Hamas says Israeli military action kills 7 hostages in Gaza
Hamas said that seven more hostages seized during its unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7 had died because...Geostrategy Global
UAE and Russia look to deepen parliamentary cooperation
Abu Dhabi, UAE-- The UAE and Russia have held talks to enhance the parliamentary cooperation between the two countries.In this...Geostrategy
Asian markets stabilize but Evergrande fears linger
The battle in Washington to raise the US debt limit was also fuelling concern that the government could miss payments...Dubai led declines among stock markets in the Gulf on Monday, as its main share index fell 1.2 percent.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index, which plunged more than three percent Monday, edged up 0.2 percent.
Lebanese parliament approves new government
Mikati's 24-member cabinet will be expected to offer solutions to shortages of medicine and fuel and to launch a ration...Mikati's 24-member cabinet will be expected to offer solutions to shortages of medicine and fuel and to launch a ration card programme to protect the poorest
Billionaire Mikati was designated as premier in July after his two predecessors failed to form a government
France to host international conference ahead of Libya elections
The ratification earlier this month of an electoral law that was clearly tailor-made for Khalifa Haftar, the military strongman who...France is asking for the elections to be held and for the "departure of foreign forces and mercenaries
Libyan Foreign Minister Najla al-Mangoush has not rule out postponing the elections
‘Apathy and despair’ as Iraq looks to October election
The polls were initially scheduled for 2022, but moved forward to June this year, then postponed to October.Respondents have said only the candidates’ faces are newer while the political ideals are unchanged
Issues like constant power cuts and non-upgradation of infrastructure are also weighing on voters’ minds
Morocco party alleges violations at polls
Moderate Islamist Justice and Development Party said it would swtich to the 'natural' position as opposition.The party, which was thrashed in recent elections, said a 'massive use of money' and 'manipulation of reports' led to 'results that do not reflect country's political map.
Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit has said the voting process took “under normal circumstances” apart from isolated incidents.
Islamic State carries out Syria gas pipeline attack
The Deir Ali station southeast of Damascus generates half of Syria's power needsThe Deir Ali station southeast of Damascus generates half of Syria's power needs
The explosion caused the station to go out of service temporarily
Lebanon seizes dangerous fertilizer in country’s east
Ammonium nitrate is an odourless crystalline substance commonly used as a fertiliser that has been the cause of numerous industrial...Ammonium nitrate is an odourless crystalline substance commonly used as a fertilizer that has been the cause of numerous industrial explosions
Security forces raided a fertilizer warehouse in the eastern Bekaa Valley, considered a hub for smuggling operations between Lebanon and Syria
Iran looks east after China-led bloc okays entry
Iran has been trying to enter the SCO for years, and was close last year, but Tajikisatn objected to it.Iran has hailed its acceptance into the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a bloc led by China and Russia
This, for it, was an eastward turn that it sees as opening access to major world markets and a counter to Western sanctions
Algeria’s ex-president Bouteflika dies
Bouteflika became president of Algeria in 1999 as the former French colony emerged from a decade of civil war that...The former strongman had left office in April 2019 under pressure from the military
After quitting, he had stayed out of the public eye at a residence in western Algiers
US approves $500mn helicopter maintenance deal for Saudis
Under the deal, US will provide 350 contractor technicians and two government officials over two years to handle the maintenance...Before his election Biden had promised to make Saudi leaders "pay" for the murder of US-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
In late January Biden ordered a review of all arms contracts concluded by his predecessor Donald Trump with Saudi Arabia and other countries.
