Russia, Ukraine agree to halt Black Sea strikes in US-brokered talks in Saudi Arabia
With President Donald Trump pushing for a rapid end to the war that has killed tens of thousands of people,...Geostrategy
Israel PM accuses security chief of investigating minister without his consent
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday accused Israel's internal security chief, whose dismissal was blocked by the supreme court, of...Geostrategy
Pope condemns surge in Middle East violence, urges peace
Francis, 86, cited 10 Palestinians, including a woman, killed in an Israeli army raid on a refugee camp in the..."The death spiral that increases day by day only closes the few glimmers of trust that exist between the two peoples," said the pope
"Since the beginning of the year, dozens of Palestinians have been killed in clashes with the Israeli army," said the pope
Blinken seeks to lower tension during Middle East trip
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Egypt at the start of a Middle East trip on which he...The United States, with its close relationship to Israel, has historically taken a lead on Middle East diplomacy.
Blinken will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas
GCC Standardization Organization announces Training Plan for 2023
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Standardization Organization (GSO) has announced its training plan for 2023 in...The 2023 training plan aims at contributing to developing cadres in the national standardization agencies in the member states.
He said that the GSO will organize 15 training programs and workshops in a number of the cities in the GCC.
Jordan, EU sign two financing agreements worth US$69m
AMMAN, JORDAN - Confirming its role as one of Jordan’s main supporters, the European Union (EU) on Sunday signed two...The first is financing a US$42 million program in support of Jordan's Ministry of Justice, Judicial Council, Judicial Institute and Public Security Directorate.
The second US$27 million contributes to the "Green Growth" program from the Food and Resilience Facility.
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
