Gulf economies may not recover to pre-war levels soon as shock will hit many sectors, IMF warns
The IMF projects the Middle East and Central Asia region will contract 0.3 percent in 2026, reflecting its exposure to...
Economy
WEF to bring 500 global leaders to Dubai for inaugural meeting
Discussions will span artificial intelligence, jobs, geopolitical uncertainty, climate change and economic resilience, with UAE Minister Mohammad Al Gergawi and...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
US deploys aircraft carrier as Iran warns against attack, says ready to hit back
A US naval strike group led by an aircraft carrier has deployed to Middle Eastern waters, the United States said Monday,...
- Iran's foreign ministry warned on Monday of a "comprehensive and regret-inducing response to any aggression".
- Rhe United Arab Emirates, which hosts a US airbase, said it would not allow attacks on Iran to be launched from its territory.
Geostrategy
Netanyahu, US envoys discuss opening Rafah crossing: Israeli media
US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reopen the Rafah crossing between Gaza and...
- Reopening Rafah forms part of a Gaza truce framework announced by Trump in October, but the crossing has remained closed
- Ali Shaath, appointed to head a committee of 15 Palestinian technocrats, said at the World Economic Forum that the gateway would reopen next week
Geostrategy
Next round of Russia, Ukraine talks to begin in Abu Dhabi on February 1: US official
A next round of trilateral talks between Ukraine, Russia and the US to halt the war will continue in Abu Dhabi...
- This was the first time the warring sides have talked about a plan being pushed by Trump to end the nearly four-year war
- Ukrainian and Russian delegations held their first direct talks in months in Abu Dhabi even as Russia launched a barrage of drones
Geostrategy
US pitches glitzy New Gaza rebuild at Davos, drawing outrage amid ongoing humanitarian crisis
Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner said the so-called National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) had enlisted help from Israeli...
- Kushner said the so-called National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) had enlisted help from Israeli real estate developer Yakir Gabay
- Notably absent from Kushner's presentation was Egypt's President al-Sisi, whose country had spearheaded in 2025 a reconstruction plan for Gaza supported by Arab nations
Geostrategy
Saudi Arabia, Qatar, six others accept Trump ‘Board of Peace’ invite: statement
Saudi Arabia and seven Muslim-majority countries including Gaza mediators Qatar and Turkey have agreed to join US President Donald Trump's "Board...
- Invites were sent to dozens of world leaders with a request for one billion dollars for a permanent seat on the board
- Although originally meant to oversee Gaza's rebuilding, the board's charter does not seem to limit its role to the Strip
Geostrategy
European leaders vow ‘unflinching’ response to Trump’s plans to annex Greenland
The US president, who will address the annual gathering of global elites on Wednesday, has put the transatlantic alliance to...
- Leaders at the World Economic Forum (WEF) closed ranks against Trump's increasingly aggressive America First agenda
- Trump has pressed on with his Greenland campaign on Truth Social, writing that he had a "very good" call with NATO secretary-general
Geostrategy
Putin invited to Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ aimed at resolving conflicts globally: Kremlin
Russian President Vladimir Putin has been invited to join US President Donald Trump's "Board of Peace" aimed at resolving conflicts...
- "President Putin also received an invitation to join this Board of Peace," spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists, including AFP
- Russia was seeking to "clarify all the nuances" of the offer with Washington, he said, without adding if Putin was inclined to join
Geostrategy
Iraq announces complete withdrawal of US-led coalition from federal territory
Iraq said on Sunday US-led coalition forces had finished withdrawing from bases within the country's federal territory, which excludes the...
- The vast majority of coalition troops withdrew from Iraq over previous stages, with only advisers remaining in the country
- IS attacks in Iraq have massively declined in recent years, but the group maintains a presence in the country's mountainous areas
Geostrategy
Putin speaks to Israel, Iran leaders to help ‘de-escalate’ the situation: Kremlin
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday held calls with the leaders of Israel and Iran, the Kremlin said, offering mediation amid...
- On Friday, Russia announced Putin was in contact with both Israeli PM Netanyahu and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian
- In his call with Pezeshkian, Putin pledged to further strengthen their countries' "strategic partnership", the Kremlin said
Geostrategy
Saudi, Qatar, Oman convinced Trump to ‘give Iran a chance’: senior Saudi official
Two diplomatic sources told AFP on Thursday that the security posture at Qatar's Al-Udeid Airbase had been lowered after a...
- The Gulf trio "led a long, frantic, diplomatic last-minute effort to convince President Trump to give Iran a chance to show good intention", the Saudi official said
- The United States has repeatedly warned it could intervene against Iranian government crackdown on protests, while Tehran has said it would retaliate with strikes
Gulf economies may not recover to pre-war levels soon as shock will hit many sectors, IMF warns
The IMF projects the Middle East and Central Asia region will contract 0.3 percent in 2026, reflecting its exposure to...
Economy
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Hormuz ship crossings halve as Iran war disrupts energy flows
No very large crude carriers or liquefied natural gas tankers were among the vessels recorded. One very large gas carrier...
Geostrategy
Trump warns countries helping Iran of ‘tremendous economic consequences’
Tehran dismissed Washington’s latest pressure campaign as a diversion from US economic troubles as shipping through Hormuz remained severely restricted.
Geostrategy
Trump says no Iran talks as Israeli strikes on Syria draw condemnation
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran was seeking an end to the war and rejected the idea of a...
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Trump rejects Iran deal extension as regional tensions mount
The US president says Iran will not make the deal he considers necessary, while Washington declines to extend the expired...
- Tehran condemns a drone attack in Iraqi Kurdistan, warns companies supporting US operations and faces renewed tensions around Hormuz.
- US envoy Kushner said his meeting with Hamas had been “very cordial” and that the group could begin disarming soon.
Geostrategy
Kushner to meet Netanyahu after Hamas talks as Hormuz shipping slows
The meeting comes two weeks after Hamas endorsed the latest stage of Trump's Gaza plan, which Netanyahu has refused to...
- Kushner urged Hamas to take concrete, verifiable steps, while the group reiterated commitment to the US-backed Gaza plan.
- Five commodity vessels crossed Hormuz Saturday, with none registered Sunday, compared with 31 crossings during the previous weekend.
Geostrategy
SpaceX launches two Falcon 9 rockets 38 minutes apart
SpaceX launched two Falcon 9 rockets from opposite US coasts just 38 minutes apart on Saturday, setting a new launch...
- Two Falcon 9 rockets launched from Florida and California, carrying Globalstar satellites and a classified US Space Force mission.
- Globalstar's eight satellites were successfully deployed, while the second rocket carried the classified USSF-366 mission.