UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar emerge as soft power leaders
The surge of three GCC nations in the Global Soft Power Index, with UAE leading with a perfect economy score,...Geostrategy
Macron’s leadership: A tale of arrogance and chaos
Facing graft allegations, divisive remarks on NATO and Islam, and widespread protests, his presidency underscores challenges of governing in today's...Geostrategy
Morocco to turn page on W.Sahara conflict but won’t cede rights
Morocco controls 80 percent of the largely desert territory, which has mineral reserves and access to rich Atlantic fisheries, as...Tensions have flared over the past few months between Morocco and its regional rival Algeria over the former Spanish colony which Rabat sees as its own sovereign territory
Last year, the US administration of then president Donald Trump recognised Morocco's claim over the territory in a quid pro quo for Rabat's normalisation of ties with Israel
UAE top diplomat on first Syria visit in over a decade
The visit is widely seen as a sign of regional efforts to end Assad's diplomatic isolation as Syria grapples with...The visit is widely seen as a sign of regional efforts to end Assad's diplomatic isolation as Syria grapples with a spiralling economic crisis
The UAE broke ties with Syria, which is backed by the UAE's regional rival Iran, in February 2012
Mideast migrants trapped in border standoff
Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko accused of luring migrants from the Middle East to his country to send them across the...Belarus denies the claim and accuses Poland of violating human rights by refusing to allow the migrants in.
The Belarusian border guard service said the migrants in the camp were mostly Kurds, whose physical and mental condition was poor.
UN envoy says Yemen facing ‘uphill battle’ as 115 more die
Yemen is facing an "uphill battle" for peace, UN special envoy Hans Grundberg said on Monday, as the Saudi-led coalition...The Swedish diplomat, who took up the post in September, made the comments during a visit to Taez in the war-torn country's southwest
Grundberg said "military operations (are) causing significant casualties, which are exacerbating the humanitarian situation
Is Iraq drone attack linked to election results?
Analysts say pro-Iran groups use coercive power to maintain their standing and refuse to be excluded from any backstage negotiations...Anger has mounted towards the Hashed, particularly among youth who accuse it of being more loyal to Iranian interests than those of Iraqis.
Pro-Iran factions have also been blamed for the targeting and killing of demonstrators in near-nationwide protests that began in October 2019.
Saudi forces arrive in UAE for ‘One Destiny/1’ exercise
In order to boost military cooperation, and to exchange military expertise, members of Royal Saudi Land Forces arrived in the...The exercise aims to strengthen joint defense and military cooperation and knowledge between the two sides
The exercise also aims to achieve readiness and operational compatibility and integration
UAE and Cyprus look at ways to boost trade, cooperation
Foreign ministers of the United Arab Emirates and Cyrus reviewed bilateral relations and ways to boost trade between the two...The Ministers reviewed a number of issues of common concern, including the situation in the eastern Mediterranean
Sheikh Abdullah lauded the distinguished bilateral relations between the UAE and Cyprus
Kuwaiti government resigns to end deadlock, dissidents pardoned
Several opposition MPs have demanded to question the premier on a variety of issues but a motion passed in March...Several opposition MPs have demanded to question the premier on a variety of issues but a motion passed in March had given him immunity from questioning until the end of 2022
The feud has paralyzed legislative work and made it harder to boost state finances and enact measures like the debt law needed to tap global markets
Resignation of Lebanon minister could solve Gulf row: Arab League
The dispute was triggered by comments made by Kordahi in an interview taped in August before he became information minister...The dispute was triggered by comments made by Kordahi in an interview taped in August before he became information minister and broadcast in late October
The diplomatic rift, which threatens to plunge Lebanon deeper into meltdown, prompted Saudi Arabia and some of its allies to recall ambassadors and block imports from Lebanon
Iran, Oman discuss ways to promote private sector and medical tourism
Oman and Iran have discussed ways to promote trade relations between the private sector in the two countries as well...The talks were held on the sidelines of the 5th International Conference on Health in Islamic Countries, in Tehran.
Iran-Oman Virtual Expo launched in late September by the Iran-Oman Joint Chamber of Commerce 'has been well received'.
