Iran closes Hormuz over Lebanon strikes as US, Iranian teams head to Switzerland
Iran's joint military command said the move was prompted by what it described as Israeli violations of the understanding reached...
Geostrategy
MENA energy transition slips as Hormuz crisis exposes security gaps: WEF
Hormuz disruption and weakening policy commitment dragged down Middle East transition readiness in 2026. Saudi Arabia bucked the trend with...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
Summit on Palestinian statehood planned for Sept in Paris or New York
The conference, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, was originally planned for mid-June to revive work on the long-standing diplomatic...
- The meeting, which would be at ministerial level, would seek to "advance the recognition of a Palestinian state for a certain number of states who have not yet recognized it."
- But it would also work "on normalization and Israel's regional integration with Arab and Muslim countries."
Geostrategy
Israel launches strikes in Syria’s Druze area in defence of religious minority
Israel has sought to portray itself as a defender of the community, while also warning the Syrian government against maintaining...
- Damascus deployed troops to the area after clashes between Druze fighters and Bedouin tribes killed many people, with Syria's defence minister declaring a truce in Sweida city
- Residents, however, told AFP the announcement had little discernible effect on the ground, accusing government troops and their allies of rampaging through Druze neighbourhoods
Geostrategy
Divided EU leaves action against Israel on Gaza ‘on table,’ if humanitarian situation does not improve
The measures range from suspending the entire accord or curbing trade ties to sanctioning Israeli ministers, imposing an arms embargo...
- EU foreign policy chief Kallas has put forward 10 potential options after Israel was found to have breached a cooperation deal between the two sides on human rights grounds
- The measures range from suspending the entire accord or curbing trade ties to sanctioning Israeli ministers, imposing an arms embargo and halting visa-free travel
Geostrategy
Drone attack shuts Iraq oil field run by US company
Arbil, Iraq -- A drone strike forced a US company to suspend operations at an oil field in Iraq's autonomous...
- The attack followed a similar drone strike a day earlier on an airport in neighboring Arbil province, which hosts US troops.
- Long plagued by conflict, Iraq has frequently experienced such attacks, often linked to regional proxy struggles pitting Iran against the United States and its ally Israel.
Geostrategy
Lavrov meets Xi in Beijing: Russian foreign ministry
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with China's leader Xi Jinping in Beijing on Tuesday, Moscow said, as the top Russian...
- Russia's TASS news agency reported that Xi met Lavrov after the Chinese president held a "general meeting" with SCO foreign ministers
- The Russian foreign minister arrived in China following a visit to North Korea, where he received assurances of support in its conflict with Ukraine
Geostrategy
Iran says no nuclear talks if US insists it stop uranium enrichment
Washington and Tehran had been engaged in several rounds of negotiations seeking to strike a deal on the Islamic Republic's...
- Since the end of the hostilities, both Iran and the United States have signalled willingness to return to the table
- The Omani-mediated negotiations were halted as Israel launched its surprise attack on Iranian nuclear and military facilities on June 13
Geostrategy
Trump gives Russia 50 days to make Ukraine deal or face new economic sanctions
US President Donald Trump told Russia on Monday to end its Ukraine war within 50 days or face massive new...
- Trump said he was "very, very unhappy" with Vladimir Putin, underlining his insistence that his patience had finally snapped with the Russian leader's refusal to end war
- "We're going to be doing very severe tariffs if we don't have a deal in 50 days, tariffs at about 100 percent," Trump said during an Oval Office meeting with NATO Secretary General
Geostrategy
Mediators working to bridge gaps in faltering Gaza truce talks
The indirect negotiations in Qatar appear deadlocked after both sides blamed the other for blocking a deal for the release...
- "Discussions are currently focused on the proposed maps for the deployment of Israeli forces within Gaza," said an official with knowledge of the talks.
- "Mediators are actively exploring innovative mechanisms to bridge the remaining gaps and maintain momentum in the negotiations," the source added on condition of anonymity.
Geostrategy
Trump’s state visit to Britain set for September 17 to 19: palace
US President Donald Trump's second state visit to the United Kingdom will be between September 17 to 19, Buckingham Palace...
- Trump was invited by a personal letter from King Charles, which Prime Minister Keir Starmer handed to him last February during a visit to Washington
- Unlike French President Emmanuel Macron, who addressed the British Parliament during his recent state visit, Trump is not scheduled to address the House of Commons
Geostrategy
Trump says US will send Ukraine Patriot air defense systems, and may sanction Russia
President Donald Trump on Sunday said Washington would send Patriot air defense systems to Kyiv and hinted at new sanctions...
- The US president's announcement of the much-needed weapons for Ukraine came after he earlier said he would make a "major statement... on Russia" on Monday
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Iran closes Hormuz over Lebanon strikes as US, Iranian teams head to Switzerland
Iran's joint military command said the move was prompted by what it described as Israeli violations of the understanding reached...
Geostrategy
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Israel to invest $110 billion over the next decade to develop its own independent arms industry
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that Israel would invest $110 billion over the next decade to develop its own...
Geostrategy
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...
Geostrategy
Palestinian Authority says Israel tightening control over West Bank with new settlements
The Palestinian Authority condemned on Tuesday Israel's recent approval of 19 settlements in the occupied West Bank, accusing it of...
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Geostrategy
As diplomats gather in Miami, Kremlin denies three-way US-Ukraine-Russia talks in preparation
The Kremlin on Sunday denied that three-way talks between Ukraine, Russia and the United States were on the cards, as...
- Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev arrived in Miami, where Ukrainian and European teams have also been gathering for the negotiations
- The top Kremlin aide also told Russian journalists Sunday that he had "not seen" the revised US proposal to end the conflict
Geostrategy
Israel’s security cabinet approves 19 new settlements in West Bank, a move to scuttle ‘a Palestinian state’
The decision brings the total number of settlements approved over the past three years to 69, according to a statement...
- The latest approvals come days after the UN said the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank had reached its highest level since at least 2017.
- Excluding east Jerusalem, which was occupied and annexed by Israel in 1967, more than 500,000 Israelis live in the West Bank.
Geostrategy
Macron meets UAE leaders to deepen strategic partnership, discuss defense, AI, trade and drug trafficking
Macron is due to meet with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss "strengthening the strategic partnership" between...
- The French president traditionally celebrates the end-of-year holidays with troops deployed abroad, of whom there are more than 900 in the UAE.
- France cooperates with the UAE on areas including artificial intelligence and trade, and now wants to secure the Gulf state's support in its war on drug trafficking.