Notations On Our World (Special Friday Edition): Out & About in Our World With Thoughts on Ukraine, Europe , The Middle East & America

It has been another interesting week in our World as we present the following on the week that was as we look forward to releasing our weekly "Virtual Route 66" edition next week: 

Clashes with Israeli forces during a raid in Nablus. AFP

ISRAEL

Israel's forces are carrying out strikes on the Gaza Strip today after rockets were fired from the area, the military said, a day after a raid in the flashpoint city of Nablus in which 11 Palestinians were killed and more than 100 wounded.

The UN's human rights chief voiced concern that the proposed overhaul of Israel's legal system could “drastically undermine” the ability of the judiciary to uphold human rights and the rule of law.

TURKEY

Turkey's government is keen to go ahead with planned elections in May, despite the devastating earthquake that killed at least 47,000 people and left much of the country’s south-east in ruins.

IRAQ

Iraq is pushing for the resumption of Iran’s nuclear talks with the West, the country’s foreign minister said, as it seeks to reduce regional tensions.

IRAN

Two employees of the Iranian embassy have been ordered to leave Germany in protest over Iran sentencing a dual German citizen to death, the Foreign Office in Berlin said.

The British parliament has stripped former Labour MP Chris Williamson of his access pass after concerns were raised over his hosting of a show on Iranian state television.

LEBANON

Shells fired by the Israeli army fell in a border town in south Lebanon overnight yesterday, state media reported. No casualties or injuries were reported.

Inflation in Lebanon hit an annual rate of about 124 per cent in January.

UAE

Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Cop28 President-designate and the UAE's special envoy on climate change, says the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels is “non-negotiable”.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid hailed the growth of the UAE's defence industry as key to its mission to uphold peace and unity, during a visit to Abu Dhabi's Idex event.

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket that will carry the UAE's Sultan Al Neyadi and his three fellow astronauts to space has been moved to the launch pad. The crew will be isolating in the Astronaut Crew Quarters at Nasa's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida until they lift off for their latest mission.

YEMEN

Saudi Arabia has deposited $1 billion in Yemen's Central Bank in an effort to support an “economic reform programme”, Saudi state media announced.

The United States will return 77 looted antiquities to Yemen, US authorities said, saying the objects would be temporarily housed in a museum in Washington in line with an agreement with the war-torn country's government.

JORDAN

Jordan's State Security court sentenced three men to death yesterday in connection with a 2018 terrorism case in which six policemen were killed, state TV said.

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