US halting some shipments of military aid to Ukraine
The White House said Tuesday it is halting some key weapons shipments to Ukraine that were promised under the Biden...Geostrategy
British FM David Lammy in Turkey to bolster trade ties
Britain's top diplomat David Lammy held top-level talks in Ankara Monday that touched on developments in the Middle East and...Geostrategy
MENA Brief | June 19: GCC central banks hold interest rates steady, Diriyah House launched in London
As most currencies in the region are pegged to the US dollar, monetary policy follows the decisions taken in Washington,...Saudi-based Cluster2 Airports Company signed a strategic MoU with Airbus. The agreement will see the deployment of the Agnet Turnaround platform across Cluster2’s 22 airports.
Saudi National Bank (SNB) has issued $1.25 billion in Tier 2 bonds at a 6% profit rate under its $10 billion Euro Medium Term Note program.
Almost 3,000 Australians seek to flee Israel-Iran conflict
Australia has started evacuating almost 3,000 citizens caught up in the rapidly spiralling conflict between Israel and Iran, Foreign Minister...rescue efforts had been hampered by missile barrages that made it "too risky" for civilian aircraft to land in either country, Wong said
Some 1,500 Australians had registered to be evacuated from Iran, while more than 1,200 were seeking to get out of Israel, she said
Syrians watch Iran-Israel crossfire as government stays silent
For days, Syrians have watched as Iranian missiles and Israeli interceptors light up the skies over their territory, but the...Iran was one of former ruler Bashar al-Assad's biggest backers, playing a crucial role in propping up his government by providing military advisers and the support of affiliated ar
Israel, meanwhile, has occupied the Golan Heights since seizing it from Syria in 1967, and has kept troops in a UN-patrolled buffer zone there since December
Trump weighs involvement as Israel launches fresh strikes on Iran
The White House said Trump would receive an intelligence briefing on Thursday, a US holiday and top US diplomat Marco...As the war entered its seventh day, Israel's military said it was striking Tehran and other parts of Iran, but all eyes were on whether Washington would enter the fray
Iran's supreme leader Khamenei meanwhile rejected Trump's demand for an "unconditional surrender", despite claims from the US leader that "Iran's got a lot of trouble."
Khamenei vows Iran will never surrender, warns US of ‘irreparable damage’
Khamenei's speech came six days into the conflict, with US president Donald Trump saying he may or may not intervene...Khamenei, in power since 1989 and the final arbiter of all matters of state in Iran, had earlier vowed the country would show "no mercy" towards Israel's leaders.
Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz said air force jets had destroyed Iran's internal security headquarters after the army announced it was striking military targets in Tehran.
Gulf states on Iran’s doorstep scramble for end of war
Doha, Qatar -- As Iran and Israel trade strikes and the US weighs joining in, wealthy Gulf states on the...Peace and stability have been central to the rise of Gulf powers including Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, who are pivoting their economies towards business and tourism.
Hoping to avert the crisis, Saudi Arabia has been talking to Iran and the United States since "day one", Ali Shihabi, an analyst close to the royal court.
MENA Brief | June 18: Oil calms after Trump’s threat rattles markets; UAE-Iran calls, Riyadh Air signs big Rolls-Royce deal
Oil prices steadied Wednesday after Trump’s demand for Iran’s ‘unconditional surrender’ roiled markets and revived supply fears, as regional diplomacy...Oil surged over 4% Tuesday amid fears of US strikes on Iran after Trump’s comments but stabilised slightly Wednesday
Analysts warn Iran could block the vital shipping lane if tensions escalate further; US refuelling jets reportedly en route to the region
Oil stabilises after surge, stocks drop as Middle East crisis fuels jitters
Of particular concern is the possibility of Iran shutting off the Strait of Hormuz, through which around an estimated fifth...Iran and Israel exchanged missiles for a sixth day, with the US president's latest comments appearing to dent hopes that the crisis in the Middle East could be calmed
Of particular concern is the possibility of Iran shutting off the Strait of Hormuz, through which an fifth of global oil supply traverses, according to the Commerzbank note
Iran says hypersonic missiles fired at Israel as Trump demands ‘unconditional surrender’
Despite international alarm, neither side has backed off from the long-range blitz that began Friday, when Israel launched an unprecedented...The US president insists Washington has played no part in ally Israel's bombing campaign, but also warned Iran his patience is wearing thin as the conflict enters a sixth day
Israeli warplanes targeted the Iranian capital before dawn Wednesday after the military issued a warning on social media for civilians in an area known as District 18 to evacuate
Israeli army kills 53 Palestinians and injures 200 others near Gaza aid site
"Israeli drones fired at the citizens. Some minutes later, Israeli tanks fired several shells at the citizens, which led to...Bassal said that four additional people were killed by Israeli fire Tuesday near the southern Gaza city of Rafah.
In early March, Israel imposed a total aid blockade on the Gaza Strip amid an impasse in truce negotiations, only partially easing restrictions in late May.
