India launches strikes on Pakistan, Islamabad vows to ‘settle the score’
Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif accused Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi of launching the strikes to "shore up" his...Geostrategy
Israel cabinet approves plan for Gaza ‘conquest’
Israel resumed major operations across Gaza on March 18 amid deadlock over how to proceed with a two-month ceasefire that...Geostrategy
Russia says ready for talks if Ukraine ‘lays down arms’
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told a press conference in Moscow that Russian President Vladimir Putin "took the decision to...The comment suggested that Moscow intends to overthrow the Ukrainian authorities with its invasion.
Lavrov denied Ukrainian claims that Russian forces had hit civilian infrastructure, despite widespread evidence of residential areas being damaged.
Iraq unveils restoration at ancient city ravaged by IS
Three monumental sculptures in the ancient city of Hatra were restored after being vandalized by the Islamic State group during...A Roman-style sculpture of a life-size figure and a series of reliefs of faces on the side of the great temple were among the restored pieces shown off to journalists.
The restoration work at Hatra is being carried out by Iraqi experts in collaboration with Italy's International Association for Mediterranean and Oriental Studies.
Libya rival PM says cabinet line-up ready
Libya's prospective prime minister, appointed by the war-torn country's parliament as it seeks to oust interim premier Abdulhamid Dbeibah, said..."Prime minister-designate Fathi Bashagha announces that his government is ready and will be presented to the House of Representatives" for a vote of confidence
Libya's parliament had picked Bashagha earlier this month in a move against Dbeibah, whose rivals argue his mandate ended after elections set for December 24 were postponed
SWIFT: The Russia sanctions threat for Ukraine invasion
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on world powers on Thursday to cut Russia off from SWIFT, after Russian forces invaded...Founded in 1973, the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication, actually doesn't handle any fund-transfers itself
But its messaging system, developed in the 1970s, provides banks the means to communicate rapidly, securely, and inexpensively
European nations sign 7-bn-euro drone contract
Baptised Eurodrone, the twin-motor aircraft with a 30-metre wingspan similar to some commercial planes, will be able to carry out...Baptised Eurodrone, the twin-motor aircraft with a 30-metre wingspan similar to some commercial planes, will be able to carry out intelligence-gathering and surveillance.
The remotely-piloted 10-tonne drone, to be built by a consortium lead by Airbus, will be capable of operating for 20 hours and help provide round-the-clock surveillance
Egypt vows to look after stranded Russians, Ukrainians
The decision followed a flurry of flight cancellations after Russia early Thursday sent troops across the border into Ukraine.The decision followed a flurry of flight cancellations after Russia early Thursday sent troops across the border into Ukraine
Flights from 11 airports in southern Russia and one airport in Moscow-annexed Crimea have been canceled, Russia's main aviation authority has said
North Africa-Europe migrant deaths at sea up 155%: UN
The surge in deaths came alongside evidence of both increased arrivals in at least one key destination and rising interceptions.The central Mediterranean route, running from Tunisia and Libya to Italy and Malta, has claimed more than 18,000 migrant lives since 2014
The Western Africa-Atlantic crossing to Spain's Canary Islands was the second most deadly during the first half of last year, with 250 fatalities
Russia invasion kills dozens on first day in Ukraine
US President Joe Biden announced export controls against Russia to cut off more than half of the country's high-tech imports,...Across Ukraine, at least 137 "heroes" were killed after the first day of fighting, said President Volodymyr Zelensky
He also called up conscripts and reservists nationwide to fight in a general mobilization, even as 100,000 people were displaced
Ukraine-Russia war may affect Gulf food supply
The ongoing conflict will directly impact the Gulf and Arab countries since they import vast food items from the two...The Gulf states will be directly affected by the conflict as they depend on the two countries to meet a large proportion of their food requirements.
Experts, however, believe a severe food shortage crisis in the Gulf countries is unlikely to happen in the short term as they can absorb rising import costs
With Spanish funds, Lebanon plans to revive railway out of service since ’70s
Lebanon's transport minister has said that Spain will finance a plan to revive the railway network that has been out...Lebanon had a railway network since the end of the 19th century which connected Beirut to the Syrian capital Damascus.
It was built during Ottoman rule and inaugurated in 1895, operating until the devastating civil war begun 47 years ago.
