Houthis claim Saudi missile attack as Trump says ‘talking to Iran’
The Houthis said on Telegram that a "Yemeni missile strike" had sparked fires in Jizan. Saudi authorities did not immediately...
Geostrategy
Qiddiya City launches ‘Powered by Play’ after global play research
Dubai, UAE --Â Qiddiya City launched "Powered by Play," a long-term initiative aimed at promoting play as a driver of...
Research
Geostrategy
Israel strikes near Damascus presidential palace over Druze violence that kills over 100 people
Israel has since then attacked hundreds of Syrian military sites and on Friday announced its "fighter jets struck adjacent to...
- Israel has attacked hundreds of Syrian military sites and on Friday announced its "fighter jets struck adjacent to the area of the palace" in the capital Damascus
- Israel sees the new forces in Syria as jihadists and has warned them to protect the Druze minority, with Defence Minister Israel Katz saying his country could otherwise respond."
Geostrategy
How much blood is enough to satisfy ‘political objectives’: WHO on Gaza
"We are breaking the bodies and the minds of the children of Gaza. We are starving the children of Gaza,...
- Israel strictly controls all inflows of international aid vital for the 2.4 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
- It halted aid deliveries to Gaza on March 2, days before the collapse of a ceasefire that had significantly reduced hostilities after 15 months of war.
Economy
Slower growth expected in MENA region in 2025: IMF
"Growth is still projected to increase in 2025 and 2026, but at a considerably slower pace than anticipated last October,"...
- The lender lowered growth projections from 4 percent to 2.6 percent for 2025, and from 4.2 percent to 3.4 percent for 2026.
- In 2024, average growth in the region slowed to 1.8 percent -- from 2.1 percent the year before -- due to "ongoing conflicts and extended voluntary oil production cuts".
Geostrategy
UAE to lift three-year Lebanon travel ban: statement
Dubai, United Arab Emirates -- The United Arab Emirates will lift a ban on its citizens travelling to Lebanon that...
- The decision was announced a day after Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met with his UAE counterpart Mohamed bin Zayed in Abu Dhabi.
- In 2021, the UAE imposed a travel ban on its citizens and withdrew diplomats from Beirut in solidarity with Riyadh after a Lebanese minister criticized Saudi intervention in Yemen.
Geostrategy
Two-State solution nearing point of no return: UN chief
He renewed calls for an immediate and lasting ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages, and full humanitarian access. He...
- Guterres expressed deep concern over the worsening crisis in Gaza, where nearly 2,000 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire collapsed in March
- He renewed calls for an immediate and lasting ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages, and full humanitarian access
Geostrategy
US imposes sanctions to curb Iran oil despite talks
The United States said Wednesday it was imposing sanctions on seven companies involved in selling Iranian oil, tightening pressure despite...
- The United States said it was targeting five trading companies -- four based in the United Arab Emirates and one in Turkey
- The move comes just after Iran announced a fourth round of talks with President Donald Trump's administration to take place Saturday in Rome
Geostrategy
UAE says foils bid to transfer weapons to Sudan army
"The security services succeeded in preventing the transfer of a quantity of military equipment to the Sudanese Armed Forces following...
- The UAE statement said members of the cell included former Sudanese intelligence chief Salah Gosh an ex-adviser to the finance minister and political figure close to army chief.
- It said the arrests were made "during an inspection of ammunition in a private aircraft" loaded with around five million machine gun rounds.
Geostrategy
Syria FM says wants to ‘strengthen relations’ with China
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani expressed on Monday his government's willingness to build a "strategic partnership" with China, a key...
- A foreign ministry statement said that Shaibani met with the Chinese ambassador to the United Nations, Fu Cong, at UN headquarters in New York
- In the meeting with Beijing's envoy, Shaibani said the two countries "will work together to build a long-term strategic partnership in the near future
Geostrategy
Abu Dhabi launches $500mn maternal health fund for Africa
Nairobi, Kenya -- A $500-million fund aimed at improving maternal and neonatal health in sub-Saharan Africa was launched Tuesday in...
- The Beginnings Fund brings together philanthropists including the Gates Foundation and the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity, run by the UAE president.
- It set a deadline of 2030 to reach the $500-million target and has already reached $450 million in pledges, organizers said in a statement.
Geostrategy
UN rights chief demands world act to stop Israel’s Gaza ‘catastrophe’
"As the complete blockade of assistance essential for survival enters its ninth week, there must be concerted international efforts to...
- It halted aid deliveries to Gaza on March 2, days before the collapse of a ceasefire that had significantly reduced hostilities after 15 months of war.
- Supplies are dwindling and the UN's World Food Programme last Friday said it had sent out its "last remaining food stocks".
Houthis claim Saudi missile attack as Trump says ‘talking to Iran’
The Houthis said on Telegram that a "Yemeni missile strike" had sparked fires in Jizan. Saudi authorities did not immediately...
Geostrategy
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Trump sends Witkoff to Moscow in hopes of finalizing Ukraine deal
An initial US plan which was heavily weighted in Russia's favor has been replaced by one taking in more of...
Geostrategy
China’s Xi pushes Taiwan issue in call with Trump
Chinese leader Xi Jinping pressed the ever-sensitive issue of Taiwan in a phone call Monday with US President Donald Trump,...
Geostrategy
Hezbollah mourns top commander killed in Israel strike, Iran Guards urge revenge
Haytham Ali Tabatabai is the most senior commander from the Iran-backed group to be killed by Israel since a November...
Geostrategy
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Geostrategy
Trump peace plan: Washington, Kyiv say a peace deal must ‘fully uphold’ Ukraine sovereignty
US President Donald Trump had given Ukraine until November 27 to approve his plan to end the nearly four-year conflict,...
- US President Donald Trump had given Ukraine until November 27 to approve his plan to end the nearly four-year conflict, which began after Russia launched a full-scale invasion
- Kyiv was seeking changes to the draft that accepted a range of Russia's hardline demands, with the 28-point plan requiring the invaded country to cede territory, and cut its army
Geostrategy
Trump pushes Ukraine to accept his plan for ending the war ahead of Nov 27 deadline
"He'll have to like it, and if he doesn't like it, then you know, they should just keep fighting," Trump...
- "He'll have to like it, and if he doesn't like it, then you know, they should just keep fighting," Trump told reporters who asked about Zelensky's less-than-enthusiastic response
- "At some point he's going to have to accept something," Trump added during the Oval Office meeting with New York City's future mayor Zohran Mamdani
Geostrategy
Iran says no access to bombed nuclear sites without IAEA deal
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that the UN's nuclear watchdog would not be given access to Iranian nuclear sites...
- The interview with the Khabar Online news agency was conducted before the International Atomic Energy Agency adopted a resolution Thursday demanding access to the sites
- In mid-June, Israel launched an unprecedented bombing campaign against Iran, triggering a 12-day war that the US briefly joined with strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities