World

Ukraine president proposes imposing sectoral sanctions against Iran for five decades

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has submitted a draft decree to the parliament, proposing to impose comprehensive sectoral sanctions against Tehran for a period of 50 years.

Iraq announces $17bn transport project linking Asia and Europe

Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has unveiled plans for a $17 billion regional transportation project intended to facilitate the flow of goods from Asia to Europe. The announcement was made at a one-day conference in Baghdad that gathered transport ministers and representatives from Iraq, the Persian Gulf countries, Turkey, Iran, Syria, and Jordan.

Israelis protest PM’s “judicial coup” for 21st straight week

Israelis took to the streets on Saturday night for the 21st straight week against the hard-right government's controversial judicial reform plans. It comes days after parliament approved the state budget.

Polls open in Turkey’s presidential runoff

Voters in Turkey returned to the polls Sunday to decide whether the country’s longtime leader stretches his rule into a third decade or is unseated by a challenger who has promised to restore a more democratic society.

Live Update: Russia’s “Special Operation” in Ukraine; Day 459

Russia, wary of NATO’s eastward expansion, began a military campaign in Ukraine in February 2022 after the Western-leaning Kiev government turned a deaf ear to Moscow’s calls for its neighbor to maintain its neutrality. In the middle of the mayhem, Moscow and Kiev are trying to hammer out a peaceful solution to the conflict. Follow the latest about the Russia-Ukraine conflict here:

Saudi team in Syria to discuss reopening of embassy

A Saudi technical team arrived in Syria on Saturday to discuss the reopening of Riyadh’s embassy in Damascus, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

Russia to US: Lectures on nuclear weapon deployments “hypocritical”

Russia dismissed criticism from US President Joe Biden over Moscow’s deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, stressing that Washington for decades has done the same  throughout Europe.

Armenia says two military service members abducted by Azerbaijan

Two Armenian servicemen were abducted by the Azerbaijani forces, the Armenian Defense Ministry claimed Saturday.

Turkey says hundreds of thousands of Syrians returned to terror-free zones

More than 550,000 Syrian refugees in Turkey have returned to areas cleared of terrorism, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has stated.

Israeli settler kills Palestinian youth in WB

An Israeli settler has fatally shot a Palestinian youth on suspicion of attempting to carry out a stabbing attack in the south of the occupied West Bank city of al-Khalil (Hebron).

Live Update: Russia’s “Special Operation” in Ukraine; Day 458

Russia, wary of NATO’s eastward expansion, began a military campaign in Ukraine in February 2022 after the Western-leaning Kiev government turned a deaf ear to Moscow’s calls for its neighbor to maintain its neutrality. In the middle of the mayhem, Moscow and Kiev are trying to hammer out a peaceful solution to the conflict. Follow the latest about the Russia-Ukraine conflict here:

Pakistan slaps travel ban on Imran Khan, his wife and hundreds of party leaders

Pakistan’s government has restricted former Prime Minister Imran Khan, his wife and hundreds of leaders and members of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party from travelling abroad amid a PTI standoff with the country’s military, officials have confirmed.

Oman announces prisoner swap between Iran, Belgium

Iran and Belgium have sent prisoners to the Omani capital of Muscat to carry out an exchange, Oman's foreign ministry confirmed on Friday.

Top Israeli officials to discuss Iran and Saudi Arabia with Biden’s aide

Senior Israeli officials are set to travel to Washington next week as the United States reportedly looks to enhance efforts on the Iranian nuclear deal and a normalisation between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

Armenia and Azerbaijan announce end to their territorial dispute

Yerevan and Baku are ready to end the 30-year dispute over Nagorno Karabakh, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev announced on Thursday in Moscow.

Live Update: Russia’s “Special Operation” in Ukraine; Day 457

Russia, wary of NATO’s eastward expansion, began a military campaign in Ukraine in February 2022 after the Western-leaning Kiev government turned a deaf ear to Moscow’s calls for its neighbor to maintain its neutrality. In the middle of the mayhem, Moscow and Kiev are trying to hammer out a peaceful solution to the conflict. Follow the latest about the Russia-Ukraine conflict here:

Moscow and Minsk agree on deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus

Moscow and Minsk have signed a deal on deploying tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, that's according to the statements from both countries’ defense ministries.

Report: Iran and Egypt to exchange ambassadors in 2023

Tehran and Cairo are expected to exchange envoys within months, as part of a process mediated by Oman to normalise relations between the two regional powers, Egyptian officials told The National.

Zelensky to Iran: Why supporting Russia?

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Iran to reconsider what he called its supply of combat drones to Russia in order to stop their slide into “the dark side of history”. Tehran has emphatically rejected Kiev's allegations, stressing it has not sold any weapons and drones to be used in the war against Ukraine.

OIC urges action against Israeli violations at al-Aqsa Mosque

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has reaffirmed Palestine’s right to sovereignty over al-Quds, home to the al-Aqsa Mosque compound, calling on the international community to force Israel to end its violations in the occupied city.

Pakistan says considering banning Imran Khan’s party

Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stated that Islamabad is considering banning former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party for attacking the state,  a decision likely to enrage his supporters and exacerbate his confrontation with the military establishment.

Saudi Arabia and Egypt looking to purchase Chinese weapons

Beijing is reportedly in talks with Saudi Arabia and Egypt to sell the two Arab states a variety of new arms, including the Chengdu J-10C, the fighter jet that forms the backbone of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF).

Russia denies fire broke out at defense ministry building in Moscow

Russia has rejected reports saying that there was a fire at the Ministry of Defense building, according to state news agency TASS on Thursday.

Russia’s “Special Operation” in Ukraine; Day 456: Ukraine says Wagner withdrawing troops from Bakhmut

Russia, wary of NATO’s eastward expansion, began a military campaign in Ukraine in February 2022 after the Western-leaning Kiev government turned a deaf ear to Moscow’s calls for its neighbor to maintain its neutrality. In the middle of the mayhem, Moscow and Kiev are trying to hammer out a peaceful solution to the conflict. Follow the latest about the Russia-Ukraine conflict here:

China and Russia should upgrade economic, trade and investment cooperation: Xi

Chinese President Xi Jinping has said at a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin that Beijing and Moscow should increase the level of economic, trade and investment cooperation, according to the Chinese state media reports.

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