First commercial passenger flight from UAE lands in Israel

Israel and the UAE announced in August they had agreed to normalise ties, setting off a flurry of business, banking and intergovernmental agreements, along with an end to a longstanding boycott by the UAE against Israel.

Hashd al Shaabi-KDP clash adds a new layer to Iraq conflict

It was another hellish day in Baghdad as Hashd al Shaabi attacked the KDP office in the Green Zone.

Israel, Bahrain formalise diplomatic ties at special ceremony in Manama

The Israeli delegation, which flew into Bahrain on an El Al Israel Airlines charter flight from Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv, was accompanied by US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin.

Iran says UN arms embargo expires, despite US objections

The embargo on the sale of arms to Iran was due to start expiring progressively from Sunday, under the terms of the UN resolution that blessed the 2015 nuclear deal between the Islamic republic and world powers.

Hundreds in Lebanon mark first anniversary of protest movement

There is little energy left as the Covid-19 pandemic spreads, unemployment rises and the capital city reels from a huge explosion in August that left thousands homeless.

Report: Gulf states using Covid-19 as cover to squash dissent

Amnesty International documents that Gulf’s Arab monarchies have used the pandemic as a pretext to increase repressive measures.

Funding shortage cuts aid to four million in Yemen – UN

UN humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock told the Security Council that aid agencies are only reaching 9 million people a month, down from more than 13 million at the beginning of the year.

Is Ethiopia ignoring its citizens stranded on the Saudi-Yemen border?

Addis Ababa appears to be doing very little to protect its migrant citizens who are facing brutality of both the Saudi government and Yemen’s Houthis rebels.

Yemen's warring parties start prisoner swap

The Saudi-led military coalition and Yemen's Houthi movement agreed last month in Switzerland to exchange 1,081 prisoners, including 15 Saudis, in the largest swap since peace talks in December 2018.

Is Turkey-Egypt rapprochement in the eastern Mediterranean possible?

Turkish presidential spokesman signals that if Egypt shows a positive attitude toward Turkey, Ankara will respond kindly to it.

Israel approves first occupied West Bank settler homes since Gulf deals

The latest settlement plans have been submitted to Israel's Civil Administration with Defence Minister Benny Gantz' approval. More than 450,000 Israelis live in Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, excluding those in annexed East Jerusalem.

Lebanon, Israel begin indirect talks over maritime border dispute

Lebanon and Israel have begun unprecedented talks sponsored by the UN and US to settle a maritime border dispute and clear the way for oil and gas exploration.