Trending Middle East

Qatar and Boeing on Wednesday struck a deal for what US President Donald Trump called the largest order of jets in the history of the planemaker. GCC leaders told Mr Trump that a Palestinian state is central to stability in the Middle East, while Syrians have reacted to the lifting of US sanctions. Mr Trump will continue his Gulf tour in the UAE today. On this episode of Trending Middle East: Boei...

US President Donald Trump rounded out his first day in Saudi Arabia with a strong commitment to Saudi-US relations as the Gulf country has committed to investing $600 billion in the US, including the "largest defence sales agreement in history”. During his address at the US-Saudi Investment Forum, Mr Trump also announced that he would order the cessation of sanctions against Syria. Qatar is prepar...

US President Donald Trump's trip to the Gulf kicks off with his arrival in Saudi Arabia today. The US and China have agreed to lower tariffs for 90 days as the world's two largest economies continue discussions. The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) announced it will disband and dissolve as part of a peace process with Turkey. On today's episode of Trending Middle East: Trump visit: Qatar Airways' po...

Editor's note: This text has been updated to reflect US President Donald Trump's schedule; he is expected to arrive in Riyadh on 13 May.  US President Donald Trump sets off to 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...

Israeli forces stormed and shut down schools in occupied East Jerusalem run by the UN’s agency for Palestinian refugees. Pakistan says its forces killed "40 to 50 Indian soldiers" along the de facto border in the disputed Kashmir region. Dubai's Emirates airline has posted some of the biggest profits in its history. Israeli forces storm six UNRWA schools in Jerusalem Emirates posts record $5.2 bil...

Tension between India and Pakistan is escalating. The US is potentially shifting its attention away from the Houthis in Yemen. A Lebanese border region has become a flashpoint for conflict with Syria. On this episode of Trending Middle East: What’s behind the enduring India-Pakistan conflict? World leaders call for restraint after India's strikes on Pakistan US and Yemen's Houthis agree on ceasefi...

International NGOs are boycotting an expanded Israeli offensive in Gaza. Syrian leader Ahmad Al Shara is set to meet French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Wednesday. The Israeli military says it has attacked Houthi targets in Yemen, including the airport in Sanaa and several major power stations in the area, a day after it hit the port of Hodeidah. On today's episode of Trending Middle East...

Israel and the Houthis are exchanging threats in an apparent escalation. The International Court of Justice has moved to reject Sudan’s case against the UAE. President Donald Trump has announced a 100 per cent tariff on all films produced outside the US. On this episode of Trending Middle East: 'Israel got lucky': More Houthi missiles expected after rocket lands 350 metres from airport terminal UA...

The Israeli military said it was investigating after a missile launched from Yemen on Sunday landed near Israel’s main airport. Sudan 's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces on Sunday attacked a military airbase in the city of Port Sudan. In Gaza, children are escaping attacks as sole survivors of their families. On this episode of Trending Middle East: Eight injured as Houthi missile lands near Isra...

The UAE and Lebanon are working on lifting travel restrictions, which include a UAE-imposed ban on Emiratis travelling to Lebanon, following a meeting of their Presidents. Washington has reportedly been planning deportations to Libya. Firefighters in Israel are battling what authorities said might be the largest wildfire in the country’s history. On this episode of Trending Middle East: UAE and Le...

Israel is on the offensive in a move it claims it made on behalf of the Druze in Syria. The UAE says it has thwarted a plot to smuggle weapons and military equipment to the Sudanese Armed Forces , which is fighting a bloody civil war against paramilitaries. It’s been just over 100 days of an unprecedented Israeli invasion of Jenin’s refugee camp in the West Bank. On this episode of Trending Middle...

Tension flared in Damascus after the latest in a string of attacks on minority groups. The UN accused both Sudan’s military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces ( RSF ) of committing widespread atrocities against civilians. The UAE has launched a major humanitarian project serving sub-Saharan Africa over the next five years. On this episode of Trending Middle East: UAE pledges $125m in drive...

The International Court of Justice is hearing a case against Israel this week. Israel 's military struck Beirut ’s southern suburbs at the weekend. Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara has rejected a Kurdish call for federalism in a post-Assad government. On today's episode of Trending Middle East: ICJ hears Israel using starvation as weapon in Gaza crisis Israel strikes Beirut for third time since cea...

