Middle East

NEW YORK — Eng. Abdulrahman Alfadley, Saudi Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture and incoming President of UNCCD COP16, convened leading global experts and policymakers on land degradation, drought, and desertification for the first Advisory Council meeting in preparation for the upcoming UNCCD COP16, set to take place in December …

NEW YORK — New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted on at least one federal criminal charge, multiple sources familiar with the matter tell CNN. The indictment follows a monthslong federal investigation by the US attorney’s office in Manhattan, which was reportedly scrutinizing his connection to Turkish officials …

SINGAPORE — An 88-year-old man who is the world’s longest-serving death row inmate has been acquitted by a Japanese court, after it found that evidence used against him was fabricated. Iwao Hakamada, who has been on death row for almost half a century, was found guilty in 1968 of killing …

Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — The Ministry of Health announced the launching of home service of seasonal influenza vaccination. People can request for the home vaccination service through the Sanar application so that users can schedule a visit at a preferred location and time. The service aims to improve vaccine …

Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — More than 2,000 Saudi, Arab and international publishing houses and agencies from more than 30 countries are showcasing their titles at the Riyadh International Book Fair 2024, which kicked off on Thursday. Visitors and book fans will enjoy a unique intellectual and cultural experience with …

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot revealed a joint proposal with the US for a 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon to prevent the situation from developing into a full-scale war. “In recent days, we’ve worked with our American partners on a temporary ceasefire platform of 21 days to allow for negotiations,” Barrot …

WASHINGTON — The Speaker of the US House Mike Johnson has demanded that Ukraine fire its ambassador to Washington, as a feud between the Republican Party and Volodymyr Zelensky escalates. Johnson’s intervention comes after President Zelensky visited an arms factory in Scranton, Pennsylvania — the hometown of President Joe Biden …

WASHINGTON — The category one storm is on track to intensify quickly into a dangerous category four hurricane by the time it makes landfall in Florida on Thursday evening local time, with official forecasts and warnings describing its likely impacts as “catastrophic”, “life-threatening” and “unsurvivable”. The governors of Florida, Georgia, …

Weather inshore until 6:00 pm on Thursday will be hot daytime and slight to blowing dust at times, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather report, warning of expected strong wind at places at times. Offshore, it will see some clouds at times, the report added, warning of …

Caretaker Prime Minister of Lebanon Najib Mikati affirmed that the Israeli entity is violating his country’s sovereignty by sending warplanes and drones to its skies, killing civilians, destroying homes, and forcing families to flee under dire humanitarian conditions, spreading fear and terror among the Lebanese citizens in full view of …