Israel arms exports to UAE, Bahrain, Morocco rise sharply after 2023
Sales to countries considered part of the Abraham Accords -- the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco who signed groundbreaking...Business Geostrategy
Saudi hosts urge pilgrims to stay indoors during hajj high point
Makkah, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi authorities have asked pilgrims performing the hajj to remain in their tents for several hours...Geostrategy
Why Israel gets support from central, eastern Europe
Their solidarity came to the fore on Wednesday, when Austria and Germany broke ranks with European Union peers to argue...EU diplomats have said 17 of the bloc's 27 nations wanted to re-examine the pact, which has been in force for 25 years, to pressure Israel over its war in Gaza.
But Austria and Germany broke ranks with European Union peers to argue against a review ordered by Brussels of an EU-Israel cooperation deal
Iran, US to hold new round of nuclear talks in Rome
The talks, which began in April, are the highest-level contact between the foes since the United States quit the 2015...Since returning to office, Trump has revived his "maximum pressure" campaign on Iran, backing talks but warning of military action if diplomacy fails
US envoy Steve Witkoff said Washington "could not authorise even one percent" enrichment -- a position Tehran called a red line, citing its rights under the NPT
Turkey says increasing energy exports to war-torn Syria
Damascus, Syria -- Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said Thursday in Damascus that his country would ramp up energy exports...Syria's Islamist authorities, who toppled Bashar al-Assad in December, are seeking to rebuild the country's infrastructure and economy after almost 14 years of civil war.
The conflict badly damaged Syria's power infrastructure, leading to cuts that can last for more than 20 hours a day.
Iran-US nuclear talks set for Rome this week: Oman mediator
Iran and the United States will hold the next round of talks on the Islamic republic's nuclear programme in Rome...The arch-foes have held four rounds of nuclear talks since April 12, the highest-level contact between them since US President Donald Trump abandoned the 2015 nuclear deal
Western countries, including the United States, have long accused Iran of seeking to acquire atomic weapons, while Iran insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes
Gazans mourn at dawn after night of intense Israeli strikes
Gaza's civil defence agency said that more than 20 air strikes hit Khan Yunis and its surroundings overnight, with the...First responders have reported dozens of deaths daily since Israel intensified its attacks in the coastal territory, home to 2.4 million Palestinians
Every morning, the civil defence agency has provided death tolls for overnight air strikes that often hit houses in rural areas or apartment buildings
Rubio sees more Arab states normalizing with Israel this year
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested Wednesday that more Arab nations could forge ties with Israel this year, as...Saudi Arabia was in advanced talks on normalization, backed by then-president Joe Biden's administration, before the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas on Israel
Saudi Arabia is considered the ultimate prize by Israel considering the kingdom's role as the guardian of Islam's two holiest shrines and its influence within the Arab and Islamic
US accepts Boeing jet from Qatar for use as Air Force One
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has accepted the Boeing 747 that the Gulf emirate of Qatar offered to President Donald..."The Secretary of Defense has accepted a Boeing 747 from Qatar in accordance with all federal rules and regulations," Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement
The US Constitution prohibits government officials from accepting gifts "from any King, Prince or foreign State," in a section known as the Emoluments Clause
Israeli ‘warning’ fire at diplomats sparks outcry amid Gaza pressure
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas urged Israel to hold to account those responsible for the shooting near Jenin, a...The Palestinian foreign ministry accused Israel of having "deliberately targeted by live fire an accredited diplomatic delegation".
The incident came as international pressure intensified over the war in Gaza, where Palestinians were desperate for supplies after a two-month aid blockade was eased.
Oil prices jump on report of Israel prepping Iran strike
Both main crude contracts jumped around one percent after CNN reported multiple US officials as saying the government had received...There are fears that such a sharp escalation could tip the Middle East into a war, with tensions already high over Israel's strikes on Gaza.
While safe haven gold pushed higher, the news from CNN appeared to be having little detrimental effect on Asian equities, with most extending the previous day's rally.
Iran says talks with US unlikely to ‘lead to any outcome’
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Iran could have civilian nuclear power while importing enriched uranium but that..."We don't think it will lead to any outcome. We don't know what will happen," said Khamenei during a speech, adding that denying Iran's right to enrich uranium was "a big mistake".
Iran currently enriches uranium to 60 percent, far above the 3.67-percent limit set in the 2015 deal and close though still short of the 90 percent needed for a nuclear warhead
