Pakistan conducts second missile test, India readies civil defence drills
Islamabad, Pakistan - Pakistan conducted a second missile test and India ordered civil defence drills in an escalating stand-off over...Geostrategy
Trump’s solar tariffs could drive Asia transition boom
Bangkok, Thailand -- Massive planned US duties on solar panels made in Southeast Asia could be a chance for the...Geostrategy
17 Israelis arrested over attack on Palestinian village in January
Seventeen Israelis have been arrested on suspicion of involvement in a racist attack on a Palestinian village in the occupied...Armed with stones, clubs and "other objects", the assailants wounded one Palestinian and vandalized shops, vehicles and property in the village of Hawara.
Human rights groups say that West Bank Palestinians face frequent attacks by Jewish Israelis and that perpetrators often go unpunished.
Kuwaiti defense minister discusses ties with Turkish, Indian envoys
While not verified, the claims by Russia provided some much-needed relief for investors, who had grown increasingly fearful of a...While not verified, the claims by Russia provided some much-needed relief for investors, who had grown increasingly fearful of a conflict in Eastern Europe
Separately, the defense minister received Indian Ambassador to Kuwait Sibi George. The two addressed issues of common interest
France ‘concerned’ as Tunisia’s president extends powers
Last year, the Tunisian president sacked the government, suspended parliament, and seized a range of powers.France's Foreign Minister expressed concern over Tunisian President Kais Saied giving himself sweeping powers over the judiciary
Thousands of Tunisian took to the street on Sunday demanding democracy and an independent judiciary
Russia’s defence minister in Syria for Assad meeting
During a meeting in Damascus, Shoigu "informed the Syrian president about the exercises of the Russian navy in the eastern...During in a meeting in Damascus, Shoigu "informed the Syrian president about the exercises of the Russian navy in the eastern Mediterranean"
Moscow has been a key ally of the Assad regime throughout the Syrian conflict that erupted in 2011 with the repression of anti-government protests
Israel PM hails ‘new model’ of ties on Bahrain visit
It was the latest diplomatic breakthrough since several Arab states under the 2020 Abraham Accords ended their isolation of Israel.Naftali Bennett discussed ‘deepening cooperation’ in meetings with the defense and other ministers
He also praised Bahrain's ‘moderate’ leaders who are looking out for ‘the prosperity of their own people’
Taliban declare day of Soviet exit from Afghanistan as holiday
The Taliban on Tuesday declared February 15 a national holiday to mark the anniversary of the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan...Forty years of conflict has left Afghanistan one of the world's most impoverished nations, and the Taliban's return on August 15 plunged the country deeper into a crisis
Thousands marched through Afghan cities on Tuesday to protest against President Joe Biden's decision last week to seize almost half the country's overseas assets -- about $3.5bn
Israel President to visit Turkey to improve strained relations
Israeli President Isaac Herzog is preparing to visit Turkey, his office said Tuesday, in a rare trip following years of...A presidency statement said that a senior Turkish delegation, including a top aide to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was due in Israel this week
Herzog's office had declined to comment on the prospective visit until Tuesday's statement, which gave no indication of a possible date
US considers $1 bn loan guarantees for Ukraine
Europe's poorest country Ukraine's corruption-plagued economy has suffered from increased tensions over the possibility of an invasion by Russia.US could offer $1 billion in credit guarantees to support Ukraine, says White House official
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan repeated on Sunday that Russia could attack Ukraine "any day now"
UAE, Turkey sign 13 agreements, MoUs in key areas
The signing of cooperation agreements and MoUs ‘mark the beginning of a new era in relations’ between the two countries...Erdogan visits UAE for first time in nearly a decade to revive relations that were long strained by regional disputes
The two countries vow 'to confront a number of common challenges" through dialogue and diplomatic resolve
Israeli PM starts first-ever Bahrain visit
The visit is the latest such initiative following the US-brokered 2020 Abraham Accords.Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates became only the third and fourth Arab states to establish ties with Israel
Following Egypt and Jordan, they signed on to the pacts negotiated under former US president Donald Trump
