Polls open in Iran for presidential election amidst vote boycott calls
Polls in Iran opened on Friday for a presidential election following the death of ultraconservative president Ebrahim Raisi in a...Geostrategy
Israel PM says ‘intense’ phase of Gaza war winding down
Netanyahu said Israel would be able to "redeploy some forces to the north" on the border with Lebanon, where exchanges...Geostrategy
Pakistan party falls flat after semi-final cricket loss
The national mood was summed up by Prime Minister and former captain Imran Khan who said the side should be...Pakistan cricket fans reacted largely with good grace and humour Friday to their team's exit from the Twenty20 World Cup.
Fans on social media heaped blame for the loss on Hasan Ali, vilified after dropping a catch at a key point of the match.
Biden, Xi expected to hold virtual summit on Monday: US media
Relations between the world's two largest economies have deteriorated in recent weeks, in particular over Taiwan.Relations between the world's two largest economies have deteriorated in recent weeks, in particular over Taiwan
Washington has repeatedly signaled its support for Taiwan in the face of Chinese aggression
Macron hosts leaders to keep Libya polls on track
The hydrocarbon-rich North African country has been mired in civil war since the overthrow of dictator Moamer Kadhafi in a...The presidential vote on December 24, and legislative elections, are the core parts of a UN plan to help restore stability
There are also fears over whether the various factions will recognise the results of the polls
Elon Musk’s SpaceX launches four astronauts to International Space Station
After a series of delays, Elon Musk's private company SpaceX launched four astronauts to the International Space Station on Wednesday...The station is currently operating with just one NASA astronaut in the US segment to welcome the incoming crew.
The flight was initially postponed from October 31 first for weather, then a "minor medical issue" affecting one of the crew.
Saudi Arabia grants citizenship to foreigners with ‘distinguished talents’
Saudi Arabia has granted citizenship to an unspecified number of people with "distinguished talents, unique expertise and specializations". Saudi Press...Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has approved the citizenship.
The government said granting citizenship to such people will contribute to the development of various sectors throughout the kingdom.
Kuwait to limit visas for Lebanese over Gulf row
Kuwait is to limit the number of visas it issues for Lebanese nationals as a diplomatic row festers between Beirut...“A verbal decision has been taken to be stricter in granting tourist and business visas to Lebanese,” the source told AFP
The source stressed that no official decision had been made and that visas for visitors from Lebanon have not been suspended
Incoming CEO of Israeli spyware firm NSO steps down
The designated chief executive of NSO, the Israeli firm infamous for phone hacking, is resigning less than two weeks after...Isaac Benbenisti was tapped last week to succeed founder and CEO Shalev Hulio
NSO's Pegasus software can switch on a phone's camera or microphone and harvest its data
Scientists appeal for immediate climate action at COP26
More than 200 scientists told the COP26 summit Thursday to take immediate action to halt global warming, warning in an...The scientists warned in an open letter that some climate change impacts were "irreversible" for generations.
Commitments made so far could still lead to "catastrophic" warming of as much as 2.7C by 2100, according to the UN.
UAE and Bahrain hold first joint naval exercise with Israel: US
The five-day maneuvers in the Red Sea, which is linked to the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal, are intended to...The exercises include boarding, search and seizure training on the USS Portland, an amphibious transport dock ship.
The Red Sea borders Yemen where a Saudi-led coalition has been fighting alongside government forces against Iran-backed rebels since 2015.
At Raqa ’roundabout of hell’, Syria lovers find new meeting spot
Only a few years ago, Al-Naim square was the grim stage for Raqa's public executions. Today, Nader al-Hussein sits in...Jihadists flaunted their implementation of Islamic sharia law in the square, carrying out flagellation, crucifixions and even decapitations
Their marauding morality police made it impossible for lovers to meet, even in private, without risking death
