Middle East & North Africa

FIR filed against Union minister Gajendra Shekhawat over 'Ravana' remarks against Gehlot

Jaipur, Apr 30 (PTI) An FIR was registered against Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in Rajasthan's Chittorgarh over his alleged remarks against Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot at a recent rally, police sources said.

The FIR was registered on Saturday based on a complaint filed by Congress leader and former MLA Surendra Singh Jadawat.

UAE astronaut becomes 1st Arab to complete spacewalk

29 Apr 2023; AA: Vice-President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, has announced the success of Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi to become first Arab to perform a spacewalk on the International Space Station.

"After three years of intensive training, today marked a historic moment as Sultan Al Neyadi embarked on his first spacewalk,” Sheikh Mohammed said.

G7 shares in global economy drop, while shares of emerging markets rise; Lavrov

29 Apr 2023; AA: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Saturday that over the past three decades, the shares of the Group of Seven (G7) countries in the global economy have significantly decreased, while the influence of emerging markets is growing steadily.

US Army orders aviation stand down amid deadly helicopter mishaps

29 Apr 2023; AA: US Army Chief of Staff James McConville ordered the grounding of all aviators Friday that are not involved in critical missions. 

The order came after two recent helicopter crashes that killed 12 soldiers.

“The safety of our aviators is our top priority, and this stand down is an important step to make certain we are doing everything possible to prevent accidents and protect our personnel,” McConville said in a statement.

Pope highlights dangers threatening world peace

29 Apr 2023; AA: Pope Francis highlighted the dangers that are threatening world peace, the Vatican media reported Friday. 

“At the present time, those dangers are many indeed; but I ask myself, thinking not least of war-torn Ukraine, where are creative efforts for peace?,” he said during an address to a distinguished Hungarian audience that included the country’s president, premier, diplomats and senior Christian clergy members in Budapest, according to the Vatican News agency.

Turkish expats in UK start voting in presidential, parliamentary polls

29 Apr 2023; AA: Turkish expatriates in the UK began casting ballots on Saturday for Türkiye's upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections.

A total of 127,281 registered voters can vote at polling stations set up in London, Manchester, Leicester, and Edinburgh.

The process for Turkish expats in the UK continues for nine days until May 7 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time.

Iran, Syria strengthen banking, transport ties

Tehran (ISNA) - The heads of Iran and Syria Joint Economic Commission met in Damascus prior to the upcoming visit of the two countries' Presidents for finalizing mutual agreements.

Mehrdad Bazrpash, Iran Minister of Roads and Urban Development as the head of Iran-Syria Joint Economic Commission arrived in Damascus on Tuesday at the head of a high-ranking delegation in order to expand economic ties and facilitate banking and commercial transactions. 

Iranian feature film “World War III” to be screened at Beijing Int’l Film Festival

Tehran (ISNA) – The 13th Beijing International Film Festival is to host Iranian feature film “World War III” directed by Houman Seyedi.

The 13th Beijing International Film Festival opened on April 21 and will run through April 27 in China and the “World War III” will be screened at the event.

The film stars Mohsen Tanabandeh, Mahsa Hejazi, Neda Jebraeili and Navid Nosrati. It was selected as the Iran entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 95th Academy Awards.

Iran welcomes Riyadh-Sanaa talks for achieving peace in Yemen

Tehran (ISNA) - Visiting Oman at the head of a delegation at the invitation of Badr bin Hamad Albusaidi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman, the Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian praised Oman's policy of consolidating and strengthening relations between the two countries.

He described the visit of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to Muscat as well as the upcoming visit of the Sultan of Oman to Tehran as a turning point in bilateral relations in various sectors.

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