States helping Israel’s occupation may be ‘complicit’: UN experts
"Israel's internationally wrongful acts give rise to state responsibility, not only for Israel, but for all states," said Navi Pillay, head of the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry. The commission has published a new legal position paper spelling out specific actions required following a recent advisory opinion from...Global Future Councils meet calls for collective action to tackle global crises
Over 500 experts gathered at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting of the Global Future Councils 2024 in Dubai to address the world’s most pressing issues related to economic inequality, climate emergency and geopolitical tensions.Middle East crisis top-of-mind at first EU-Gulf summit in Brussels
Confirmed at the last minute, the presence of Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince among the six Gulf leaders in attendance heightened expectations. Trade, energy and climate change were all on the table, but Israel's conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon -- on which the two groups hold broadly converging views -- were...WEF Global Future Councils meet in Dubai to tackle pressing global issues
More than 500 experts are expected to attend the meeting. Amid a rapidly shifting global landscape of geopolitical tensions, climate emergency and economic inequality, the meeting will provide a crucial space for collaborative, innovative thinking.Trio wins economics Nobel for insights into income inequality
By examining the various political and economic systems introduced by European colonizers, the three have demonstrated a relationship between societal institutions and prosperity, the jury said. "Reducing the vast differences in income between countries is one of our time's greatest challenges," Jakob Svensson, chair of the Committee for the Prize...Japanese group wins peace Nobel, says Gaza like Japan 80 years ago
Nihon Hidankyo, a grassroots movement of atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, also known as Hibakusha, received the honor "for its efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons and for demonstrating through witness testimony that nuclear weapons must never be used again.Erdogan says Gaza ‘shame of humanity’, calls for permanent ceasefire
Tirana, Albania - Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan renewed his attacks on Israel as he arrived in Tirana Thursday, the first stop of a Balkans tour that will also take him to Serbia. Repeating his claim that Israel's actions in Gaza constituted "genocide", he branded it the "shame of humanity", at...UN probe accuses Israel of seeking to ‘destroy’ Gaza healthcare
"Israel has perpetrated a concerted policy to destroy Gaza's healthcare system as part of a broader assault on Gaza," the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry said in a statement.WTO predicts modest trade growth for 2024-25 amid geopolitical risks
In 2024 and 2025, inflation is expected to gradually abate, allowing real incomes to grow again in advanced economies, boosting consumption of manufactured goods. “A recovery of demand for tradable goods in 2024 is already evident. This is related to an increase in household consumption linked to improved income prospects.,"...Dubai’s night beaches a cool solution to summer heat
With temperatures regularly topping 40 degrees Celsius, outdoor activities are severely limited. More than one million people have visited the night beaches since last year.Updates: Iran’s supreme leader says anti-Israel resistance will not back down
Ayatollah's rare address in Arabic follows Iran's second-ever direct attack on Israel; rallies held in Jordan and Bahrain in support of Hamas, Hezbollah.Regional Updates: Iran “not looking for war” but will retaliate fiercely to any Israeli attack
Iranian leadership vows strong retaliation if Israel attacks Iran as Hezbollah kills eight Israeli soldiers and destroys 3 tanks while Israel banned UN chief Antonio Guterres from entering Israel. Also, 90 people were killed in Gaza and dozens injured in fresh Israeli attacks.Israel declares UN chief ‘persona non grata’ over Iran attack response
"Anyone who cannot unequivocally condemn Iran's heinous attack on Israel does not deserve to step foot on Israeli soil," said Foreign Minister Israel Katz in a statement. "This is an anti-Israel Secretary-General who lends support to terrorists, rapists, and murderers," he said.G7 says diplomatic solution is still possible in Middle East
Rome, Italy -- The G7 on Wednesday vowed to work together to reduce tensions in the Middle East and said a diplomatic solution to prevent widening conflict "is still possible". Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni -- whose country holds the G7 presidency this year -- called a telephone meeting of the...Two-thirds of Gaza buildings destroyed or damaged: UN
Updating its damage assessment, the UN Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) said very high-resolution imagery collected on September 3 and 6 showed a clear deterioration. "This analysis... shows that two-thirds of the total structures in the Gaza Strip have sustained damage," UNOSAT said.Lebanon may be seeing ‘largest displacement’ ever: PM
Prime Minister Najib Mikati said that "the estimated number is very high and may reach one million" -- which would amount to roughly a sixth of Lebanon's population. "It is the largest displacement movement that may have happened... in Lebanon," he said.Israeli air strikes hit densely populated Hezbollah bastion in Beirut
The strikes were by far the largest in scale. Iran embassy in Lebanon warns that the strikes 'change the rules of the game'.Saudi Arabia announces coalition to push for Palestinian state
Prince Faisal bin Farhan said the "International Alliance to Implement the Two-State Solution" included Arab and Islamic countries, as well as European partners, the Saudi Press Agency said, without giving details. The Gaza war has revived talk of a "two-state solution" of Israeli and Palestinian states living in peace side...World’s first CO2 storage service soon ready in Norway