Trump: free passage through the Suez Canal for American ships. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has appointed a close aide as the first Deputy President of the Palestine Liberation Organisation . US and Iranian officials are scheduled to meet next week for a fourth round of nuclear talks. On this episode of Trending Middle East: Egyptians reject Trump's demand for free Suez Canal passage Palest...

Hamas and Israeli negotiators are engaged in what have been called “serious” talks in Cairo on a potential ceasefire in Gaza. Tension is flaring between India and Pakistan; India has now suspended visa services to Pakistanis with immediate effect. The Lebanese parliament has approved a law aimed at removing banking secrecy in the country. On this episode of Trending Middle East: Lebanese parliamen...

Jordanian authorities have banned the Muslim Brotherhood a week after members of the group were accused of being involved in an armed plot against the state. An earthquake of 6.2 magnitude struck Istanbul on Wednesday. The UAE is renewing calls for the protection of emergency workers in Gaza, after its field hospital in the strip sustained damage from Israeli attacks. On today's episode of Trendin...

foreign courts in relation to the country’s largest financial scandal . The Israeli military launched a drone strike on Lebanon, a rare attack outside the country’s south since a ceasefire with Hezbollah took effect in November. Iran will offer major opportunities for foreign companies if Washington and Tehran secure a deal on the country’s nuclear programme and wide-ranging sanctions are lifted....

Pope Francis has died at his residence in the Vatican. US air strikes on Sanaa killed at least 12 people and wounded 30 overnight into Monday. Adnoc has signed new supply agreements with Chinese companies. On today's episode of Trending Middle East: The lasting legacy of Pope Francis in the Middle East President Sheikh Mohamed pays tribute after death of Pope Francis US air strikes on Sanaa kill a...

Talks between Iran and the US on Tehran's nuclear programme are gaining momentum. Iraqi politicians are trying to keep Syrian president Ahmed Al Shara from the Arab Summit next month. For a second year in a row, Christians in Gaza observed Easter Sunday in mourning.   On today's episode of Trending Middle East:   'Unlikely is possible', says Oman as US-Iran nuclear talks progress in Rome   Iraqi M...

Iraq is finally crossing the bridge from violence to influence, the country’s top UN official has said. EU officials are working to combat rising anti-Muslim sentiment, a senior anti-discrimination official told The National. The UAE has gathered the genetic data of more than 800,000 Emiratis in a major advance in diagnosing conditions at an early stage. On this episode of Trending Middle East:  ...

Talks between the US and Iran this week will create a framework to discuss Tehran's nuclear programme. Tensions between Algeria and France have flared up this week amid tit-for-tat diplomat expulsions. Egypt’s finance minister has presented an ambitious national budget to parliament, proposing record spending, tax increases and subsidy cuts.   On this episode of Trending Middle East:   US and Iran...

Jordan said on Tuesday it thwarted plots that threatened its national security, detaining 16 people on charges that included manufacturing and importing rockets illegally and the possession of explosives. Israeli medics are refusing to serve in Gaza. Judicial officials in Turkey have rejected an appeal seeking the release of former Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu pending the outcome of his corruptio...

Lebanese sources have told The National the government is under pressure from the US and other foreign officials to replace Hezbollah-linked security staff. The European Union is upping its financial aid to Palestine. A second round of nuclear talks between the United States and Iran will be held in Rome.   On this episode of Trending Middle East:   Lebanon under pressure from US and other foreign...

Iran and the US are set to hold a second round of nuclear deal talks next week. Syria 's President Ahmad Al Shara visited the UAE on Sunday. Lebanon marks 50 years since the start of its civil war this week.   On this episode of Trending Middle East:   'Constructive' Iran-US talks in Oman draw regional optimism   Syrian leader Al Shara expected to visit UAE   Lebanon haunted by civil war’s afterma...

The UAE has accused Sudan’s army of lodging false allegations at the International Court of Justice. Stocks in Asia posted the biggest jump in two years after US President Donald Trump announced a 90-day pause on some of the drastic tariffs he put in place earlier this month. French President Emmanuel Macron has said his country plans to recognise a Palestinian state within months.   UAE accuses S...