Iran condemns ‘malicious' US sanctions targeting oil trade
Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei in a statement called 'the new US sanctions against Iran's oil trade a malicious act aimed at undermining the economic development and welfare of the Iranian people.'
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Arab News
19 minutes ago
- Arab News
Israel closes majority of military abuse cases without charges, report finds
LONDON: Israel has closed 88 percent of investigations into alleged war crimes and abuses by its forces in Gaza and the West Bank without any charges or findings of wrongdoing, according to a report by conflict monitor Action on Armed Violence (AOAV). The UK-based group reviewed 52 cases reported in English-language media between October 2023 and June 2025, involving the deaths of 1,303 Palestinians and injuries to 1,880 others, The Guardian reported on Saturday. AOAV said only one case had resulted in a prison sentence, with just five others concluding with violations found. The remaining 46 cases, seven of which were closed with no fault found, and 39 still unresolved, amounted to what AOAV described as a 'pattern of impunity.' Iain Overton and Lucas Tsantzouris of AOAV said: 'The statistics suggest Israel was seeking to create a 'pattern of impunity' by failing to conclude or find no fault in the vast majority of cases involving the most severe or public accusations of wrongdoing by their forces.' Among the unresolved cases is the February 2024 killing of at least 112 Palestinians queueing for flour in Gaza City, an airstrike that killed 45 people at a Rafah tent camp in May, and the June 1 killing of 31 civilians heading to a food distribution point in Rafah. While the Israel Defense Forces initially called reports of the latter 'false', it later told The Guardian that the incident was 'still under review.' The IDF said it investigates 'exceptional incidents that occurred during operational activity, in which there is a suspicion of a violation of the law,' using internal fact-finding assessments (FFA) and military police inquiries in line with domestic and international law. According to the IDF: 'Any report … complaint or allegation that suggests misconduct by IDF forces undergoes an initial examination process, irrespective of its source.' Cases may then be passed to the FFA team to determine 'whether there is a reasonable suspicion of criminal misconduct'. Critics say the process is opaque and slow. Human rights group Yesh Din told The Guardian that of 664 IDF inquiries linked to previous Gaza operations between 2014 and 2021, only one led to a prosecution. In August 2024, the IDF reported the FFA had reviewed 'hundreds of incidents' related to the current Gaza war, with the military advocate general opening 74 criminal investigations. Of those, 52 involved detainee mistreatment or death, 13 focused on looting, and others related to civilian property destruction or excessive force. The only prison sentence to date came in February 2025, when a reservist received seven months for the aggravated abuse of bound and blindfolded Palestinian detainees at Sde Teiman detention centre. One of the highest-profile cases involved the April 2024 airstrike that killed seven World Central Kitchen aid workers. While the IDF called it a 'grave mistake stemming from a serious failure due to a mistaken identification', the charity said the rapid investigation lacked credibility. Despite public commitments, AOAV said the IDF's response has become 'more opaque and slow-moving' as civilian casualties mount. The organization said unresolved cases still include four incidents in the past month alone in which Palestinians were killed at or near food distribution points.
Leaders
2 hours ago
- Leaders
Saudi Arabia Unveils Strict Rules for Domestic Labor Ads
The Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has proposed tough new regulations for advertising domestic labor services, with the aim to protect worker dignity, eliminate misleading promotions, and ensure market transparency. The Ministry published the draft 'Regulations for Advertising Domestic Labor Services' on the 'Istitlaa' public platform. Significantly, this draft prohibits advertisements using words or phrases that undermine foreign or domestic workers' dignity, banning false or misleading claims that could deceive customers, either directly or indirectly. Furthermore, the rules explicitly ban false or misleading claims that could deceive customers. Enforcing Transparency and Language Rules Advertisements must prominently display the licensed service provider's name, logo, and registered trademark. A clear statement confirming the provider holds a valid license is also mandatory. Crucially, all ads must appear primarily in Arabic with additional languages are permissible only if the content exactly matches the Arabic version. The draft also prohibits unauthorized use of ministry names or logos, nor those of related platforms like 'Musaned' or 'Ajeer.' The regulations strictly protect worker privacy as ads cannot show individuals or use caricatures without explicit consent, prohibiting posting photos or videos of workers seeking job transfers on social media, allowing only resumes, and with the worker's approval. The new rules banned group interviews, permitting only individual interviews. Additionally, Advertisements must not discriminate based on nationality, religion, cost, or salary, with phrases like 'best nationality,' 'lowest salary,' or 'preferred religion' are strictly forbidden. Ads cannot suggest workers bear financial costs for service transfers, or that intermediaries can charge fees outside official payment channels. The draft mandates all payments flow exclusively through the Musaned platform, whether for recruitment mediation or service transfers. Broad Applicability of the Regulations These regulations apply to recruitment agencies, labor service providers, advertisers, and all individuals or entities—citizens, residents, or businesses—advertising through any medium. This includes social media, marketing platforms, mobile messages, email, electronic apps, and roadside billboards. The ministry emphasizes that these proposed regulations aim to establish clear standards for advertising content. By reducing random and misleading ads, the ministry seeks to protect both consumers and workers while reinforcing compliance with Saudi labor laws governing domestic labor recruitment and services. Short link : Post Views: 233