Øygarden, Norway -- Norway inaugurated Thursday the gateway to a massive undersea vault for carbon dioxide, a crucial step before opening what its operator calls the first commercial service offering CO2 transport and storage. The Northern Lights project plans to take CO2 emissions captured at factory smokestacks in Europe and inject...Media gag and manufactured consent: Israel’s campaign against Lebanon
Beirut, Lebanon: On Sunday, Israeli troops stormed the Al Jazeera office in the occupied West Bank and issued a 45-day closure order. A day later the Jewish state launched a murderous campaign in neighboring Lebanon, killing at least 350, including 24 children. Simultaneously, the Israeli military called on residents of...Elon Musk’s Starlink internet launches in war-scarred Yemen
Dubai, United Arab Emirates -- Tech billionaire Elon Musk's satellite internet service Starlink has launched in Yemen, provoking the anger of Iran-backed Houthi rebels in the country shattered by civil war. The company -- run by the world's richest person -- announced its arrival in Yemen, one of the world's least...Gaza rescuers say Israeli strike on house kills 11, including children
"We have recovered the bodies of 11 martyrs, including four children and three women, after an Israeli warplane hit a three-story house of the Bustan family," Mahmud Bassal, spokesman for the civil defense agency said. He said that the house was located near the Shujaiya school in the Al-Tuffah neighborhood...WTO says trade alone won’t bridge gap between economies
The WTO's 2024 report on global trade looked at the role that commerce has played to narrow the gap between economies since its creation in 1995. "Perhaps the biggest takeaway from the report is its reaffirmation of trade's transformative role in reducing poverty and creating shared prosperity," WTO Director-General Ngozi...Iran’s president to visit Iraq on first foreign trip, sign MoU on security
Tehran, Iran -- Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian will visit neighboring Iraq on Wednesday, state media reported Sunday, in what will be his first trip abroad since he took office in July. Pezeshkian will head a high-ranking Iranians delegation to Baghdad to meet senior Iraqi officials. The visit comes at the invitation...Biden, unions pile pressure on Netanyahu for hostage release deal
Jerusalem -- Pressure mounted Monday on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a major strike was held and US President Joe Biden said he was not doing enough to secure the release of Gaza hostages, following the killing of six captives. Israelis were gripped by grief and fury after the...Israel set for general strike after Gaza hostages found dead
"I have come to the conclusion that only our intervention can shake those who need to be shaken," Arnon bar David, chairman of Israel's powerful Histadrut trade union said in a statement. "Starting tomorrow at six in the morning, the entire Israeli economy will go on complete strike."COP29 finance draft: Arab nations ask developed nations to commit $441bn
Paris, France -- The UN has published a draft on climate financing due to be presented at the COP29 in November, laying out the conflicting positions from which the main country blocs will try to clinch the next climate deal. The document, which AFP consulted Friday, is the basis for negotiating...West Bank city ‘cut off from the world’ as Israeli assault drags on
Jenin governor Kamal Abu al-Rub told AFP that even he does not know exactly what is happening inside the camp, where the latest fighting appeared to be concentrated. "The Israelis are besieging the hospitals and cutting off the city from the refugee camp, which has become a military zone with...Telegram boss Durov free but charged and held in France
Paris, France -- Telegram chief Pavel Durov was spending Thursday out on bail after four days of detention in France, banned from leaving the country as he faces a possible trial related to illegal content carried on his messaging app. Russian-born Durov, dressed in black and wearing dark glasses, walked briskly...Israel agrees ‘humanitarian pauses’ in Gaza to allow polio vaccinations
"The way we discussed and agreed, the campaign will start on the first of September, in central Gaza, for three days, and there will be a humanitarian pause during the vaccination," said Rik Peeperkorn, the agency's representative for Palestinian territories.SpaceX postpones historic mission featuring first private spacewalk
United States -- SpaceX postponed once more its attempt at launching a daring orbital expedition featuring an all-civilian crew that is aiming to carry out the first-ever spacewalk by private citizens. The Polaris Dawn mission, organized by billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, had been set to lift off from NASA's Kennedy...UAE seeks consular services for arrested Telegram boss
"The UAE is closely following the case of its citizen Pavel Durov, founder of Telegram, who was arrested by the French authorities in Paris–Le Bourget Airport," UAE foreign ministry said in a statement. Durov, the 39-year-old billionaire founder of the messaging platform, was arrested at the Paris airport late on...Egypt says will not accept Israeli force on its Gaza border
Cairo, a key mediator in efforts to secure a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, "reiterated to all parties that it will not accept any Israeli presence" along the strategic Philadelphi Corridor, state-linked Al-Qahera News said, citing a high-level source. A key sticking point in the ceasefire talks have...UAE national carriers fly to 606 destinations as travel demand rebounds
Abu Dhabi, UAE -- UAE national carriers continued to expand their destinations for passengers, supported by the UAE's leading position as a preferred global destination for tourism and business, as well as the recovery in travel demand. National carriers are expected to continue to fly to new heights of growth...In rare move, UAE accepts Taliban government ambassador
