Qatar emerges as surprise contender to host 2025 Rugby League World Cup The Gulf nation has never played an international rugby league match. The Independent UK · May 17, 2023
Qatar and Bahrain to resume flights on May 25 The Gulf countries announced a restoration of ties in April, resolving a dispute dating back to 2017. Al Jazeera · May 16, 2023
UN labour rights watchdog facing backlash over Qatar conference nomination Exclusive: Qatari minister expected to take presidency of ILO event despite bribery investigation The Guardian - UK · May 16, 2023
US to bolster ‘defensive posture’ in Gulf: White House The move is in response to ‘Iranian threats, armed seizures and attacks’ on shipping vessels, US official says. Al Jazeera · May 12, 2023
US military to bolster defensive posture in Gulf after Iran seizes tankers The U.S. military will work to bolster the defensive posture in the Gulf region following Iran's seizure and harassment of commercial shipping vessels in recent months, U.S. officials said on Friday. Reuters · May 12, 2023
Gulf of Carpentaria towns fear another flood as urgent funding pleas ignored in federal budget Leaders in one of the country's most disadvantaged communities fear their towns will die if bridges are not raised before the next wet season. ABC News · May 11, 2023
Analysis-North Africa backslides toward swirling debt troubles Tunisia and Egypt are edging closer to major debt crises that could suck in a volatile North Africa region and pose tough choices to wealthy Gulf Arab neighbours, investors and analysts warn. Reuters · May 11, 2023
Saudi King invites Syria's Assad to attend Arab League summit -Syrian state media Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz invited Syria's President Bashar al-Assad to attend an Arab League summit in the Gulf country's city of Jeddah, the Syrian state media reported on Wednesday. Reuters · May 10, 2023
What is Captagon, the addictive drug mass-produced in Syria? The drug, often smuggled to Gulf states, has been a key topic in discussions over Syria’s re-entry to the Arab League. Al Jazeera · May 9, 2023
Experts say Qatar can lead Gulf on protections for workers against heat stress (Refiles May 9 story to add dropped words in quote in eighth paragraph) Reuters · May 9, 2023
From pariah to peacemaker? New chapter for Mohammed bin Salman's Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia's crown prince is mending fences with Syria and Iran, soothing rivalries with Gulf rivals and now welcoming the Biden administration's point man on security to Jeddah. Ten months after that frosty fist bump with the US president, Mohammed bin Salman is talking peace-brokering in Sudan and a winding… France 24 · May 8, 2023
In new ‘Quad’ meet with U.S, Saudi and UAE, Doval discusses infrastructure initiatives in Gulf In what is being billed as another important “Quad” in West Asia, Saudi Prince and Prime Minister Mohammad Bin Salman (MbS) hosted a special meeting of the National Security Advisers (NSAs) of India, the U.S. and the UAE, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia The Hindu · May 8, 2023
Gulf of Carpentaria sees 'best fishing in years' as cherabin, barramundi take over rivers after record floods Fishers say they are catching buckets of giant freshwater prawns with their bare hands in the Gulf's best fishing season in decades. ABC News · May 5, 2023
Messi scandal spotlights Saudi ambitions to turn desert kingdom into tourist Mecca Lionel Messi’s promotional trip to Saudi Arabia has kicked up a storm at his Qatari-owned football club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), while also casting a spotlight on Riyadh’s efforts to showcase its heritage and lure foreign visitors. FRANCE 24 spoke to Gulf analyst Karim Sader about Saudi ambitions to turn the… France 24 · May 4, 2023
The Independent UK · May 4, 2023 The Lionel Messi tug-of-war: How Gulf oil states are fighting over football’s greatest player Messi will leave PSG in the summer but finds himself at the heart of a geopolitical rivalry
Asharq Al-Awsat · May 4, 2023 Iran Arrests Firm Managers for Backing Labor Strikes Iranian authorities have arrested managers at companies for backing workers' strikes in an energy-producing region in the south, Iranian media reported Wednesday. "A number of managers" were arrested for "having supported the acts of counter-revolutionary elements" and "organized strikes" at South Pars projects, AFP quoted Fars news agency as saying.…
Asharq Al-Awsat · May 4, 2023 Arab, Islamic States Condemn Storming of Saudi Cultural Attaché in Sudan Gulf, Arab and Islamic states condemned the storming of the Saudi Cultural Attaché building in Khartoum, stressing the need to respect international and diplomatic agreements that guarantee the sanctity and safety of the headquarters of diplomatic missions. On Tuesday, the Saudi Foreign Ministry announced that its cultural attaché office in…
Reuters · May 3, 2023 Greece warned shipowners days before Iran seized tankers - sources Greece issued a series of warnings to shipowners to avoid sailing close to Iranian waters days before Tehran seized two tankers amid heightening tensions in the region, according to documents and industry sources.
The Guardian - UK · May 3, 2023 Raisi flies to Syria for first Iranian presidential visit since start of civil war Tehran seeks to bolster influence over Damascus as Gulf states move to normalise relations with Assad
Reuters · May 3, 2023 Syria touts for Gulf tourists amid emerging Arab rapprochement Overlooked by a portrait of President Bashar al-Assad and offering sticky sweets, a Syrian tourism booth in Dubai is trying to seize on an emerging rapprochement with Arab states to win back Gulf tourists it lost during more than a decade of war.
Reuters · May 3, 2023 Kuwait sets June 6 date for legislative elections -KUNA Kuwait on Wednesday set June 6 as the date for its legislative elections, state news agency Kuna reported, two days after the Gulf state's parliament was dissolved by royal decree.
Reuters · May 3, 2023 Iran seizes second oil tanker in a week in Gulf -U.S. Navy Iran seized a second oil tanker in a week on Wednesday in Gulf waters, and the U.S. State Department called for its release, in the latest escalation in a series of seizures or attacks on commercial vessels in Gulf waters since 2019.
Asharq Al-Awsat · May 3, 2023 Gulf Cities: Global Destinations at Arabian Travel Market The countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) showcased their touristic highlights, including culture, heritage and natural diversity, at the Arabian Travel Market, which is being held in Dubai. The pavilions of the Gulf countries and cities attracted the largest rate of visitors and businessmen who are looking for investment…
Asharq Al-Awsat · Apr 29, 2023 Advantage Tankers Accuse Iran of Seizing its Oil Tanker The Iranian navy escorted Advantage Sweet to a port based on an "international dispute," announced Advantage Tankers. On Thursday, Iran's navy seized a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker heading to the US in the Gulf of Oman. Advantage Tankers, which owns Advantage Sweet, said the Iranian navy had transferred it to…
The Independent UK · Apr 28, 2023 Court ends challenge to 2021 Gulf oil and gas lease sale A federal appeals court in Washington has rejected a challenge to the federal government's sale of oil and gas leases for the Gulf of Mexico that were auctioned in 2021