Latest news with #Middle East
BBC News
10 minutes ago
- Health
- BBC News
Dozens of Palestinians killed seeking aid, Gaza civil defence ministry says
Israeli gunfire killed at least 30 Palestinians waiting for humanitarian aid in northern Gaza on Wednesday, according to the Hamas-run civil defence agency.A Gaza civil defence spokesperson told the AFP news agency that Israeli fire wounded around 300 more people. Israel said details of the incident "are still being examined".The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said they fired "warning shots" after Gazans gathered around aid trucks 3km southwest of the Zikim crossing, but they were "not aware of any casualties" from IDF Abu Salmiya, director of al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, said his facility had received 35 bodies following the incident, according to AFP. Later, the hospital said at least 48 Palestinians were killed, according to the Associated Gaza hospital sources told the BBC that six Palestinians were killed near a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) aid distribution centre in the Rafah area of Gaza on Wednesday GHF told the BBC no killings took place at or near its sites on Israel Defense Force (IDF) told the BBC a "gathering of suspects" it said posed a threat to its troops were told to move away, and subsequently the army fired "warning shots" at a distance of "hundreds of metres away" from the distribution military also said "an initial review suggests that the number of casualties reported does not align with the information held by the IDF".According to the UN human rights office, more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli military while trying to access food aid since late May. More than 150 people have died of malnutrition since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in 2023, including 89 children, Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry comes as a group of UN-backed global food security experts warned that the "worst-case scenario of famine is currently playing out" in Gaza, despite Israel this week announcing a series of "tactical pauses" in military operations to allow aid into the territory. Israel says it is not imposing restrictions on aid entering Gaza, claims rejected by some European nations and the week, the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said the "trickle of aid" into Gaza "must become an ocean". "Food, water, medicine and fuel must flow in waves and without obstruction. This nightmare must end," he Thursday, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Israel to discuss the humanitarian situation in visit comes as Canada followed France and the UK in announcing plans to recognise a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September - the third G7 nation to do so. More than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli's military campaign in Gaza since October 2023, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, including 18,592 children and 9,782 women. Israel launched its offensive in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others taken hostage.
Zawya
35 minutes ago
- Politics
- Zawya
China-Qatar strategic partnership has entered a ‘golden era', says envoy
Under the strategic leadership of the Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Amir of Qatar His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the China-Qatar strategic partnership has entered its most robust period, undergoing an 11-year 'Golden Era' of development, Ambassador of China to Qatar HE Cao Xiolin has said. The envoy was speaking at a reception to mark the 98th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA). Present on the occasion were Brigadier-General Abdulbaqi S. Al Ansari, representing Qatar Emiri Naval Commander; Brigadier-General Fahad Al Marri, representing Commander of the Qatar Amiri Signal Corps; diplomats; members of the media and guests. The Chinese ambassador emphasised the significance of ongoing defence cooperation between China and Qatar, describing it as a vital component in enhancing bilateral ties and contributing to global and regional peace. He underscored China's peaceful rise, commitment to sovereignty, and opposition to hegemonism and power politics. Reflecting on history, he drew attention to China's central role in the Eastern Front during World War II and the heavy sacrifices made by the Chinese people during the war against Japanese aggression. The ambassador reiterated China's dedication to multilateralism and international peacebuilding, referencing the Global Security Initiative launched by President Xi in 2022. He also spoke about China's humanitarian efforts, especially in relation to the Gaza crisis, highlighting China's role in supporting ceasefire efforts and providing aid. In his address on the occasion, Colonel Yang Yongzhi, defence attaché at the Chinese Embassy in Qatar, acknowledged Qatar's proactive role in global peace efforts under the leadership of HH the Amir. He commended Qatar's mediation in regional conflicts and its active engagement in counterterrorism, cybersecurity, and international security cooperation. As a founding member of the Global Counterterrorism Forum and a strategic partner of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism, Qatar has played a significant role in enhancing global resilience, he said. Col. Yang also highlighted the steady growth of China-Qatar military relations, marked by high-level exchanges, expanded naval and air force cooperation, and collaboration in military education and defense industries. He affirmed China's commitment to strengthening strategic coordination and promoting regional and global peace. He also outlined China's Global Security Initiative and the PLA's contributions to peacekeeping, maritime security, and humanitarian missions, including deployments in UN operations and disaster relief efforts worldwide. © Copyright Qatar Tribune. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Al Jazeera
37 minutes ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Record number of Democrats join failed bid to block weapons sales to Israel
The United States Senate has rejected a bid to halt arms sales to Israel amid growing international condemnation of its war in Gaza. Though unsuccessful, Wednesday's vote nonetheless highlighted building opposition to Israel's war within the Democratic Party. Twenty-seven Democrats voted for a resolution to block the sale of 20,000 automatic assault rifles to Israel, while 24 voted to halt a $675m shipment of bombs. All Republicans voting were opposed. The resolutions introduced by Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders are by far the closest the US Senate has come to limiting arms shipments to Israel. A bid by Sanders to block weapons deliveries in April won the support of 15 Democrats, while a similar vote in November garnered 18 Democratic votes. Ahead of the vote, Sanders, an independent, said Washington could not continue to supply Israel's 'racist government' with weapons that were being used to kill innocent people. 'Netanyahu is a disgusting liar. Children are starving to death,' Sanders said on X. Among the lawmakers supporting Sanders' bid for the first time, Patty Murray, a senator for Washington state, said that while the resolutions were 'not perfect', she could not support the continued suffering of innocent children in Gaza. 'As a longtime friend and supporter of Israel, I am voting yes to send a message: the Netanyahu government cannot continue with this strategy,' Murray said in a statement. 'Netanyahu has prolonged this war at every turn to stay in power. We are witnessing a man-made famine in Gaza – children and families should not be dying from starvation or disease when literal tons of aid and supplies are just sitting across the border.' The widening split over support for Israel among Democrats comes amid signs of growing opposition to Israel's war among the US public. In a Gallup poll released on Tuesday, just 32 percent of Americans said they approved of Israel's military action in Gaza, a 10-point drop from September. Just 8 percent of self-identified Democrats said they approved of Israel's actions, compared with 71 percent of Republicans, according to Gallup.
Gulf Business
an hour ago
- Business
- Gulf Business
UAE non-oil foreign trade crosses Dhs1.7tn in H1 2025
Image courtesy: WAM/ For illustrative purposes The UAE's non-oil foreign trade reached a record Dhs1.7tn ($470.3bn) in H1 2025, a 24 per cent increase from the same period in 2024, according to a tweet from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Sheikh Mohammed stated that this growth was double the figure achieved in the first half of 2021 and represents an 'unprecedented boom' with historic growth rates of 59.5 per cent and 37.8 per cent compared to H1 2022 and 2023, respectively. Sheikh Mohammed attributed the success to the country's comprehensive economic partnership agreement ( Today, I reviewed the data for the first half of this year regarding the UAE's non-oil foreign trade. It achieved significant growth of 24% compared to the first half of the previous year, while the average growth of global trade was only about 1.75%. Our non-oil foreign trade… — HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) He noted that the country has concluded For the first time in the country's history, non-oil exports contributed 21.4 per cent to total non-oil foreign trade, up from 18.4 per cent in H1 2024. Non-oil exports surged to Dhs369.5 bn, a growth rate of more than 44.7 per cent compared to the same period in 2024. Foreign trade: Key destinations for non oil exports Switzerland was the leading destination for the UAE's non-oil exports, followed by India, Turkey, and Hong Kong-China. Trade with CEPA partners amounted to Dhs85.02 bn, a 62.8 per cent increase, and accounted for 23 per cent of the country's total non-oil exports. Re-exports also continued to grow, reaching Dhs389 bn, a 14 per cent increase from H1 2024. Imports of non-oil goods totalled Dhs969.3 bn, a 22.5 per cent increase. Among the country's top trading partners, trade with India rose by 33.9 per cent, China by 15.6 per cent, Switzerland by 120 per cent, and Saudi Arabia by 21.3 per cent. The US ranked sixth among the top 10 trading partners with a 29 per cent growth, and France entered the top 10 list for the first time.
Zawya
2 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
Saudi Arabia to unveil national media strategy soon, says minister
RIYADH — Minister of Media Salman Al-Dosari confirmed on Wednesday that Saudi Arabia has not yet launched its official media sector strategy, stating that the national media strategy remains under review and will be formally announced in due course. Speaking during the government press conference in Riyadh, Al-Dosari said the Saudi media landscape is evolving from merely relaying news to creating impact, emphasizing that the sector is moving "from medium to message." He also announced that the upcoming edition of the Saudi Media Forum will be held under the patronage of King Salman bin Abdulaziz, positioning it as a national platform aligned with global media momentum and future-focused tools. '2030 is no longer a date in the future, it symbolizes limitless ambition. In Saudi Arabia, dreams aren't told, they're built. Tomorrow doesn't wait; it's accomplished today,' Al-Dosari added. Highlighting the Kingdom's humanitarian role, the minister noted that Saudi Arabia is transforming its aid initiatives into a sustainable humanitarian system. Since its inception, the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) has delivered more than SR30 billion in aid to 108 countries through over 3,500 development and relief programs. Al-Dosari also revealed that around 230,000 surgeries have been performed under Saudi Arabia's overseas voluntary medical campaigns. Meanwhile, the Saudi Program for the Development and Reconstruction of Yemen has provided over SR4.27 billion in funding for more than 265 projects across key sectors including roads, water, health, and education. Turning to technology and innovation, Al-Dosari said Saudi Arabia sees sustainable development as a transnational responsibility. 'We are crafting the algorithms of the future, turning data into decisions and artificial intelligence into development,' he noted. Saudi Arabia's digital economy reached SR495 billion in 2024, accounting for 15% of GDP and growing at an annual rate of nearly 7%. The number of tech companies listed on the Saudi stock exchange has also surged to 23 in 2024, up from just two in 2020. 'Today, we don't just consume technology, we contribute to building it with a value-driven and human-centered vision,' Al-Dosari said. © Copyright 2022 The Saudi Gazette. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
