Rally in Tel Aviv calls for return of deceased hostage Ran Gvili
Hundreds of people gathered for a second consecutive week at Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, on Friday (12 December), to support the family of Master Sg...
The UAE and Bahrain jointly launched two Earth-monitoring satellites on Saturday, advancing their space exploration efforts.
Etihad-SAT: UAE’s Advanced Radar Satellite
Developed by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), the UAE’s Etihad-SAT was launched aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Air Force Base at 10:39 a.m. UAE time. Equipped with advanced radar technology, it can capture high-precision images in any weather, aiding environmental monitoring, oil leak detection, maritime tracking, and smart agriculture.
The launch coincides with a decade since the UAE’s formal space sector entry in 2014.
Al-Munther: Bahrain’s First Satellite
Bahrain’s Al-Munther, launched at 9:39 a.m. Bahrain time via the same Falcon 9 under the Transporter-13 mission, marks the country’s debut in space. With onboard AI capabilities, it processes space images without relying on ground stations, enhancing efficiency.
The satellite supports environmental monitoring, desertification studies, urban planning, and food security. Operating at 550 km above Earth, it has a five-year mission lifespan.
National Space Science Agency CEO Mohamed Ibrahim Al Aseeri highlighted this as a milestone for Bahrain’s space ambitions.
Japan has lifted a tsunami advisory issued after an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.9 hit the country's northeastern region on Friday (12 December), the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said. The JMA had earlier put the earthquake's preliminary magnitude at 6.7.
Iran is preparing to host a multilateral regional meeting next week in a bid to mediate between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The United States issued new sanctions targeting Venezuela on Thursday, imposing curbs on three nephews of President Nicolas Maduro's wife, as well as six crude oil tankers and shipping companies linked to them, as Washington ramps up pressure on Caracas.
The resignation of Bulgaria's government on Thursday (11 December) puts an end to an increasingly unpopular coalition but is likely to usher in a period of prolonged political instability on the eve of the Black Sea nation's entry into the euro zone.
An extratropical cyclone has caused widespread disruption across Brazil’s São Paulo state, with powerful winds toppling trees and power lines, blocking streets and leaving large parts of the region without electricity.
Hundreds of people gathered for a second consecutive week at Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, on Friday (12 December), to support the family of Master Sgt. Ran Gvili, the last remaining Israeli hostage whose body is believed to be held in Gaza.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Russian President Vladimir Putin met for a closed-door discussion on the sidelines of the International Forum for Peace and Trust in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, on Friday.
Kazakhstan has begun redirecting part of its crude exports, sending oil from Kashagan to China as the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) operates at reduced capacity.
Azerbaijan’s post-conflict reconstruction in Karabakh is attracting international attention. The book by British author Graeme Wilson documents this journey, combining first-hand reporting and digital storytelling to highlight both the region’s restoration and the human stories behind it.
Iran’s top diplomat, Abbas Araghchi, has welcomed the expansion of ties with neighbouring Azerbaijan, stating that Tehran and Baku are committed to building a ‘shared, secure and mutually respectful’ future, local media reported on Friday.
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