Category: 2. Middle East

Iraq’s prison system is under severe strain, operating at more than double its capacity, as a newly enacted general amnesty law results in the release of thousands of inmates, Justice Minister Khaled Shwani has said.

The country’s 30 official prisons, excluding those in the Kurdistan Region, currently house around 67,000 detainees despite being built to accommodate just half that number. Thousands more remain in the custody of security agencies awaiting…

An Azerbaijani delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Samir Sharifov visited Syria yesterday under the instruction of President Ilham Aliyev, aiming to strengthen bilateral cooperation with the country’s interim leadership and support Syria’s reconstruction efforts.

The delegation was received by Syria’s transitional President Ahmad Al-Sharaa in Damascus, where both sides discussed opportunities for collaboration in key areas including the economy, energy,…

Catholic cardinals will enter into conclave this week to choose a new pope, with the Church’s 1.4 billion members holding their breath over an uncertain outcome.

A total of 133 “Princes of the Church” will meet on Wednesday to elect from among their number a successor to Pope Francis, who died on April 21 aged 88.

At issue is whether the new pontiff will follow the popular Argentine’s progressive line or whether the Holy See will pivot to a more conservative traditionalist.

Francis, an…

All 133 Catholic cardinals who will vote for a new pope have arrived in Rome, the Vatican said Monday, two days before they gather in conclave to elect the next head of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.

Hailing from 70 countries across five continents, the group — summoned following the death of Pope Francis on April 21 — is the largest and the most international ever.

At stake is the direction of the Catholic Church, a 2,000-year-old institution with huge global influence but which is…

The Humanitarian Operations Coordination Centre (HOCC) in Sanaa has officially informed the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) of the Houthis’ decision to impose “a comprehensive aerial blockade” on Israel.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Centre confirmed that it had sent a formal letter to ICAO and IATA to inform them of the airspace ban and to urge them to take the necessary steps…

The United Nations has once again rejected a proposal by Israeli occupation forces regarding how humanitarian aid is delivered to the Gaza Strip.

In a statement on Sunday, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said, “Israeli officials have sought to shut down the existing aid distribution system run by the United Nations and its humanitarian partners and have us agree to deliver supplies through Israeli hubs under conditions set by…

Before his death, Pope Francis donated one of his popemobiles to be converted into a children’s clinic in war-torn Gaza, Catholic charity Caritas said on Monday.

The iconic open-sided vehicle, designed to allow the pontiff to greet crowds of well-wishers, has been transferred to Caritas Jerusalem and will head to Gaza if and when Israel opens a humanitarian corridor.

The car, a converted Mitsubishi, was used by the pope during a 2014 visit to Bethlehem and had since been on display, gathering…

Oil prices slumped on Monday after OPEC+ countries announced a production hike despite oversupply concerns and growing fears that US President Donald Trump’s trade war could weaken demand.

Stock markets were mixed in holiday-thinned trading ahead of US and British central bank decisions later in the week.

Saudi Arabia, Russia and six other members of the oil cartel announced over the weekend an output increase of 411,000 barrels a day for June, a month after a similar move had already caused…

Shares in US film studios slid on Monday following a threat by US President Donald Trump to impose 100 percent tariffs on foreign-made productions.

Meanwhile oil prices slumped after OPEC+ countries announced an output hike despite oversupply concerns and growing fears that Trump’s trade war could weaken demand.

Globally, stock markets were mixed in holiday-thinned trading ahead of central bank decisions on interest rates later in the week.

On Wall Street, the Dow edged higher in midday trading…

A human rights organisation has revealed the identity of the Israeli officer directly responsible for the killing of Palestinian child Hind Rajab, her family, and the two medics who tried to save her in the Tel al-Hawa neighbourhood, Gaza City, on 29 January 2024.

In a statement released on Saturday, the Hind Rajab Foundation, an independent NGO based in Brussels, said: “We now publicly name the commander responsible for killing Hind:

Lieutenant Colonel Beni…