
Trump heads to the Gulf and flights resume in South Asia
US President Donald Trump arrives in the Gulf today. Flights between the UAE and Pakistan resumed at the weekend. There has been a sharp increase in settler violence across the occupied West Bank since the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel by Hamas. On today's episode of Trending Middle East: White House says Trump's Gulf trip to usher in 'golden age' in US-Middle East relations Trump returns to a changed Gulf: How the region has evolved since 2017 India and Pakistan trade accusations of breaking ceasefire India-Pakistan ceasefire: Passengers hopeful flights will operate as Islamabad reopens air space Palestinians and Israeli activists hit by increasing settler attacks in Jordan Valley This episode features Jihan Abdalla, Senior Correspondent and Thomas Helm, Jerusalem Correspondent.
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Arabian Post
2 hours ago
- Arabian Post
Israel Is All Set To Take Over Gaza, West Bank Area
By Nantoo Banerjee Gaza's Hamas militants face an unmitigated disaster as Israel is all set to take full control over Gaza strip after a gap of almost 20 years. Simultaneously, Israel seems to be gearing up to annex a substantial portion (Area C) of West Bank ignoring protests from France, the United Kingdom and Sweden and even a section of its own people In Tel Aviv. Last week, Israel said it would establish 22 additional Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank. Hamas has few genuine supporters in the Arab world barring Iran and pro-Iran Houthis. Gaza may soon become a part of Israel's extended territory with Palestinian population vastly diminished due to death and displacement during the Israel-Hamas war since October 7, 2023. The present Gaza war follows several unresolved Israeli–Palestinian conflicts in the past, including those in 2008, 2009, 2012, 2014, and 2021. Ironically, Israel gave up the control of the Gaza strip, one of the world's most densely populated settlements, in 2005. It withdrew from the Gaza strip and dismantled all its settlements. Israel also withdrew from the Philadelphi Route, a narrow strip of land adjacent to the border with Egypt, after Egypt agreed to secure its side of the border after the Agreement on Movement and Access, known as the Rafah accord. The Israeli army had invaded and took control of the Gaza strip in 1967 following a six-day war. It also captured the West Bank and east Jerusalem. At the time of Israel's withdrawal from the 40-kilometer-long Gaza strip, its population was as large as 1.3 million. The birth rate in Gaza is among the highest in the world. However, there was little room for a proper Jewish settlement there to govern the place without much tension. The Palestinian population is expected to be reduced significantly due to death and dislocation by the time of the end of the war, which seems to have reached the final stage. Nearly 70 percent of Gaza's Palestinian population are refugees, depending mostly on humanitarian assistance for their daily livelihood. The security-linked Israeli blockade of transport movement through the land, air, and sea has forced a good number of the Gaza population to flee the area or die of starvation. In a way, Gaza's refugee population has long been held captive by the Hamas militants running the show in the narrow strip. Once reacquired, Israel will ensure an adequate presence of Jewish population in Gaza to ensure its smooth management and make the strip economically viable. Once the Gaza strip is conquered and a good part of the West Bank comes under the full Israeli control, the country is expected to concentrate on realising its long-cherished dream to emerge as one of the world's top economic and military power. Currently, Israel is West Asia's most developed and advanced country, boasting the 17th largest foreign-exchange reserves in the world. It has the highest average wealth per adult in the 18-member West Asian region, including those on or near the Arabian Peninsula, as well as Turkey, Egypt, and Iran. Israel ranks 10th worldwide by financial assets per capita. Notably, as many as eight Arab states now openly and unabashedly deal with Israel. They are: Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Oman, Morocco, Bahrain and Sudan. Assuming that Israel's fighting in Gaza and Lebanon will ease soon, the latest economic survey report of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has forecast that the country's economy will grow at a rate of 3.4 percent in 2025 and 5.5 percent in 2026, which is faster than the OECD's average growth forecast for the global economy of 3.1 percent in 2025 and three percent in 2026. The OECD's growth forecast for the current year is lower than the Bank of Israel's projection of four percent and the Israel Finance Ministry's 4.4 percent. However, the OECD expects Israel's economy to rebound this year although it is pessimistic about the pace of growth, citing the risk of war-related spending that continues to take a toll on the country's finances. The 2023 US News & World Report ranked Israel among the world's 10 most powerful countries. It found the Israeli military the fourth strongest globally, behind only the US, China and Russia. The Report said Israel is also the world's sixth most politically influential power. It should be noted that Israel's bid to become a leading global economic and military power are multifaceted. They include strengthening