World

Nearly 5k Palestinian inmates in Israeli jails: Report

Israel is keeping about 4,900 Palestinians prisoners, including women and children, behind bars, according to a new report by Palestinian rights advocacy groups.

Live Update: Russia’s “Special Operation” in Ukraine; Day 418

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:

Yemen’s Houthis, Saudi Arabia complete prisoner swap

Yemen’s Houthi movement and Riyadh-backed Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) have released dozens of inmates on the last leg of a three-day exchange of nearly 900 detainees, raising prospects for nationwide peace in the warn-torn country.

IMF predicts high rates, oil prices and inflation worries in ME

Banks in the Middle East and Central Asia have very limited exposure to last month's banking turmoil in the United States and Europe, but financial pressures are adding to strains caused by high interest rates, volatile oil prices and years of double-digit inflation, a top IMF official has stated.

Media: Top Hamas leaders to visit Saudi Arabia following Tehran-Riyadh rapprochement

A delegation of the Palestinian Resistance Movement Hamas is set to visit Saudi Arabia, Palestinian media reported, describing it as a major development as Israel’s hopes of forging official ties with Riyadh appear to dwindle further.

Many killed, injured in Dubai apartment block fire

A fire in a residential building in Dubai has killed at least 16 people and injured several others in the Persian Gulf emirate, local media reported.

Mass protests held in Israel against PM’s judicial reforms for 15th straight week

Tens of thousands have taken to the streets in Israel to protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to overhaul the judiciary, despite his decision to pause the contentious proposals.

Live Update: Russia’s “Special Operation” in Ukraine; Day 417

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:

Iran “worried” about Sudan situation

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani has expressed concern over the fresh developments and unrest in Sudan.

Around 80 percent of Russians trust in Putin: Poll

About 80 percent of Russians say they have confidence in President Vladimir Putin, according to the results of a survey conducted by the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center.

US lawmakers call on EU to blacklist IRGC as terrorist entity

A group of bipartisan US lawmakers have urged the European Union to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation.

Iranian President Raisi invited to UAE for intl. climate confab later this year: Diplomat

A senior Iranian diplomat says President Ebrahim Raisi has been invited to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to join an international climate change conference later this year, amid growing relations between Tehran and Persian Gulf neighbors.

Iran’s Raisi calls for Muslim unity against Israel

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has called for unity among Muslim countries against Israel, amid a surge in Israeli violence against Palestinian people.

Diplomats underline ‘Arab leadership role’ in resolving Syria crisis at Saudi meeting

Senior diplomats from the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have agreed that the Arab world must play a “leadership role” in efforts to find a political solution to the crisis in Syria so that its sovereignty is preserved and the return of Damascus to the Arab League is facilitated.

Saudi Arabia to launch four new special economic zones

Four special economic zones are to be established in Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has announced.

Lawmakers call on Biden admin. to ensure US funds not used in Israeli settlements

A group of US lawmakers have urged President Joe Biden to undertake a foundational “shift” in its dealings with Israel and ensure that American taxpayers’ money will not be allocated to Israeli settlements.

Egypt says to evaluate developments before normalizing ties with Iran

The Egyptian foreign minister has said that his country will take steps to normalize ties with Iran based on the evaluation of the developments regarding the recent agreement between Tehran and Riyadh.

Live Update: Russia’s “Special Operation” in Ukraine; Day 416

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:

Yemen’s Houthis, Saudi Arabia begin major prisoner swap

An exchange of hundreds of prisoners linked to Yemen’s long-running war began on Friday, the International Committee of the Red Cross has announced, a significant confidence-building measure amid peace talks between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis.

Armenia denies using Iranian-made drones against Azerbaijan

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has rejected rumors that Armenia is using Iranian-made drones in clashes with Azerbaijan in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

CENTCOM says several US forces diagnosed with ‘traumatic brain injury’ in Syria attacks

A spokesman for US Central Command (CENTCOM) has confirmed that 11 more American troops have been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury following a series of attacks that targeted US bases in Syria in March.

Iran calls for probe into “US-funded biological laboratories” abroad

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani has called for an international investigation into reports of US-funded biological laboratories in Ukraine and elsewhere across the world.

Iran urges Islamic states to form united front against Israeli crimes

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has urged the Islamic countries to form a united front in order to stop the Israeli regime's criminal actions against the Palestinian people.

Live Update: Russia’s “Special Operation” in Ukraine; Day 415

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:

Russia names mastermind of killing pro-Putin blogger

A Ukrainian man named Yury Denisov was the person who organized the bomb assassination of Russian military blogger Vladlen Tatarsky, the Federal Security Service (FSB) has announced.

Latest news