America's chief diplomat is engaged on a frantic bout of shuttle diplomacy across the Middle East with currently little to show for it. Antony Blinken has taken in Jerusalem, Ramallah, Amman, Baghdad and Ankara, but diplomatically speaking seems still to be on the road to nowhere. He has three tasks in hand - none of … Continue reading Is Antony Blinken’s Middle East tour a disappointment?
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry strongly condemned Israeli airstrikes Tuesday on the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza that left hundreds dead and injured. "Egypt strongly condemns the Israeli inhumane targeting of an entire residential square in Jabalia camp northern Gaza and left hundreds killed and injured," it said in a statement. The Foreign Ministry considered … Continue reading Egypt slams Israel for bombing residential square in Jabalia refugee camp
Global commodity markets could face "dual shock" when the latest conflict in the Middle East, on top of disruptions caused by the Russian war on Ukraine, escalates, the World Bank warned on Monday. This could push global commodity markets into "uncharted waters," the bank said in its latest Commodity Markets Outlook report. The bank expected … Continue reading World Bank warns of disruption in global commodity prices due to Middle East conflict
In the aftermath of the hospital strike in Gaza, protests have emerged across the Arab world. People gathered around Israeli embassies in Turkey and Jordan, while in Lebanon people could be seen around the US embassy. Palestinian security forces fired tear gas and stun grenades to disperse protesters in the occupied West Bank city of … Continue reading Gaza hospital explosion triggers protests across Middle East
A summit between between Palestinian, US, Jordanian and Egyptian leaders, has been cancelled, just hours before Joe Biden was due to visit the region. The US president was set to meet them after his visit to Israel on Wednesday. The summit's cancellation is a blow to Mr Biden's diplomatic efforts over the Middle East crisis. … Continue reading Summit between Jordan, US, Egypt and Palestinian leaders cancelled on eve of Biden’s Middle East visit
Vladimir Putin has called for a ceasefire - but not for the war he's embroiled in. The Kremlin has urged that guns stop firing immediately in Israel and Gaza, according to Russian news agency TASS. It also called for the start of a political settlement process. Mr Putin is set to discuss the situation with … Continue reading Putin calls for immediate ceasefire in Middle East
Hundreds of children and women are reported to have been killed in Gaza following days of Israeli airstrikes - as the US said Hamas's surprise attack on Israel was "equivalent to ten 9/11s". At least 500 children and 276 women are among the estimated 1,537 Palestinians who have died with more than 6,000 wounded, the … Continue reading US says Hamas attack is comparable to ten 9/11s
Israel’s response to attacks from Gaza by the Islamist militant group Hamas will change the Middle East, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday. “What Hamas will face will be harsh and terrible,’’ Netanyahu told officials from towns in southern Israel. We are only at the beginning,” he said. Israeli airstrikes have pounded targets in … Continue reading Israel’s response to Hamas attacks will change Middle East – Netanyahu
Saudi Arabia on Tuesday condemned a deadly Houthi attack on a Bahraini defense force of the Arab coalition. On Monday, Bahrain’s military command said a drone attack carried out by Yemen’s Houthi rebel group killed one of its officers and a soldier along the border between Yemen and Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Foreign Ministry expressed … Continue reading Saudi Arabia condemns deadly Houthi attack on Bahraini force
Yemenis wait to board a flight heading to Mecca to perform the Hajj pilgrimage, at the Sanaa International Airport, Yemen, June 17, 2023. /CFP Yemen's national airline Yemenia Airways restarted direct flights from Houthi-held Sanaa to Saudi Arabia after a suspension that lasted seven years. The first two commercial flights took off from Sanaa's international airport … Continue reading NO-BOMBERS: Yemenis board first direct flight to Saudi Arabia since 2016
Blockaded by Israel since 2007, the Gaza Strip only has electricity for 12 hours per day on average - less when the conflict escalates. So, in recent years, people across the Palestinian enclave have been turning to solar energy to power their businesses and homes. Yasser al-Hajj, who owns a seaside fish farm and restaurant, … Continue reading Can solar energy solve the electricity challenge in Gaza?
Six women with roots in the Middle East and North Africa have emerged as powerbrokers in different European countries. Here is a look at these women who are climbing the political ladder in Europe. Rima Abdul Malak, second left, accompanied President Emmanuel Macron on a recent visit to Algeria. AFP Rima Abdul Malak: France’s culture … Continue reading Women with Middle East roots playing big roles in EU politics
As Western nations struggled to ramp up the pace of evacuations from Afghanistan, U.S. President Joe Biden confronted criticism over the withdrawal of U.S. troops and the Taliban's swift takeover of the country. "I have seen no question of our credibility from our allies," Biden told reporters after making a speech from the White House. … Continue reading Biden defends withdrawal of US troop from Afghanistan
Palestinian prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh on Monday urged international powers to boycott US President Donald Trump's "peace plan" which they see as biased towards Israel. "This a plan to protect Trump from impeachment and protect (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu from prison. It is not a Middle East peace plan," Shtayyeh told a cabinet meeting. … Continue reading Palestinians not happy with Trump’s peace plan for Middle East
U.S. President Donald Trump's senior advisor Jared Kushner is visiting the Middle East this week to seek the support of the long-overdue Middle East peace plan, U.S. media reported on Tuesday. Kushner is leading a U.S. delegation on a trip to several capitals in the region this week, seeking support for the Middle East peace … Continue reading Any hope from Kushner’s Middle East connection?
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