Iran war deepens Gaza crisis as prices soar, aid falters Gazans fear that Israel could exploit the wider regional war to reenter Gaza, especially as buffer zones along the border continue to expand and civilians are targeted to keep them away. By Daoud Kuttab In Amman, reporting on Palestinian politics
Israel energy minister says gas flowing to Egypt, Jordan despite shutdown reports Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen told Al-Monitor that despite security concerns and partial shut down of marine gas platforms, Israel continues to supply gas to Egypt, Jordan and Israeli consumers. Israel
Saudi Arabia launches new Bahrain maritime link as Hormuz routes strain The service connects King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam with Bahrain’s Khalifa Bin Salman Port. Saudi Arabia
How Egypt is navigating limited options in Iran war to stay neutral Egypt, so far spared from Iranian retaliatory attacks, is pushing for a diplomatic solution as the war with the US and Israel threatens its already fragile economy. Egypt
Analysis How Iran's strike on Qatar gas field could impact LNG market for years By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Analysis How long can markets hold their bet on Gulf resilience as war drags on? By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Analysis How India-China reset could ease competition over Middle East energy, trade Experts suggest the improved ties could allow both countries to pursue joint projects and strengthen their economic and strategic roles in the Middle East. By Sabena Siddiqui In Karachi, reporting on South Asia, Middle East, Iran
Amid Trump tariffs, UAE, Singapore to form trade group of small nations The new group, the Future of Investment and Trade Partnership (FIT-P), is expected to include around 10 countries, with the UAE, Singapore, and New Zealand being founding members. United Arab Emirates
US eases export controls to boost Syria's recovery The move is the Trump administration’s latest bid to assist the country's postwar reconstruction. Syria
UK bans Israeli officials from major defense fair: What to know After suspending trade talks and sanctioning Israeli far-right ministers, the British government barred an official Israeli delegation from a major London defense fair. Israel
Somalia, UAE hold talks as tensions simmer over Puntland, Somaliland The visit occurred on the same day that Somalia's president met with Sudan’s intelligence chief. United Arab Emirates
Iran's currency plunges below 1M against dollar as E3 triggers snapback sanctions Iran's struggles with inflation and the depreciation of the rial could be compounded by Europe reimposing sanctions over the nuclear issue. Iran
ACWA Power, TAQA among Saudi firms backing Syria's energy comeback Some 14 years of civil war have wiped at least $800 billion from the country’s gross domestic product, according to UN figures. Syria
Egypt secures $220M from domestic, Gulf, Chinese investors for solar project Foreign investment from three countries comes at a pivotal time in Egypt’s recovery from its worst financial crisis in over six decades. Egypt
Lebanese PM meets Egypt’s Sisi amid Hezbollah disarmament push: What to know Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi pledged support for Lebanon’s stability and reconstruction during talks in Cairo with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. Lebanon
Abu Dhabi’s Lunate buys stake in UK hedge fund, launches $2B investment arm With $1.7 trillion in sovereign wealth, Abu Dhabi has long sought to establish itself as a global financial hub. United Arab Emirates
In China, Saudi investment minister looks to build on $100B+ trade ties China is the kingdom’s largest trade partner, with bilateral trade between the two reaching roughly $107.5 billion in 2024. Saudi Arabia
UAE president makes first-ever visit to Angola as part of Africa push The UAE president’s visit to Angola, his first, marks a major step in the already strong relations between the two nations. United Arab Emirates
