Strait of Hormuz disruption threatens trade flows: UNCTAD
UNCTAD data shows Brent crude oil prices rose above $90 per barrel, while natural gas prices also increased sharply after...Geostrategy
Bapco Energies declares force majeure on operations
Manama, Bahrain --- Bapco Energies BSC (Closed), Bahrain’s integrated energy company, announced force majeure on its group operations on Monday.The...Geostrategy
Israel, Hamas ceasefire begins Sunday, includes hostage deal, phased Israeli withdrawal, more aid for Gaza
The deal, brokered by the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar, includes Hamas releasing 33 hostages and Israel freeing hundreds of Palestinian...The deal includes release of 33 Israeli hostages, including women, children, and the elderly, and, in return, Israel will release hundreds of Palestinian captives
The deal also allows for a dramatic increase in humanitarian aid to Gaza, with over 500 trucks of food, water, and medical supplies expected to enter the region daily
Syria, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Palestine test Washington’s strategy under Trump leadership
The Trump administration faces a Middle East shaped by shifting alliances, unresolved conflicts, and evolving regional priorities, demanding a measured...Iran’s diminished influence in the region presents a potential opening for U.S. diplomacy, but Gause warns against the pitfalls of an aggressive regime-change agenda
Saudi Arabia’s regional strategy has undergone a significant transformation under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, driven by the economic ambitions of Vision 2030
UAE discusses temporary Gaza governance with US, Israel, seeks two-state solution assurance: report
Discussions led by the UAE include provisional administration, PA leadership overhaul, and Gaza reconstruction, requiring extensive international cooperation and adherence...According to sources familiar with the talks, the discussions include the UAE, the US, and other nations overseeing governance, security, and reconstruction of Gaza
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had suggested that the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and other nations could assist in governing Gaza after the war
In a change of tone, Syria’s new leader urges US to pressure Israel for withdrawal
Julani’s appeal comes as Syria signals a shift in its diplomatic tone. Maher Marwan, Damascus’ new governor, told NPR that...The report, published by Kan 11, said that Israeli authorities have denied receiving any formal communication on the matter
A senior security official has stated that Israel "will not compromise its security" in response to the alleged request
US proposes $8B arms deal with Israel; Biden plans strikes on Houthis as Gaza aid faces Trump-era cuts
The US proposes an $8 billion arms deal with Israel, plans intensified strikes on Yemen's Houthis, while Israel considers cutting...According to sources cited by Axios, the arms deal requires formal approval from both the House and Senate committees
A US official emphasized that the arms sale aligns with the administration’s commitment to Israel's security
Palestinian Authority suspends Al Jazeera broadcasts
The Palestinian Authority on Wednesday ordered the suspension of broadcasts by Qatar-based Al Jazeera across the Palestinian territories, accusing the...Militant group Hamas condemned the decision to ban the network
Tensions between the two sides followed recent coverage of clashes between Palestinian security forces and militants in Jenin
‘Numb’ New Orleans grapples with horror of deadly truck attack
New Orleans, United States - The celebratory atmosphere of Bourbon Street in New Orleans, long an American byword for indulgence and...A deadly truck attack on New Year's crowds in New Orleans' French Quarter left at least 15 dead, shaking the heart of the city's famed Bourbon Street
Residents and visitors mourn the tragedy, calling for stricter security as New Orleans faces major upcoming events like Mardi Gras and the Super Bowl
Syria Foreign Minister in Saudi Arabia, hopes the visit opens ‘new, bright page’
Last week, in an interview with Saudi-owned Al Arabiya television, Sharaa said Saudi Arabia "will certainly have a large role...Syrian state media said the top delegation had come to the kingdom "at the invitation of the Saudi foreign minister", quoting a foreign ministry source.
Saudi Arabia severed ties with Assad's government in 2012 and backed Syrian rebels seeking to overthrow him early in the country's civil war
UN: Israel’s strikes on Gaza hospitals may constitute war crimes, urges independent probe
The UN's 23-page report, "Attacks on Hospitals During the Escalation of Hostilities in Gaza," documented 136 strikes on 27 hospitals...The world body's 23-page report, entitled "Attacks on hospitals during the escalation of hostilities in Gaza", looked at the period from October 7, 2023 to June 30, 2024
The report said attacks on hospitals typically involved missile strikes on hospital buildings, the destruction of facilities, shooting of civilians, and sieges.
South Korea’s Yoon: from star prosecutor to president facing arrest
Yoon is under investigation for his martial law declaration and faces criminal charges of insurrection, which could result in life...Investigators sought an arrest warrant against Yoon which a court issued on Tuesday.
If arrested, Yoon would become the first S.Korean president detained before impeachment procedures
