Blinken demands ‘no more delays’ by Hamas on truce deal
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken demanded Tuesday that Hamas accept a proposal for a Gaza ceasefire and release of...Geostrategy
Hamas says no ‘major’ issues, as Gaza truce effort builds
Egypt, Qatar and the United States have been trying to mediate a new truce ever since a one-week halt to...Geostrategy
Israel seals home of Palestinian behind Jerusalem shooting
Israel announced a slew of steps late Saturday, including revoking the rights to social security of "the families of terrorists...Israel already demolishes the homes of Palestinians who kill Israelis, although they ought to be given prior notice be given to families and the chance to appeal the decision.
Israel's security cabinet said there will also be a discussion Sunday over a bill to revoke Israeli identity cards from the relatives of attackers.
UAE climate talks should focus on action, not visions: Ban Ki-moon
The South Korean diplomat, who co-chairs the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens, was in the UAE this weekend to...The last UN climate talks held in Egypt agreed on a landmark deal to create a "loss and damage" fund to cover the costs that developing countries face from climate disasters.
Ban urged the COP28 presidency to consider "harmonization" between adaptation and loss and damage.
Libya and Italy sign US$8bn gas deal as Europe searches for energy
The agreement was signed in the presence of Meloni and her host Abdulhamid Dbeibah, who heads the UN-brokered Government of...Eni said it was the first major project in Libya since early 2000 and involved the development of two offshore gas fields
During her trip to Libya, Giorgia Meloni was expected to discuss the issue of migration amid rising numbers of irregular migrants from Libya to Italy
Turkey comes out with retaliatory travel alert for US, EU
Ankara has been most recently outraged by anti-Islamic protests by a far-right extremist who was allowed to burn the Koran...The US and major European countries have advised their citizens against attending mass events and to avoid tourist hotspots in Turkey
The Turkish foreign ministry's first travel advisory warned of "dangerous levels of religious intolerance and hatred in Europe"
Iran earthquake kills two, injures hundreds near border with Turkey
Iran's deadliest recorded quake was a 7.4-magnitude tremor in 1990 that killed 40,000 people in the country's north, injured 300,000...The shallow quake hit the city of Khoy in West Azerbaijan province at 9:44pm (1814 GMT), the Seismological Center of the University of Tehran said
Iran sits astride the boundaries of several major tectonic plates and experiences frequent seismic activity
Tunisians to vote in second round of poll for toothless parliament
A total of 262 candidates are competing for 131 seats from Tunisia's 161-member legislature, which was largely stripped of its...The president sacked the government and froze parliament before dissolving it and changing the constitution, abolished the hybrid parliamentary system
Analysts predict low turnout again among Tunisia's 7.8 million eligible voters for the second round as major parties including Saied's arch-rivals
Syria refutes watchdog report of 2018 chemical attack
In the OPCW report, investigators said there were "reasonable grounds to believe" that at least one Syrian air force helicopter...Syria and its ally Moscow say the April 7, 2018 attack was staged by rescue workers at the behest of the United States, which afterwards launched air strikes
The country denies the use of chemical weapons and insists it has handed over its stockpiles under a 2013 agreement, prompted by a sarin gas attack that killed 1,400 in Ghouta
Iran repels drone attack on military site in Isfahan
Claiming that it has repelled a drone attack on a military site, Iran's defense ministry said that an unsuccessful attack...Iranian military officials did not elaborate on the activities at the targeted site, north of the city of Isfahan
The country has accused Israel of carrying out several covert actions on its soil, including an attack, according to Tehran, using a satellite-controlled machine gun
Italy PM Meloni in Libya to discuss energy, migration
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni arrived in the Libyan capital Tripoli for talks on energy and migration, Libyan state media...Libya and Italy are key trade partners, particularly in energy, where Italian giant Eni plays a major role in tapping into Africa's largest known oil reserves.
Meloni was accompanied by Eni chief Claudio Descalzi, who is expected to sign a deal with Libya's National Oil Company.
UAE takes part in G20’s first Health Working Group meeting
NEW DELHI, INDIA - The UAE participated in G20'S first health working group session held in India from January 18...The aim of the meeting was to discuss the priorities for the health track within G20 under the Indian presidency this year.
It will also focus on access to safe, effective, quality and affordable medical countermeasures.
