for its licence last year, was one of more than 200 entities and individuals targeted by the...The UAE, particularly its financial hub Dubai, has attracted large numbers of Russian professionals and businesspeople fleeing the impact of Western sanctions.
Russian air passenger traffic to Dubai more than doubled last year to 1.9 million, Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths told AFP this week.
Israeli government approves 2023-2024 budget
Israel's government approved the 2023-2024 budget against the backdrop of economic uncertainty linked to controversial judicial reforms advanced by the...Netanyahu's coalition government pushed on in parliament this week with its judicial reforms, which it says are designed to limit overreach.
Parliament must still vote to adopt the fiscal measures.
UAE, Algerian ministers discuss enhancing bilateral cooperation
ABU DHABI, UAE - UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Algerian...UAE, Algerian ministers reviewed ways to advance cooperation in areas that contribute to sustainable economic growth.
The two ministers discussed UAE's hosting of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 28) this year.
Netanyahu hails Oman’s opening of airspace to Israeli planes
On Twitter, the Omani Civil Aviation Authority affirmed that "the Sultanate's airspace is open for all carriers that meet the...Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen in a statement hailed the historic decision that will shorten flight time to Asia
The US also welcomed Oman's move, saying it completed the "process" begun last year with Saudi Arabia's decision
EU eases Syria sanctions to speed up quake aid
The EU measure will last for six months and was taken "in view of the gravity of the humanitarian crisis...Aid organizations will no longer need to seek permission from EU member state governments before sending supplies to sanctioned entities in Syria
EU pointed out that it and its member states have contributed a total of $26 billion to Syria and to refugee-hosting neighbors such as Turkey since 2011
Tunisian president seeks to reassure ‘legal’ migrants
On Wednesday, Tunisian rights groups accused the president of hate speech after he said a day earlier that "hordes" of...Saied called on state officials to "look after our brothers from sub-Saharan Africa who are in a legal situation", according to a video published on the official presidency website
A statement from his office, decrying "a criminal plot... to change Tunisia's demographic make-up" without citing any evidence, has sparked an outcry online
