Have deaths of Quds Force commanders in Iran-Israel shadow war dented IRGC’s confidence? LONDON: Iran brought its decades-long shadow war with Israel into the open on April 13 when it mounted a combined drone and missile attack in retaliation for a suspected Israeli airstrike on its embassy annex in Damascus, which killed two senior commanders … Read more
BERLIN: Two German Russian nationals have been arrested in Germany on suspicion of plotting sabotage attacks, including on US military facilities, in what officials called a serious effort to undermine military support for Ukraine. Authorities have searched the homes and workplaces of the two suspects who stand accused of working for a foreign secret service. … Read more
RIYADH: Egypt’s foreign debt increased by $3.5 billion in the fourth quarter of 2023, reaching a total of $168 billion, as reported by the nation’s planning ministry. This marks a climb from the $164.5 billion recorded at the end of September, representing 42.4 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product. Notably, 81 percent of … Read more
RIYADH: When picking up a pencil or paintbrush to create an artwork, self-taught Saudi artist Dana Almasoud channels her inner child. “As soon as a child picks up a pencil, they attempt to draw or capture a sense of what they see through their eyes on paper. The majority of them stop at some point … Read more
How the life and death of Walid Daqqah in an Israeli jail encapsulates Palestinian Prisoners’ Day LONDON: When he was arrested by Israeli forces on March 25, 1986, Walid Daqqah was just 24 years old. When he died of cancer on April 7 this year, aged 62 and still a prisoner, he had spent all … Read more
LONDON: Northern Gaza faces a catastrophe without more assistance, the UN’s humanitarian coordinator said on Friday, with communication between the Israeli military and foreign aid groups still poor and no meaningful improvements happening on the ground. Jamie McGoldrick, who works for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, warned that Gaza was sliding … Read more
RIYADH: The historic town of Diriyah has been transformed into a festive wonderland as the Diriyah Gate Development Authority has revealed an exciting lineup of events and activities for residents and visitors to celebrate this year’s Eid Al-Fitr. According to the Saudi Press Agency, festivities are set to take place across various locations, including the … Read more
Startup Wrap – OSN+, AhnLab, and Mubashir among firms to see funding success during Ramadan CAIRO: Startups in the Middle East and North Africa region have closed Ramadan and started Eid Al-Fitr on a positive note as venture activity continued. Among the most significant announcements during the holy month was UAE-based online streaming platform OSN+ and … Read more
SYDNEY: Australia’s foreign minister Penny Wong said Canberra would consider recognition of a Palestinian state, a shift in policy as the international community looks for a two-state solution to end the Israel-Palestinian conflict. In a speech on Tuesday evening, Wong backed comments by Britain’s foreign minister David Cameron who has said that recognizing a Palestinian … Read more
BEIRUT: UN officials said on Monday that six months of conflict between the Israeli military and Hezbollah along the border between Israel and Lebanon must end, as they called for deescalation of the violence “while there is still space for diplomacy.” The appeal on Monday by the UN’s special coordinator for Lebanon, Joanna Wronecka, and … Read more