Iraq: PKK decision to disband boosts regional stability
Iraq welcomed Monday the Kurdistan Workers' Party's (PKK) decision to disband and end its armed struggle against Turkey, saying it...Geostrategy
India, Pakistan ceasefire holds after early violations
Poonch, India - A ceasefire appeared to hold on Sunday between India and Pakistan, hours after the nuclear-armed rivals accused...Geostrategy
US diplomat urges calm at Lebanon-Israel border amid skirmishes
Beirut, Lebanon - Visiting US envoy Amos Hochstein on Tuesday urged for calm to return to Lebanon's southern border with Israel,..."The United States does not want to see conflict in Gaza escalating and expanding into Lebanon," Hochstein told a press conference in Beirut.
"Restoring calm along the southern border is of utmost importance to the US and it should be the highest priority for both Lebanon and Israel," he added.
UN calls for overhaul of financial system to help poorest countries
The UN called for an overhaul of the global financial system to help the world's poorest countries and their struggle...The 46 so-called least developed countries, or LDCs, suffered a sharp economic slowdown in the first years of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As a consequence of the economic slowdown, an additional 15 million people have been pushed into extreme poverty, the UN body said.
Netanyahu says Israel will have ‘security responsibility’ of Gaza
In the relentless bombardment and ground attacks, 10,328 Palestinians have been killed in the besieged enclave, 300 since Monday alone....The US acknowledged there had been "thousands" of civilian casualties in Gaza, after President Joe Biden previously called into question the validity of numbers published by Hamas.
Hundreds of Palestinian foreign passport holders waited on Tuesday inside Gaza Strip to escape through the Rafah crossing with Egypt.
Gaza refugee camps: born during first Arab-Israeli war
Over 760,000 Palestinians fled or were driven from their homes in what is referred to by Palestinians as the "Nakba"...More than two-thirds of the 2.4 million people living in Gaza are registered refugees. Israel has persistently rejected their "right of return", which the UN backed in 1948.
Gaza's camps are among the most densely populated places on the planet, with over 620,000 people packed into less than 6.5 square kilometers of land.
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.
