Sunday, January 18, 2026

Middle East

UAE signs nuclear agreements with Chinese companies

Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC), the body responsible for developing the United Arab Emirates' nuclear energy sector, has inked three deals with Chinese nuclear energy organizations as it looks to boost low-carbon nuclear power.

Biden aide in Riyadh discusses Yemen with MbS

The US national security adviser Jake Sullivan has met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh and reviewed what the White House called “significant progress” in Yemen peace efforts, the White House has announced.

UN says to suspend food aid for Gaza, West Bank

The World Food Programme (WFP) of the United Nations has announced it will suspend food aid to a large number of impoverished Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip and West Bank due to funding shortages.

Syria calls for dialogue, joint action after returning to Arab League

Syria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has welcomed a decision by the Arab League to bring Damascus back to the bloc. The ministry has stressed the importance of dialogue and joint action to confront the challenges facing the Arab world.

Erdogan pledges to further enhance Turkish defense industry

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held his campaign’s largest rally so far in Istanbul on Sunday with a historic crowd of 1.7 million people ahead of the May 14 polls. He pledged to further enhance the country's defence industry if he wins the presidential election.

Israelis rally against PM’s judicial reforms for 18th week

Tens of thousands of Israelis have protested for the 18th straight week against the hard-right government's controversial judicial reforms, despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu having shelved the overhaul more than a month ago.

Report: Arab League FMs agree on Syria’s return to bloc after over 10 years

Foreign ministers from Arab League member states have agreed to reinstate Syria’s membership after its suspension more than 10 years ago, according to reports.

Massive rally held in Istanbul in support of Erdogan rival

The Republican People's Party (CHP) held an election rally in the Turkish city of Istanbul on Saturday. Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the CHP and the main opposition candidate, is President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s closest rival.

Israeli settler guns down 20-year-old Palestinian

An Israeli settler has fatally shot a young Palestinian in the northern part of the occupied territories. It comes hours after Israeli troops killed two Palestinian youths in the occupied West Bank.

Cypriot airline banned from Lebanese airspace over Israeli shares

Lebanon has banned the largest airline in Cyprus, TUS Airways, from flying over Lebanese airspace or landing at Beirut international airport, citing that an Israeli corporation owns the company’s shares.

Two Palestinians killed in Israeli raid on West Bank

Two Palestinian were killed in an Israeli assault on a refugee camp in the northern West Bank city of Tulkarm on Saturday. Gaza-based resistance movements Hamas and Islamic Jihad have vowed to respond to Israel’s killing of the Palestinian youths.

Israel says hoping for breakthrough with Saudi Arabia during Biden aide visit

Tel Aviv is hoping for a breakthrough this weekend in efforts to normalize ties with Riyadh during White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan's visit, a senior security official has said.

Palestine says Israel actions could lead to ‘explosion’ in West Asia

The Palestinian Authority (PA) has warned that the continuation of the recent escalation in the Israeli regime's daily crimes against Palestinians could have dire consequences for the entire region.

Congresswoman introduces bill to restrict US aid to Israel

A US congresswoman has renewed a push to ensure that Washington’s aid to Israel does not contribute to abuses of Palestinians, particularly children. It comes as progressive legislators continue to call for conditions to be placed on the assistance.

Iran, Syria slam Israel as ‘root cause’ of all regional crises

Tehran and Damascus jointly censure Israel’s acts of aggression against Syria and occupation of the Arab country’s Golan Heights, describing the regime as the “root cause” of all crises and security threats in the region.

Syria’s return to Arab League ‘very likely’: Secretary General

Secretary General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit has said there is a very high chance for restoration of Syria’s membership in the 22-member regional organization as a founding member during the next Arab summit in Saudi Arabia later this month.

US says to agree to Israel’s ‘freedom of action’ if Iran tries to get nuclear bombs

The United States will recognize Israel’s right for "freedom of action" if Iran tries to obtain nuclear weapons, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has stated. Tehran denies claims that it is seeking a nuclear weapon.

White House dispatching top aide to meet with MbS

US President Joe Biden is dispatching one of his top advisers to Saudi Arabia to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto leader of the kingdom, later this week.

Erdogan accuses Turkish opposition of being gay

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused his political rival, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, of being “LGBT”, ahead of next week’s elections. The government in Ankara views LGBT ideology as an American and European “religion”, alien to Turkish morals.

Iran’s president says Israel “weaker than ever”

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has stated that the resistance of the Palestinian and Lebanese people as well as resistance gropus against Israel has made the Zionist regime “weaker than ever.”

President Raisi: Palestine most important issue for Islamic world

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has met with resistance leaders and commanders and Palestinian thinkers in Syria, stressing that Palestine is the most important issue for the Islamic world.

Ankara says US seeks revenge against Turkey for failed coups during upcoming election

Turkish Minister of the Interior Suleyman Soylu has accused Washington of planning to oust current President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during the May 14 presidential elections as a revenge for the failed coup attempts in the country.

Israeli troops kill three Palestinians in WB’s Nablus

Israeli forces have killed three Palestinians and injured several others during a raid on the West Bank city of Nablus.

Israel says discussing possible direct Haj flights to S. Arabia

Israel has expressed hope that Saudi Arabia would allow direct flights for its Muslim citizens who want to make the Hajj pilgrimage, to start in June.

US says has engaged with Syria on case of missing American journalist

Washington is extensively engaged on the case of an American journalist who disappeared a decade ago in Damascus, including with Syria and other countries, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said.

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