It became just the second country after China to do so. The UAE said it was committed to "building bridges" to help the Afghan people, after the Kabul foreign ministry announced on social media that new ambassador Mawlawi Badruddin Haqqani had been received in a ceremony in Abu Dhabi.Not facing a deal but imposition of American diktats: Hamas
"To say that we are getting close to a deal is an illusion," Hamas political bureau member Sami Abu Zuhri told AFP. "We are not facing a deal or real negotiations, but rather the imposing of American diktats." He was responding to Biden's comment on Friday that "We are closer...United Nations calls Israeli settler attack in West Bank ‘horrific’
Geneva, Switzerland -- The United Nations on Friday said a deadly Israeli settler attack on a Palestinian village in the occupied West Bank was "horrific" and that Israel had to end impunity. The UN human rights office said deadly violence in the Palestinian territory, that has increased since the start of...UN, EU and US decry extremist Israeli minister’s prayer at Al-Aqsa
"We are against any efforts to change the status quo within the holy sites," said deputy spokesman Farhan Haq. "Al-Aqsa mosque, like the other holy sites in Jerusalem, should be left to themselves and should be controlled by the existing religious authorities for the sites. This sort of behavior is...OPEC says Chinese economy pulling down oil demand
Paris, France -- Uncertainty about Chinese economic growth is weighing on global oil demand this year, OPEC said on Monday, leading the producers cartel to slightly revise down the robust projections it made in July. "The world oil demand growth forecast for 2024 is revised down slightly by 135,00 barrels a...Calls for Gaza truce grow, Hamas wants Biden plan implemented
Biden had said the first phase of the proposed roadmap would include a "full and complete ceasefire" lasting six weeks, with Israeli forces withdrawing from "all populated areas of Gaza" and some hostages freed in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.‘Children torn apart’: Israel strike rains hell on Gaza dawn prayers
Dawn prayers were shattered by the early morning triple air strike from Israeli warplanes, which gutted Al-Tabieen religious school and mosque in Gaza City. In the hellish aftermath, body parts were strewn around the rubble and charred, bloodied bodies slumped in the wreckage of the two-story complex.Flying’s never been safer, risk of death halving every decade: MIT study
Washington, United States -- Flying can be a nerve-wracking experience for many people -- but a new study out Thursday finds commercial air travel keeps getting safer, with the risk of death halving every decade. The fatality rate fell to 1 per every 13.7 million passenger boardings globally in the 2018-2022...Gaza civil defence says Israel strikes on two schools kill more than 18
Senior civil defense official Mohammad al-Mughayyir said 60 people were also wounded and more than 40 still missing in the strikes on Al-Zahra and Abdel Fattah Hamoud schools in Gaza City.Turkey joins South Africa’s Israel ‘genocide’ case at ICJ
A Turkish parliamentary delegation accompanied by the Turkish ambassador to the Netherlands filed a "declaration of intervention" at the ICJ's headquarters in The Hague, according to state television TRT which covered it live. Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Oncu Keceli said in a post on X that the "case brought before...Bangaldesh Nobel winner Yunus ready to lead after Hasina flees
Dhaka, Bangladesh -- Bangladesh Nobel winner Muhammad Yunus said Tuesday he is ready to head a caretaker government, a day after the military took control as mass protests forced longtime ruler Sheikh Hasina to flee. Microfinance pioneer Yunus, 84, is credited with lifting millions out of poverty -- earning the enmity...G7 foreign ministers met by videoconference over Mideast: Italy
Rome, Italy -- G7 foreign ministers met by videoconference Sunday to discuss the Middle East and expressed "strong concern" over the threat of escalation, Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said. "Together with our partners, we have expressed strong concern about recent events that threaten to determine a regionalization of the crisis,...Travellers rush to leave Lebanon amid spiking tensions
Several airlines including Lufthansa and Air France have delayed or suspended flights to Lebanon, and countries have issued urgent calls for foreign nationals to leave in recent days. France did so Sunday, warning of "a highly volatile" situation, while the US embassy in Lebanon a day earlier urged its citizens...Thousands bid farewell to Ismail Haniyeh in Qatari capital
Haniyeh was laid to rest in Lusail, north of the capital Doha, following funeral prayers at the Gulf emirate's largest mosque attended by thousands of people. he burial was restricted to a small number of people including one of Haniyeh's daughters, Sara, who shared a video on social media showing her...Iran, allies ready Israel response as funerals held for Haniyeh, Shukr
Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, addressing the funeral of the Lebanese group's top military commander, said Israel and "those who are behind it must await our inevitable response" to Fuad Shukr's and Haniyeh's killings within hours of each other. "You do not know what red lines you crossed," Nasrallah said, addressing...UNSC to hold emergency meeting over Hamas chief’s killing
The meeting has been requested by Iran and supported by representatives of Russia, China and Algeria, said a spokesman for the Russian presidency, which holds the rotating leadership of the council. Separately, UN chief Antonio Guterres denounced the attacks on Tehran as well as Beirut as a "dangerous escalation".



















































