Middle East & North Africa

Iran, EU Call For Swift Cessation Of Gaza Conflict

TEHRAN, Dec 4 (NNN-IRNA) – Iranian Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and EU foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, have highlighted the necessity to end the conflict in the Gaza Strip as soon as possible.

In a phone call on Saturday, the two sides discussed the latest developments in Gaza, as well as, cooperation between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), according to a statement published on the Iranian Foreign Ministry’s website, yesterday.

Kenyan President Ruto holds bilateral talks with UAE counterpart

DUBAI, Dec 4 (NNN-KBC) — Kenya and the United Arab Emirates have committed to work closely to increase their value of trade.

The two countries will also exploit their long-standing relations to enhance biletaral investments.

President William Ruto said robust trade relations will ensure that Kenya expands its value of exports to UAE which stands at Sh34.6 billion a year.

Emir of Qatar praises meeting with Cuban President Diaz-Canel

DOHA, Dec 4 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) — The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, praised his official meeting with Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel at the Lusail Palace in Doha.

“We are glad for the visit of our friend, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel,” he wrote on his X account, on which he also referred to the talks on mutual opportunities to reinforce economic ties.

Israel investigates possible trading knowledge ahead of Oct 7 Hamas attack

JERUSALEM, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Israeli authorities are investigating claims by U.S. researchers that some investors may have known in advance of a Hamas plan to attack Israel on Oct. 7 and used that information to profit from Israeli securities.

Research by law professors Robert Jackson Jr from New York University and Joshua Mitts of Columbia University found significant short-selling of shares leading up to the attacks, which triggered a war nearly two months old.

Chennai airport runway flooded as Cyclone Michaung nears India

CHENNAI, Dec 4 (Reuters) - At least four people died, factories closed and the runway of one of India's busiest airports lay submerged due to torrential rain, as two southern states were braced on Monday for the impact of a severe cyclone.

Cyclone Michaung was expected to make landfall on the coast of the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh around noon on Tuesday, the country's weather office said, with sustained winds of 90-100 kph (56-62 mph), gusting to 110 kph.

Injured Palestinians in Tunisian hospitals to receive necessary care: president

TUNIS, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- Tunisian President Kais Saied said on Monday that all the injured Palestinians admitted to Tunisian hospitals will receive necessary treatment and return in good health to their homeland, according to the Tunisian presidency.

"We will use all the means and capabilities available to help you and those who were injured by the Israeli attack against Gaza," Saied told a Palestinian patient during his visit to one of the Tunisian hospitals receiving injured Palestinians.

Iran says released assets in Qatar accessible

TEHRAN, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani said on Monday that the country has access to its recently released 6 billion U.S. dollars deposited in Qatari banks and can use the money to meet its needs.

He made the remarks at a weekly press conference in the Iranian capital Tehran, while reacting to bids by the U.S. Congress to block Iran's access to the money released by South Korea earlier this year under a prisoner swap agreement between Tehran and Washington, by accusing Iran of "playing a role in the Hamas attack on Israel."

Israeli PM's corruption trial resumes in Jerusalem

JERUSALEM, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's corruption trial resumed on Monday in Jerusalem after more than a two-month pause amid the Israel-Hamas conflict.

During the hearing, the Jerusalem District Court heard the questioning of a police investigator over the so-called "Case 4,000," in which Netanyahu allegedly promoted regulatory benefits for Bezeq, Israel's largest telecom company, in return for favorable coverage from a news website it owned.

Palestinian president refuses Israel's plans to occupy parts of Gaza

RAMALLAH, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas stressed on Monday that he rejects Israel's plans to "separate, occupy, cut off or isolate any part of the Gaza Strip," which is "an integral part of the Palestinian state," according to a statement by the official Palestinian News Agency (WAFA).

"It's necessary to immediately stop the aggression against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, and spare civilians from the scourge of bombing and destruction carried out by Israel," Abbas said in a phone call with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris.

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