WEATHER ALERT
Two British warships collided in a Middle East port. No one was injured but damage was sustained
Read full article: Two British warships collided in a Middle East port. No one was injured but damage was sustainedThe British navy says two of its warships have collided in a harbor in Bahrain, causing damage but no injuries.
US in deep freeze while much of the world is extra toasty? Yet again, it's climate change
Read full article: US in deep freeze while much of the world is extra toasty? Yet again, it's climate changeWhile the U.S. is shivering through bone-chilling cold, most of the rest of world is feeling unusually warm weather.
Iran supreme leader says he'd 'welcome' full diplomatic ties with Egypt; presidency websites hacked
Read full article: Iran supreme leader says he'd 'welcome' full diplomatic ties with Egypt; presidency websites hackedIran’s supreme leader says he’d “welcome” the restoration of full diplomatic ties between Egypt and the Islamic Republic.
Drone hits Israeli-linked tanker; Iran frees 2 Greek tankers
Read full article: Drone hits Israeli-linked tanker; Iran frees 2 Greek tankersAn oil tanker associated with an Israeli billionaire has been struck by an Iranian bomb-carrying drone off the coast of Oman amid heightened tensions with Tehran.
Trump strikes new overseas deal and raises old ethics issue
Read full article: Trump strikes new overseas deal and raises old ethics issueDonald Trump’s company is licensing its name to a golf resort in Oman in the first of what it hopes will be several overseas deals, raising conflicts-of-interest issues as the former president prepares for a possible third run for the White House.
Saudi-offered, rebel-rejected cease-fire starts in Yemen war
Read full article: Saudi-offered, rebel-rejected cease-fire starts in Yemen warA Saudi-led coalition battling Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis has begun observing a unilateral cease-fire in the yearslong war, even as the rebels said they rejected the proposal.
Chinese boats spotted illegally hauling tuna in Indian Ocean
Read full article: Chinese boats spotted illegally hauling tuna in Indian OceanA new report by a Norwegian watchdog group documents Chinese squid vessels using wide nets to illegally catch already overfished tuna as part of a surge in unregulated activity in the Indian Ocean.
Biden embraces a Trump policy in backing Arab-Israeli deals
Read full article: Biden embraces a Trump policy in backing Arab-Israeli dealsThe Biden administration is laying the groundwork for a renewed push to encourage more Arab countries to sign accords with Israel, and working to strengthen existing deals.
US hopes for more Abraham deals in embrace of a Trump policy
Read full article: US hopes for more Abraham deals in embrace of a Trump policyThe Biden administration is laying the groundwork for a renewed push to encourage more Arab countries to sign accords with Israel, and working to strengthen existing deals.
Israeli-owned ship docked in Dubai after mysterious blast
Read full article: Israeli-owned ship docked in Dubai after mysterious blastThe Israeli-owned cargo ship, Helios Ray, sits docked in port after arriving earlier in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021. The ship has been damaged by an unexplained blast at the gulf of Oman on Thursday. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)DUBAI – An Israeli-owned cargo ship that suffered a mysterious explosion in the Gulf of Oman came to Dubai's port for repairs Sunday, days after the blast that revived security concerns in Mideast waterways amid heightened tensions with Iran. Associated Press journalists saw the hulking Israeli-owned MV Helios Ray sitting at dry dock facilities at Dubai's Port Rashid. An Emirati coast guard vessel was seen sailing behind the ship, with Dubai police and Emirati armed forces vehicles parked nearby.
IMF: Nearly all Mideast economies hit by pandemic recession
Read full article: IMF: Nearly all Mideast economies hit by pandemic recessionWell before the coronavirus swept across the globe, several Mideast countries had been struggling with issues ranging from lower oil prices and sluggish economic growth to corruption and high unemployment. The IMF projects the Lebanese economy will see one of the region's sharpest economic contractions this year at 25%. The pandemic has only pushed the country further to the brink after a wave of anti-government anger before the virus struck. Meanwhile, wealthy Mideast oil exporters are expected to see their economies contract by 6.6% in 2020, the IMF said. Gulf Arab states, however, are expected to see average economic growth of 2.3% next year.