of the country's high-tech sector, continuous innovation in defence technology, and fostering a robust economy. Several multinational corporations are setting up R&D centres in the country. It has a vibrant startup ecosystem, which attracts both local and international investment, and fosters innovation. Israel has a well-established and highly innovative defence manufacturing industry, developing advanced weaponry and technology. The country is a significant exporter of defence equipment. Israel wants to end the Gaza war as early as possible to concentrate on the country's economic development. In his first press conference of the year, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that by the end of the current war, the entire Gaza strip would be under Israeli security control. Interestingly, Palestinians in the southern Gaza region have lately taken to the streets to protest against Hamas. Those Gaza-based Palestinian demonstrators were seen in videos posted on social media calling for an end to the war and for the removal of the armed group from Gaza. 'Out! Out! Out! All of Hamas, out!' they chanted. With the head of the Hamas armed wing, Mohammed Sinwar, killed in an Israeli strike last week, the Gaza war is most unlikely to last long. (IPA Service)


Khaleej Times
4 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Pakistan to play in Colombo when India hosts Women's World Cup
Pakistan will play all their women's 50-over World Cup matches in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo when India hosts this year's tournament, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Monday. Politically-estranged India and Pakistan, who have not played a bilateral series since 2013, will play their matches in neutral venues when either country hosts an ICC event, the sport's global governing body announced in December. "The venues for the knockouts are dependent on Pakistan qualifying as two alternative venues have been identified for one semifinal and the final," the ICC said. "Colombo will be the venue for the first semifinal and the final only if Pakistan qualify for those stages." Bengaluru, where the tournament will start with India playing in the opening match, will host the final on November 2 if Pakistan are knocked out earlier in the tournament, the ICC added. Bengaluru will also stage the second semifinal on October 30, a day after the first semifinal in Colombo or Guwahati. Visakhapatnam and Indore are the two other host cities for the eight-team tournament. India played all their matches in Dubai when Pakistan hosted the men's Champions Trophy this year, including the final which they won. Both the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Pakistan Super League were suspended last month amid clashes between the two countries following an attack targeting tourists that killed 26 people in Kashmir in April. Matches resumed after a ceasefire was announced. The neutral venue arrangement between the countries will also be in place for the men's T20 World Cup in 2026, which India will co-host with Sri Lanka, and the women's T20 World Cup in 2028 in Pakistan.


Sharjah 24
5 hours ago
- Sharjah 24
FNC, State Duma of Russian Federation discuss cooperation
The meeting explored ways to strengthen cooperation and partnership across various sectors, reflecting the growing strategic and friendly relations between the UAE and the Russian Federation, supported by the leadership and governments of both countries. Both sides emphasised the importance of further advancing and deepening these ties. At the start of the meeting, Saqr Ghobash welcomed Babakov and his accompanying delegation, reaffirming the depth of UAE-Russia relations and the shared commitment to expanding them. The two parties underscored the strength of the friendship between the UAE and Russia and highlighted the importance of developing parliamentary cooperation between the FNC and the State Duma. They emphasised the value of collaboration on issues of mutual interest in regional and international parliamentary forums, serving the interests of both nations and their peoples. The meeting was also attended by several FNC members. Ghobash noted that such meetings and reciprocal visits represent a continuation of active parliamentary cooperation. He referred to his recent official visit to the Russian Federation, where he led an FNC delegation to the Nevsky International Ecological Congress. That visit demonstrated the UAE's commitment to enhancing bilateral cooperation in environmental and economic fields and marked a key step in expanding both parliamentary and environmental collaboration, reinforcing the strategic partnership between the two countries. He also affirmed the FNC's keenness to continue coordination with the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation to promote joint parliamentary action and to strengthen bilateral representation in international forums in support of peace, development, and global understanding. For his part, Babakov affirmed the depth of the strategic relations between the Russian Federation and the UAE. He praised the UAE's remarkable progress in areas such as sustainable development, innovation, artificial intelligence, space exploration, and the empowerment of women and youth. He also commended the UAE's role as a reliable partner in promoting regional and international security and stability, as well as its initiatives in mediation, humanitarian aid, and economic diplomacy.