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Sanction-hit Russia displays combat-tested arms at UAE fair

Russia showed up in force Monday at an arms fair in the United Arab Emirates, displaying combat-tested weapons up for export, including rifles and air defence systems.

At an isolated pavilion at the International Defence Exhibition (IDEX) in Abu Dhabi, Moscow's state arms exporter Rosoboronexport said it had more than 200 full-scale models of armament, ammunition and military gear.

Russia's Rosoboronexport displayed more than 200 combat-tested weapons at an isolated pavilion

Israeli settlements 'impede peace': UN Security Council

The UN Security Council expressed its "dismay" with plans by Israel's hard-right government to retroactively legalize settlements in occupied Palestinian lands, warning in a statement Monday that such measures "impede peace."

"The Security Council reiterates that continuing Israeli settlement activities are dangerously imperiling the viability of the two-State solution," the Council said in a statement supported by all 15 members but which does not have the binding force of a resolution considered last week.

Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian envoy to the UN, addresses the media following a declaration by the UN Security Council expressing 'dismay' at continued Israeli settlements in Palestinian lands

Tunisia's Ennahdha leader faces new police investigation

The head of Tunisia's dissolved parliament is facing a new police inquiry, his Islamist-inspired Ennahdha party said Monday, days after a string of arrests mainly targeting opposition political figures.

Rached Ghannouchi, President Kais Saied's 81-year-old arch-rival, was ordered to appear at a police station in the capital on Tuesday, Ennahdha spokesman Imed Khemiri told journalists, calling it "a new attack on political leaders".

Rached Ghannouchi, leader of the Tunisian Ennahdha party, pictured on November 28, 2022 in Tunis

Merlier takes UAE Tour opener in photo finish

Soudal-Quickstep's Belgian rider Tim Merlier won the first stage of the UAE Tour on Monday pipping Lotto Dstny's Caleb Ewan in a sprint finish.

The two riders finished shoulder to shoulder prompting a 10-minute delay as the race organisers pored over the photo finish in a bid to split them.

They opted against calling it a dead heat and gave Merlier, 30, the win by the slimmest of margins.

“I was not sure,” Merlier said afterwards.

“I know I did a good jump in the end, and I knew when I started my sprint that it was a good sprint.

The peloton rides during the first stage of the UAE Tour

How does aid get into rebel-held northwest Syria?

Two weeks after a deadly earthquake struck Syria, only a trickle of UN aid has entered the rebel-held northwest of the war-ravaged country, with the slow pace sparking outrage and anger.

The 7.8-magnitude quake killed more than 44,000 people in Turkey and Syria, including 3,600 in Syria, piling more misery on a population who activists say has been abandoned by the world in the midst of tragedy.

- How does UN aid reach the northwest? -

Border crossings between Syria and Turkey

EU hits two Iran ministers in new sanctions over crackdown

The European Union imposed asset freezes and visa bans on Iran's education and culture ministers on Monday, in a fifth round of sanctions against Tehran over its crackdown on demonstrators.

The new measures targeted 32 individuals and two entities, and were largely aimed at lawmakers, judiciary officials and prison authorities accused of involvement in the repression, according to the EU's official journal.

Thousands of demonstrators protested in Brussels against the the crackdown by the Iranian authorities

UAE, Israel unveil joint naval vessel as military ties grow

The United Arab Emirates and Israel on Monday revealed their first jointly created unmanned vessel, illustrating their growing military ties as maritime threats rise in the Gulf region.

The craft, which has advanced sensors and imaging systems and can be used for surveillance, reconnaissance and detecting mines, was unveiled off the coast of Abu Dhabi during the Naval Defence and Maritime Security Exhibition (NAVDEX).

The unmanned surface vessel or USV was created by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Emirati defence consortium EDGE.

Controllers man a terminal at the command station of the Israel Aerospace Industries in an unmanned maritime demonstration during the Naval Defence and Maritime Security Exhibition (NAVDEX) at the Abu Dhabi International Exhibition Centre

Israelis rally against judicial reform bill ahead of vote

Tens of thousands of Israelis protested Monday against the government's judicial reform bill which they say threatens democracy, as lawmakers prepared to vote on key parts of the controversial overhaul.

Demonstrators from across Israel descended on Jerusalem to rally near parliament ahead of the first reading of legislation to change the way judges are picked.

"I'm really worried," said paediatrician Adi Aran, part of a crowd of protesters waving the blue and white national flags.

People rally waving Israeli flags against the government's judicial reform bill near parliament in Jerusalem on February 20

Moroccans defy ban to protest surging cost of living

Moroccan trade union activists protested Sunday in the capital Rabat and other cities to denounce surging costs of food and fuel, defying a government ban against marches.

Protesters from the Democratic Labour Confederation (CDT) staged rallies outside their offices in Rabat and Casablanca as well as other cities "following the decision of the authorities to ban marches", senior CDT member Rajae Kassab said.

Supporters of Morocco's Democratic Confederation of Labor (CDT) rally against high costs of living on February 19 in Rabat

Algeria announces $1 billion for African development

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said Sunday the North African nation will allocate a billion dollars to finance development projects across the continent through the Algerian Agency of International Cooperation for Solidarity and Development.

The official APS news agency said his decision was announced in a speech read by Prime Minister Aimene Benabderrahmane at the annual African Union summit of leaders in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.

Algeria's Prime Minister Aimene Benabderrahman, pictured at the African Union summit on February 18, said $1 billion will be allocated to finance development projects in Africa