Updates: Iran calls on UN Security Council to condemn Israeli strikes amid fresh peace efforts
Iran unlikely to escalate situation with Israel, say experts, as UN chief says destruction in Gaza is "shocking". Netanyahu faces...Geostrategy
Is Musk’s million-dollar US voter lottery legal?
Donald Trump surrogate Elon Musk's offer of a million dollars to one registered voter in a swing state every day...Geostrategy
Saudi Foreign Minister meets Algerian counterpart
Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, the Saudi Foreign Minister had arrived in the Algerian capital earlier on Wednesday evening.Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, the Saudi Foreign Minister had arrived in the Algerian capital earlier on Wednesday evening
The two sides also discussed views on enhancing joint cooperation in many aspects, in addition to exchanging views on the latest regional and international events
Lebanon’s Hezbollah urges ‘cooperation’ as vote brings no majority
Hezbollah and its allies fell just short of the 65 seats needed to control the 128-seat chamber.Hezbollah and its allies fell just short of the 65 seats needed to control the 128-seat chamber
The elections came as Lebanon remains mired in one of the modern world's worst-ever economic crises
US puts full weight behind Sweden, Finland bids to join NATO
The United States gave its full support Wednesday for Sweden and Finland's bids to join NATO, promising to stand by..."I warmly welcome and strongly support the historic applications," Biden said, calling the two countries "longtime, stalwart partners."
Biden made the comments a day before welcoming Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson to the White House
Record wheat prices a global worry, put poor countries at risk of poverty
Low rainfall or droughts in major producing countries were already causing worries before Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February sent...Ukraine struggles to sell and sow its wheat crops, putting consumers in poor countries at risk of poverty and famine.
There are around 270 million tons of wheat in stock for a planet that consumes around 800 million a year. Around half are in China which has one year's consumption in reserve.
Jewish pilgrims back in Tunisia after Covid absence
Djerba is home to one of the last Jewish communities in the Arab world, and the synagogue is believed to...Jewish pilgrims lit candles, prayed, and handed each other sweets and nuts at synagogue annual celebrations in Tunisia.
8,000 pilgrims used to travel to Djerba for the annual celebration but the number decreased as the pandemic spread across the world.
World’s tallest building engulfed as Mideast sandstorms hit UAE
The world's tallest building disappeared behind a grey layer of dust on Wednesday as sandstorms that have swept the Middle...The 828-metre Burj Khalifa, which is usually visible across the busy financial hub, retreated behind a curtain of airborne dirt that shrouded much of the country.
The Middle East's sandstorms are becoming more frequent and intense, a trend associated with overgrazing and deforestation, overuse of river water and more dams.
UN calls on Iraqi politicians to end seven-month stalemate
The UN envoy to Iraq on Tuesday urged Iraqi politicians to end a deadlock which has kept parliament from forming...Addressing the UN Security Council earlier in the day, Hennis-Plasschaert stressed "the importance of overcoming the political stalemate"
More than seven months after legislative elections, Iraqi institutions are at a standstill over lawmakers' inability to elect a president
Sandstorm disrupts life in Riyadh, likely to affect Makkah and Medina
A sandstorm engulfed Saudi Arabia's capital and other regions of the desert kingdom Tuesday, hampering visibility and slowing road traffic....A thick grey haze made Riyadh buildings such as Kingdom Centre nearly impossible to see from more than a few hundred meters.
Saudi Arabia's meteorology center forecast "surface dusty winds" in the country's east and in Riyadh, "reducing horizontal sight".
Russia may cut gas supplies to Finland over Ruble payment refusal
Russia may cut gas supplies to Finland soon over the Nordic country's refusal to pay Gazprom in rubles, Finnish state-owned...On Sunday, Russia suspended electricity supplies to Finland overnight after its energy firm RAO Nordic claimed payment arrears.
Moscow has repeatedly warned Finland that any NATO membership application would be "a grave mistake far reaching consequences".
Qatar emir visits Spain as European Union eyes gas alternatives
Qatar's emir began a state visit to Spain on Tuesday as Europe seeks to diversify its natural gas supply sources...Qatar, which has the third-largest natural gas reserves in the world, is currently Spain's fifth-biggest supplier of natural gas after the US, Algeria, Nigeria and Egypt.
The country accounted for 4.4 percent of Spain's total gas imports in April and the Spanish government hopes this share could increase.
