Yemen separatists say Saudi air strikes will not deter them
A Yemeni military official said around 15,000 Saudi-backed fighters were amassed near the Saudi border -- but were not given...
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Libyans united in grief for army chief killed in plane crash
General Mohammed al-Haddad and his four aides died on Tuesday after a visit to Ankara, with Turkish officials saying an...
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Saudi Arabia, CARICOM countries hold first summit for strategic partnership
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - Since its foundation, the Kingdom has been keen to build bridges of communication with all the...
- The convening of the summit will contribute to mutual support for various global nominations of the Kingdom and CARICOM, including Saudi Arabia's bid to host Expo 2030.
- It will enhance coordination on regional and international issues of common interest, boosting tourism cooperation, and highlighting Saudi Arabia's tourist attractions.
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UN Security Council calls for ‘humanitarian pauses’ in Gaza
The resolution, prepared by Malta and adopted with 12 votes in favor, "calls for urgent and extended humanitarian pauses and...
- The resolution called on all parties to comply with international humanitarian obligations "notably with regard to the protection of civilians, especially children
- It also called for the "immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas and other groups, especially children." Over 230 hostages are believed to be held by Hamas
Qatar calls for international probe into Israeli raids on Gaza hospitals
Israeli forces raided and then combed through Al-Shifa, Gaza's largest hospital, before withdrawing and redeploying around its outskirts, a journalist...
- Qatari foreign ministry in a statement called for "an urgent international investigation" including by UN to look into "the targeting of hospitals by the Israeli army"
- Qatari mediation efforts have so far led to the release of four out of around 240 hostages Israeli officials estimate were seized by Hamas fighters on October 7
Israeli opposition leader calls on Netanyahu to resign ‘immediately’
Four days after Hamas's surprise October 7 attack on Israel, Netanyahu and another opposition leader, Benny Gantz, announced an agreement...
- Lapid called for a no-confidence vote in parliament that would allow for the formation of a new government led by another member of Likud party
- In a statement posted to Telegram, Likud immediately rebuffed the call, saying such a proposal in a "time of war" was "shameful"
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Gaza cancer patients fly to Turkey for treatment
Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said 27 patients had been flown to Turkey from Egypt, along with 13 companions, without specifying...
- Two planes carrying the patients, many of them children, landed at Ankara airport
- Turkey has sent material for field hospitals, ambulances and generators to Egypt to treat civilians
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Biden, Xi take steps to reduce tensions at key summit
Central to the discussions was the commitment to restore military-to-military communications, previously severed after a visit by former House Speaker...
- In opening remarks, Biden said the US and China had to ensure that competition between them "does not veer into conflict" and manage their relationship "responsibly."
- Xi called the US-China relationship "the most important bilateral relationship," saying he and Biden "shoulder heavy responsibilities for the two peoples, and for the world."
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Israel’s regional ties strained amid Gaza conflict
Escalating Middle East tensions and Netanyahu's policies affect Israel's ties with Egypt and Jordan amid Arab concerns over civilian casualties...
- Escalating Gaza tensions and Netanyahu's policies strain Israel's ties with Egypt and Jordan amid Arab concerns over civilian casualties and Palestinian displacement.
- UAE's stable relations with Israel contrast Saudi Arabia's demand for significant Israeli peace concessions, casting uncertainty on regional resolution prospects.
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Iran urges UN to deliver aid quickly in desperate Gaza
"The amount of humanitarian aid sent to Gaza is very small and almost zero, and it is necessary for the...
- The Iranian foreign minister said the amount of humanitarian aid sent to Gaza is very small and almost zero.
- Trucks carrying the first delivery of fuel to Gaza since the Israel-Hamas war began on October 7 crossed from Egypt Wednesday.
Geostrategy
Biden, Xi set for high-stakes summit
San Francisco, US - US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping will try to prevent the superpowers' rivalry spilling...
- With tensions soaring over issues including Taiwan, sanctions and trade, the leaders of the world's largest economies are expected to hold at least three hours
- The 80-year-old Biden held out an olive branch to Xi, 70, on the eve of the talks, insisting that the United States was "not trying to decouple from China"
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Erdogan calls Israel a ‘terror state’ before his Germany visit
ANKARA, TURKEY - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday called Israel a "terror state", stepping up his condemnation of the...
- The Turkish leader took a more nuanced line immediately after Hamas's October 7 cross-border attacks.
- Health officials in the Hamas-run territory say more than 11,300 people, also mostly civilians, have been killed in Gaza.
Yemen separatists say Saudi air strikes will not deter them
A Yemeni military official said around 15,000 Saudi-backed fighters were amassed near the Saudi border -- but were not given...
Geostrategy
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Oil stabilises after surge, stocks drop as Middle East crisis fuels jitters
Of particular concern is the possibility of Iran shutting off the Strait of Hormuz, through which around an estimated fifth...
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Iran says hypersonic missiles fired at Israel as Trump demands ‘unconditional surrender’
Despite international alarm, neither side has backed off from the long-range blitz that began Friday, when Israel launched an unprecedented...
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Israeli army kills 53 Palestinians and injures 200 others near Gaza aid site
"Israeli drones fired at the citizens. Some minutes later, Israeli tanks fired several shells at the citizens, which led to...
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MENA brief Jun 17: ADNOC Drilling appoints new CEO, Riyadh up in startup ranking
The DMCC Crypto Centre welcomed Bitcoin.com, which is setting up its first MENA office in Dubai. The Arab Coordination Group...
- Bahrain’s Central Bank reported a 188% oversubscription of its BD 70 million Treasury Bills, reflecting sustained investor confidence.
- In aviation, AviLease, the Saudi aircraft lessor, placed an order for up to 77 Airbus aircraft, including A320neo and A350F models.
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China’s Xi in Kazakhstan to cement Central Asia ties
Astana, Kazakhstan - Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet Central Asian leaders at a summit in Kazakhstan on Tuesday, his...
- The summit in the Kazakh capital brings together Xi - who arrived in Astana on Monday - and the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan
- Under Russia's orbit until the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, the five countries of Central Asia have courted interest from major powers including China and the United States
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Israel, Iran trade missile fire as Trump warns Tehran to ‘evacuate’
The United States and Iran had engaged in several rounds of indirect talks on Tehran's nuclear programme in recent weeks,...
- Despite growing calls for the longtime foes to end hostilities, neither Israel nor Iran showed any signs of cutting short the missile blitz kicked off Friday
- The Chinese embassy in Tel Aviv warned its citizens to leave the country immediately, as the United States said it was deploying "additional capabilities" to the Middle East