Israel’s Gallant to visit US as Rafah pressure builds
During his first visit to Washington since war erupted in response to Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attack, Gallant is due...Geostrategy
Hamas leader blames Israel for sabotaging truce talks
Ismail Haniyeh said that the Israeli actions at Al-Shifa Medical Complex "confirm their intent to obstruct the recovery of life...Geostrategy
EU hikes military aid for Ukraine as NATO expansion faces roadblocks
Europe pledged another half billion dollars in military support for Kyiv on Friday as Sweden and Finland's moves toward joining...Fighting between Russian and Ukrainian troops continued along the long front in the Donbas
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu meanwhile spoke directly
Sheikh Khalifa, who helped UAE boom despite crises
The country will observe a 40-day state mourning with the flag flown at half-mast starting today, the ministry announced, adding...The leader ushered in the UAE's first-ever elections in December 2006, when electoral colleges chose half of the 40 members of an advisory Federal National Council.
And in a historic first, the Gulf country in 2015 sent ground troops to Yemen as part of a Saudi-led coalition against Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
Jordan king meets US national security adviser
The meeting, attended by Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, discussed enhancing the strategic partnership between Jordan and the...The meeting, attended by Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, discussed enhancing the strategic partnership between Jordan and the US
Discussions also addressed regional issues, and ways to reach political solutions to regional crises
Tunisian president rejects foreign election observers
Saied in July last year sacked the government and suspended parliament, prompting fears for democratic gains a decade after Tunisia’s...Saied in July last year sacked the government prompting fears for democratic gains a decade after Tunisia’s revolution which sparked the Arab Spring uprisings
He has since taken control of the judiciary and on April 22 gave himself powers to name three out of seven members of the electoral commission, including its chief
Finland poised for NATO membership as Ukraine war crimps Russian gas
Finland took a step Thursday towards fast-track NATO membership, triggering a blunt warning from the Kremlin, as the war in...Finland's leaders declared their nation must apply to join NATO "without delay" -- a seismic change in policy since Russia invaded its neighbour in February
"As a member of NATO, Finland would strengthen the entire defence alliance," President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin said in a joint statement
Russian embargo won’t result in global oil dearth : IEA
The IEA said "steadily rising" output from the United States and Middle Eastern members of the OPEC+ oil cartel will...The IEA had previously warned that Moscow's invasion of Ukraine could spark a global supply "shock".
World oil demand growth, meanwhile, is forecast to slow to 1.9 million barrels per day in the second quarter.
Arab nations at UN seek probe of killing of Al Jazeera reporter
Arab countries at the United Nations called Wednesday for an independent, international probe into what they called the assassination of...The demand for an independent international probe was contained in three identical letters send to the UN Secretary General
The Qatar-based TV channel charged that Israeli forces deliberately and "in cold blood" shot Abu Akleh, 51, in the head
Lebanon jobless rate almost triples since crippling economic crisis
The official unemployment rate in crisis-hit Lebanon jumped almost three-fold to reach 29.6 percent at the start of the year,...After years of corrupt practices and financial mismanagement, Lebanon's economy collapsed two years ago, stripping the national currency of 95 percent of its value.
The issue of unemployment has not featured prominently in the campaigns led by the main parties fielding candidates in Sunday's parliamentary election.
Palestinians honor ‘sister’ Shireen Abu Akleh, reject joint probe
In a sign of Abu Akleh's stature among Palestinians, she received what was described as a full state memorial at...The EU has urged an "independent" probe while the United States demanded the killing be "transparently investigated", calls echoed by UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet.
An initial autopsy and forensic examination were conducted in Nablus in the Israel-occupied West Bank hours after her death, but no final conclusions have been disclosed.
Emir of Qatar arrives in Tehran to boost relations
Qatar's ruler met Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in Tehran Thursday, state television reported, as talks falter on bringing Washington back...Washington unilaterally abandoned the nuclear deal under then-president Donald Trump in 2018 and reimposed sweeping economic sanctions
Unlike some of its Gulf Arab neighbours, Qatar has maintained close relations with Iran and the two countries share the world's largest natural gas
