Gaza detainees released by Israel report abuse, says UNRWA
UNRWA chief's comments capped a tumultuous day during which Israel and UNRWA have traded accusations, with Israel accusing the agency...Geostrategy
Western countries shelve plans to censure Iran at UN nuclear meet
Western powers will not censure Iran over its lack of cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog at its Board of...Geostrategy Global
World food prices rise highest in a decade: FAO
The UN barometer of world food prices has surged to a new peak, reaching its highest level since July 2011,...Reduced harvests in Canada, Russia, US lead to an increase of 3.2 percent in cereal prices.
The vegetable oil index went up 9.6 percent, hitting an all-time high, and dairy rose by 2.6 points.
Iraqi security forces clash with pro-Iran protesters
Hundreds of supporters of pro-Iran groups clashed with security forces in Iraq's capital on Friday, expressing their fury over last...The political arm of the pro-Iran Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary network saw its share of parliamentary seats decline substantially in the election
Demonstrators from groups loyal to the Hashed threw projectiles and "blocked... access to the Green Zone" on three sides
Poverty fuels despair in oil-rich south Iraq
Basra province gets only 1 trillion dinars out of the total Iraqi budget of 130 trillion Iraqi dinars ($89 billion),...Basra province produces about 70 percent of crude oil in Iraq, itself the second biggest exporter in the Middle East after Saudi Arabia.
Unemployment in Basra affects 20 to 25 percent of the people and almost 30 percent of youth.
Israel to build Cyprus electronic surveillance system
The surveillance system will monitor activity such as smuggling and illegal migration, as well as provide military intelligenceThe surveillance system will monitor activity such as smuggling and illegal migration, as well as provide military intelligence
Cyprus said it was in a "state of emergency" because of an inflow of Syrian migrants overwhelming reception centres
Lebanon PM Najib Mikati urges action to mend Gulf row, govt paralysis
The government is breaking at the seams over a series of disputes involving a probe into last year's monster port...Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait recalled their envoys from Beirut and suspended all imports from Lebanon.
Blocking imports from Lebanon is a blow to a country in financial ruin and where a weak government is struggling to secure international aid.
Abu Dhabi Crown Prince, King of Netherlands discuss regional, global issues
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands have discussed friendship...The parties tackled several regional and international issues of mutual interest and exchanged views in this regard.
Two days ago, 50 Dutch companies arrived in the UAE on a trade mission.
19 countries vow to end overseas fossil fuel finance
Major coal, oil and gas funders China, Japan and South Korea were absent from the pledge. The IEA says that...Unabated fossil fuel projects are those that do not deploy technology to absorb the carbon pollution they produce.
G20 nations last month agreed to end financial support for new unabated coal plants abroad.
Top oil producers to assess output amid pressure to open up the taps
The powerful producers led by Saudi Arabia and Russia in the so-called OPEC+ grouping are expected to re-affirm a decision...There is pressure from the US and other big consumers to open up the taps much more decisively.
OPEC+ members seem to prefer to stick to their plan of easing cuts by 400,000 barrels per day per month.
Emirates to launch daily Dubai-Tel Aviv flights from Dec.6
Emirates is to start daily flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv on December 6, the airline announced, in the latest...Abu Dhabi-based airline Etihad and Israeli carrier Arkia now also offer regular flights.
Emirates said the new service would also link Israel seamlessly with its global route network.
Saudi Arabia and UAE join calls against Sudan coup
Saudi Arabia and the UAE have joined the United States and Britain Wednesday in urging the leaders of last week's...The United States has led condemnation of the military's October 25 takeover in Sudan
The coup interrupted a transition to democracy in which power was being shared with a civilian government
