Israel thanks US Senate for approving military aid
Israel's foreign minister on Wednesday thanked the US Senate for approving $13 billion in military aid that he said sent...Geostrategy
Iran, Israel appear to pull back from brink as US approves military aid
Iran downplayed Israel's reported retaliation for its unprecedented drone and missile attack, tamping down fears that escalating attacks between the...Geostrategy
UAE energy minister, Romanian counterpart discuss cooperation
ABU DHABI, UAE - UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure and Romanian Minister of Energy discussed ways to enhance cooperation...The UAE and Romanian ministers discussed importance of international cooperation to address climate change.
The ministers discussed ways and means to develop cooperation between the two countries
Masdar inks pact with 4 Dutch firms for exporting green hydrogen from Abu Dhabi
ABU DHABI, UAE - Masdar signed an agreement with four Dutch companies to explore the development of a green hydrogen...Masdar, , one of the world’s leading clean energy companies, inked an agreement with Port of Amsterdam, SkyNRG, Evos Amsterdam and Zenith Energy.
Green hydrogen is produced with green electricity from renewables like wind or solar, in a process that separates water into oxygen and hydrogen via electrolysis.
Europe will return to Russian gas, says Qatar energy minister
ABU DHABI, UAE - European countries will eventually resume higher imports of Russian gas, Qatar's energy minister and gas company...Russian gas exports to Europe plunged after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
A mild winter has spared European countries from having to plunder their gas stockpiles.
Iran hangs former defense official for being ‘UK spy’
Tehran, Iran--Iran on Saturday executed former top defense official and dual British national Alireza Akbari, who was accused of spying for...Former top defense officia was executed after being sentenced to death for what Iran termed as harming the country's internal and external security by passing on intelligence
Britain has demanded that Tehran halt what foreign minister James Cleverly has called a "politically motivated" execution
Qatar’s role in European energy security is vital: Dutch Foreign Minister
Hoekstra expressed his country's desire to continue working with Qatar on issues of common concern and to expand cooperation.Hoekstra expressed his country's desire to continue working with Qatar on issues of common concern and to expand cooperation
He expressed his country's appreciation for the Qatar's mediation efforts undertaken in various regions, noting that the Netherlands and Qatar are partners in such efforts
Iran’s top diplomat hopes for restoration of ties with Saudi Arabia
Nearly six years after the breakup of diplomatic ties between the two countries, Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has expressed...The foreign minister told a news conference in Beirut that Iran was ready to restore ties and such a move "would have positive repercussions on the entire region"
The two countries back opposing sides in various conflicts in the region, including in Syria
UAE, UK sign agreement to cooperate in the energy sector
ABU DHABI, UAE - UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UK Department for...The agreement aims to exchange information, knowledge, expertise and studies in the field of energy
The MoU aims to enhance strategic and technical cooperation in the energy sector, develop renewable energy technologies including regulatory frameworks and incentives.
Davos summit to pursue ‘cooperation in a fragmented world’
"There's no doubt that our 53rd annual meeting in Davos will happen against the most complex geopolitical and geoeconomic backdrop...German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and UN chief Antonio Guterres are among the most prominent figures attending the forum, alongside nearly 400 government ministers and policymakers.
Russia is expected to miss out on the event for a second consecutive time, underlining the sea change since 2021. China is yet to announce its presence.
New plans not to overhaul judicial system but to crush it: Israel judge
Days after entering office as part of Israel's most right-wing government, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, Justice Minister Yariv Levin announced...Judges in Israel are not permitted to publicly comment on political issues. Earlier on Thursday, Israeli lawyers demonstrated in Tel Aviv against Levin's plans.
Around 400 demonstrators joined a rally earlier on Thursday organized by lawyers outside a Tel Aviv court, some waving Israeli flags.
China imports, exports plunge in December: customs
Exports fell 9.9 percent year-on-year to $30.6 billion, China customs said, their second consecutive month of decline and the biggest...The world's second-largest economy is still reeling from the effects of years of its zero-Covid policy, which hammered businesses and supply chains
China began lifting most of the hardline measures at the beginning of last month, but the country has since seen a massive spike in Covid-19 infections
