Hamas releases video of two Israeli hostages alive in Gaza
Hamas's armed wing released a video on Saturday showing two Israeli hostages alive in the Gaza Strip, with one of...Geostrategy
Kurdish PKK says held ‘successful’ meeting on disbanding
The outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) held a "successful" meeting this week with a view to disarming and disbanding, a...Geostrategy
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
GCC states stress women’s rights to Taliban
Amir Khan Muttaqi, a key member of the Taliban leadership, met in Doha with ambassadors from the six-nation GCC on...The Taliban have been struggling to unfreeze billions of dollars of assets abroad and get sanctions lifted.
Arab envoys emphasized the need to help Afghanistan's "urgent humanitarian needs" as the country confronts widespread hunger caused by drought.
Islamic Development Bank sets up fund for providing aid to Afghanistan
The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) approved the establishment of the Afghanistan Humanitarian Trust Fund (AHTF), which will channel humanitarian and...The Afghanistan Humanitarian Trust Fund will be administered by the bank and receive contributions from member states.
For project financing, it approved $337.63 million for transport, agriculture, and human capital development projects in Guinea, Cote d’Ivoire, and Senegal.
Erdogan arrives in UAE after a decade to revive bilateral relations
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reached Abu Dhabi on Monday for his first visit to the UAE in nearly a...Turkey and the UAE have backed opposing sides in the Libyan civil war and in a Gulf diplomatic crisis
But those tensions eased after Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed traveled to Ankara in November
