Houthis claim attack on merchant ship in Red Sea off Yemen
The Houthis, who are at war with a Saudi-led coalition after ousting the government from Sanaa in 2014, have launched...Geostrategy
Blinken meets Sisi in Cairo at start of Mideast tour
Blinken said his message to regional governments was that "if you want a ceasefire, press Hamas to say yes" to...Geostrategy
UAE to set up 150-bed field hospital in Gaza: official media
The United Arab Emirates, a wealthy Gulf monarchy, broke with Arab tradition to establish ties with Israel in the 2020...Five aircraft flew out of Abu Dhabi for Arish in northern Egypt carrying equipment and supplies for the 150-bed facility, says report
The hospital's facilities will include anesthetics and surgery, gynecology and intensive care units "catering to both children and adults"
Israel to take ‘security responsibility’ of Gaza: Netanyahu
The Israeli military has relentlessly attacked Gaza by air, land and sea since October 7, when Hamas militants launched a...Netanyahu disputed the health ministry's figures, which he said likely included Palestinian combatants
Despite growing calls for a ceasefire from the UN head and other world leaders, Netanyahu rejected the call
Economic strain looms over Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt and GCC; Gaza escalation to affect Israeli economy too
A latest report by IIF highlights three possible outcomes from Gaza operations, each with profound implications for MENA economies and...A latest report by IIF highlights three possible outcomes from Gaza operations, each with profound implications for MENA economies and political stability.
Saudi Arabia may seek additional concessions for Palestine in future reconciliation talks, potentially slowing or reversing any progress, says the report.
Jordan keeps options open in response to Gaza conflict
Amman, Jordan - Jordan has stated that it is considering "all options" in response to what it perceives as Israel's...The kingdom refrained from specifying the measures Jordan might take, but the statement comes after the country recalled its ambassador from Israel
In a significant move, Jordan also declared Israel's ambassador persona non grata, effectively preventing his return to Amman
UAE issue guidelines on unlicensed virtual asset service providers
Abu Dhabi, UAE - The National Anti-Money Laundering and Combating Financing of Terrorism and Financing of Illegal Organizations Committee (NAMLCFTC)...The guidance aims to educate licensed financial institutions (LFIs) and public sector on the risks associated with unlicensed virtual asset service providers.
It aligns with Financial Action Task Force (FATF) publication on updated guidance for a risk-based approach to virtual assets and virtual asset service providers.
Anti-west boycott waves sweep across Middle East in Gaza solidarity
Manama, Bahrain - In a convenience store in Bahrain, 14-year-old Jana Abdullah carries a tablet as she shops, checking a list...Led by tech-savvy youth, the boycott campaign includes browser extensions, dedicated websites and smartphone apps that identify proscribed products.
The boycott has been accompanied by calls for Arab states to cut ties with Israel, while pro-Palestinian rallies have taken place weekly in major capitals.
Turkmenistan plants over 470,000 trees in a single day
Turkmenistan is one of the most closed societies in the world, where dissent is outlawed and the Berdymukhamedov family have...The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) says water stress in Turkmenistan is "extremely high".
Three-quarters of the country are covered by the black sands of the Karakum Desert and annual precipitation is below 100 mm in places.
European Union to increase Gaza humanitarian aid by $27mn
"By doing so the European Union will spend a total of 100 million euros in humanitarian aid for the civilians...The EU chief Von der Leyen, a staunch supporter of Israel, said it was essential the country "strives to avoid civilian casualties" in its operation in Gaza.
Von der Leyen told diplomats that even as conflict rages, there needs to be a "perspective" for a two-state solution.
10,000 deaths raise specter of genocide in Gaza
Some world leaders like Turkey's President Erdogan use the term genocide to describe Israeli actions in Gaza. Israel has also...The President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has used the term "genocide" to describe Israeli actions in Gaza.
Pronouncements of several Israeli politicians, who openly called for extermination of Palestinians, have added to the fears of a genocide in Gaza.
Russia calls for collective action to end fighting between Israel, Hamas
Russia called for "collective action" to end fighting between Israel and Hamas, including an international conference, almost a month into...Russia maintains ties with both Hamas and Israel and has said it can mediate the conflict.
Russia supports calls for collective action to de-escalate the situation in the Middle East and that it was in favour of a “multilateral approach” in regulating the conflict.