Fighting rages in Gaza City’s Shujaiya for fourth day
A Hamas official in Lebanon, Osama Hamdan, confirmed that the Islamist movement had received the latest proposal but said it...Geostrategy
Iran picks new president at turbulent time
Iranians vote on Friday to elect a new president from six candidates, including a lone reformist who hopes he can...Geostrategy
Iran enacts population law criticized by UN experts
The law renders reproductive screening optional, imposes restrictions on abortion and limits access to contraceptionIt also tasks public broadcasters with producing content that encourages women to have more children and denounces celibacy or abortion.
About 46.6 percent of Iran's population of 83 million is under 30 years old.
Assad scraps grand mufti post in Syria
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has issued a decree eliminating the post of top Muslim cleric for the country and expanding...The new decree, which state media said came into effect on Monday, effectively forces Ahmed Badreddin Hassoun, appointed as grand mufti by Assad in 2004, into retirement
His prerogatives will be folded into a council that falls under the ministry of religious endowments, or waqf, which already oversees Islamic affairs in Syria
East Libya strongman Haftar says to run for president
Haftar's announcement comes two days after the candidacy of Seif al-Islam Kadhafi -- the son of slain dictator Moamer Kadhafi...In his speech Tuesday, Haftar affirmed that the December election is "the only way to pull Libya out of chaos".
Backed by Russia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, Haftar is a controversial figure, despised by many in western Libya.
Hundreds of migrants assisted off coast, says Morocco
Moroccan coast guards have assisted more than 300 migrants in difficulty aboard various craft since Friday.Despite stepped-up controls, migrant departures from Morocco's coasts have increased lately
Mainland Spain is only about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from Morocco
Biden urges ‘guardrails’ against conflict in virtual Xi summit
Biden emphasized the need for settling a relationship rocked by high-stakes disputes, including on trade and Taiwan.Biden emphasized the need for settling a relationship rocked by high-stakes disputes, including on trade and Taiwan
Xi, speaking from Beijing, called Biden "my old friend," but said the rivals must work more closely
Aviation emerging out of Covid crisis, outlook brightening: Airbus CEO
The global aviation sector has begun to emerge from the Covid pandemic, its worst-ever crisis, and the "outlook is starting...A large order of 255 of Airbus' planes at the Dubai Airshow "completely justifies" a shift to ramping up manufacturing, the CEO said.
The United States has largely resumed, Europe is also resuming. Asia will probably take a little longer, Guilluame Faury said.
Expo opportunity to boost UAE-Monaco cooperation: Prince Albert II
Prince of Monaco, Albert II has called Expo 2020 Dubai a "great opportunity" to enhance the cooperation between his country...The UAE and Monaco are centers of global exchanges, the prince said on the sidelines of Monaco's National Day celebration at Expo.
Monaco’s pavilion at Expo 2020 is located in the Opportunities District and is inspired by the legendary Rock of Monaco.
Middle East’s first waste-to-sustainable aviation fuel plant to come up in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi Waste Management Centre (Tadweer) has signed an agreement with Etihad Airways to facilitate the development of the first...The plant can convert 4 million tons of municipal waste every year into 140 million gallons of fuel.
The plant will help Abu Dhabi to divert 75 percent of municipal waste away from landfills.
UAE says COP26 a ‘success’ but world still needs to invest billions in oil, gas
The UAE, one of the world’s top crude exporters, said a recent UN climate summit in Glasgow was a “success”...Nearly 200 countries at the COP26 summit pledged Saturday to speed up the fight against rising temperatures, after two weeks of negotiations.
UAE minister of industry Sultan al-Jaber said oil and gas industry would have to invest “over $600 billion every year until 2030 just to keep up with the expected demand".
Iran invites UN nuclear watchdog chief to Tehran for talks
Iran has invited the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency for talks after the UN official expressed concern over...Rafael Grossi is expected to meet with Iran's foreign minister and the country's atomic energy chief.
Grossi last visited Tehran in September, where he clinched a deal over access to surveillance equipment at Iran's nuclear facilities.