Arab News
2 hours ago
- Arab News
Japan expo builds on the vision of Dubai 2020
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has expressed hope that this year's Osaka Expo will help restore global unity in a divided world. Yet, while that grand goal is unlikely to be fully realized, the big event is having a positive impact on international relations. Building from the legacy of Dubai's Expo 2020, the first ever in the Middle East, this year's Osaka event is proving to be a diplomatic magnet, with more than 100 foreign dignitaries expected to pass through by the end of the event. Moreover, almost 160 nations and regions are taking part. At the opening ceremony, Ishiba said that 'the world, having overcome the coronavirus pandemic, is now threatened by an array of divisions. At a time like this, it is extremely meaningful that people from around the world gather here and discuss the theme of life and experience cutting-edge technology, diverse ideas, and culture. I sincerely hope the world will unite again through interactions among countries and visitors in and outside this ring.' This vision may appear grandiose, but in fact is largely in keeping with a long tradition of expos which, building from Dubai 2020, date back to at least the 1851 UK Great Exhibition planned by Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert. That big UK event was designed to symbolize world peace, unity, and the progression of modernity, much like this year's expo. Moreover, just as the 1851 event was designed to showcase Britain as an industrial leader, the Osaka Expo has the potential to do the same for Japan. Osaka's big event takes place around a half century after the city last held the expo amid much business and consumer interest. While the exact economic impact of the event may not be clear for months, Japan's second city is already undergoing a significant transformation. An artificial island almost 400 hectares in size has been created in Osaka Bay for visitors. As impressive as the Osaka Bay development is, the biggest change to the physical character of the city is in the center, with redevelopment of the Osaka Station area into the so-called Grand Green Osaka. There has also been an influx of upmarket hotels, including the Canopy by Hilton Osaka Umeda, the Hotel Hankyu Gran Respire Osaka, and the Waldorf Astoria Osaka. Boosting country branding is a common ambition in an overcrowded global information marketplace. Andrew Hammond For over a century, one of the key features of expos has been highlighting a country's cutting-edge innovation. In earlier eras, inventions such as the telephone were showcased. Fast forward to 2025, and the theme of Osaka's event is 'designing the future of our lives.' One big feature will be the showcasing of flying car services. The Osakako Vertiport will display the latest vehicles, which will be flown to nearby sites. At least two major questions arise from the ambitions of expo hosts. First, can a country's reputation be enhanced in the same way as a corporation, or other organization, might do by hosting them, And, second, can this have a significant, sustainable national economic impact. On the first question, competition for the attention of stakeholders such as investors and tourists is intensifying, and national reputation is, therefore, a prized asset or a major liability, with a direct effect on future political, economic, and social fortunes. Boosting country branding is a common ambition in what is an overcrowded global information marketplace, and a number of countries have successfully delivered big events to positively differentiate themselves to the world. One standout success story is the 1992 Seville Expo, which aligned with Spain's hosting of the Barcelona Summer Olympics the same year. For good reason, 1992 has been described as the 'year of Spain,' a time when 'Spanish soft power conquered the world.' Yet, many nations fail to fully capitalize, reputationally or economically, on hosting the expo or major sporting events such as the Olympics. Moreover, on the economic front, numerous studies have indicated that legacy-driven big event growth is sometimes over-hyped. This was shown most recently by Japan's hosting of the 2020 Summer Olympics, an event that was blighted by the global pandemic and eventually delayed until 2021. In 2018, when Osaka was announced as the host of the expo in 2025, delight was expressed in Japan. Then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the country would 'achieve a magnificent expo in Osaka that would give dreams and surprises to everyone in the world,' and that it would be 'a golden opportunity to promote the fascinating charms of Japan to the rest of the world.' Beyond these warm words, however, to maximize the prospects of benefiting reputationally, Japan must pursue a concerted reputation and economic strategy that aligns all key national stakeholders — across the public, private, and third sectors — around a single, coherent vision for its country brand to emphasize traits such as a respected international leader, technological innovation, and cultural powerhouse. This exercise should not just be the preserve of tourism agencies, let alone government, but must involve the private and third sectors, too. Spain in 1992 showed how this can be done effectively by connecting the expo and Olympic events into a narrative about a wider transformation in the country at the time. This included the nation's political and economic transformation following its transition to democracy after the death of previous ruler Francisco Franco, including the accession to the European Economic Community, now the EU, in 1986. This underlines the power of even relatively simple, unified country brand visions. Amid the frenzy of this year's expo, the long-term economic opportunities of the event should not be sidelined. A key part of this must be connecting Osaka's hosting to a wider story that showcases Japan's strengths so as to increase favorability of international perceptions of the country, politically, economically, and socially. • Andrew Hammond is an associate at LSE IDEAS at the London School of Economics.
