China’s annual political conclave starts as economy sputters
Proceedings kick off Monday at 3:00 pm with the opening ceremony of China's People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), which will last until next Sunday. At a press conference, CPPCC spokesperson Liu Jieyi said that "economic topics are of great concern" to the body's over two thousand members.
At $75bn, Saudi defense budget beats several European countries in 2022
Last year, Saudi Arabia led the Middle East in military investments, ranking fifth globally with a defense budget of $75 billion. This surpassed many European nations, emphasizing the strategic defense priorities of Middle Eastern countries amidst global powerhouses. Qatar's military expenditure, meanwhile, reached $15.4 billion last year, ranking close to...Iran releases two French citizens from prison, says Paris
Iran released two French citizens jailed in separate cases, France said, urging Tehran to release several others still detained in the Islamic republic. Bernard Phelan, who also holds Irish nationality and Benjamin Briere were freed from their prison in Mashhad city and are "on their way to France", Foreign Minister...
Iran hands down death sentences to two over Shiraz shrine attack
TEHRAN, IRAN - An Iranian court sentenced two people to death over an October attack on a shrine in the southern city of Shiraz that cost over a dozen lives, the judiciary said Saturday.The pair were convicted of assisting in "corruption on earth, armed rebellion and acting against national security", the...
US condemns WTO verdict on its steel tariffs
Geneva, Switzerland— Washington condemned the World Trade Organization's verdict Friday on the punitive US tariffs imposed on national security grounds on steel imports from China and other countries. Former US president Donald Trump's administration introduced the tariffs on steel and aluminium imports from China, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey and his successor,...
US bans gear from China’s Huawei, ZTE over security risk
US authorities announced a ban on the import or sale of communications equipment deemed "an unacceptable risk to national security" - including gear from Chinese giants Huawei Technologies and ZTE. Both firms have been on a roster of companies listed as a threat by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
Two Iran activists out on bail sent to jail again on ‘plotting supicion’
Earlier this week Tehran academic Saeed Madani Ghahfarokhi was arrested on suspicion of "maintaining links abroad and carrying out activities that threaten national security".
US vows to hold Houthi rebels accountable for UAE attack
The United Arab Emirates of which Abu Dhabi is the capital is part of a Riyadh-led military coalition that supports Yemen's government against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who have repeatedly targeted Saudi Arabia with cross-border strikes.
