Middle East Experience

BRICS leaders meeting in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday are expected to decry US President Donald Trump's "indiscriminate" trade tariffs, saying they are illegal and risk hurting the global economy. Emerging nations, which represent about half the world's population and 40 percent of global economic output, have united over "serious concerns" about US import tariffs, according to a draft summit statement obtained by AFP on Saturday.Since coming to office in January, Trump has threatened allies and rivals alike with a slew of punitive duties.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: BRICS nations voice 'serious concerns' over Trump tariffs

In the West Bank city of Tulkarem, the landscape has been transformed after Israeli army bulldozers ploughed through its two refugee camps in what the military called a hunt for Palestinian militants.The army gave thousands of displaced residents just a few hours to retrieve belongings from their homes before demolishing buildings and clearing wide avenues through the rubble.Now residents fear the clearances will erase not just buildings, but their own status as refugees from lands inhabited by generations of their ancestors in what is now Israel.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Israel army bulldozers plough through homes at West Bank camps

This year, the UAE will mark its 54th National Day
Source: Arabian Business
Full Article: UAE National Day 2025: Will there be a five-day weekend? Expected dates revealed

The National Centre for Statistics and Information released the data as part of its quarterly economic assessment, highlighting the diversification efforts within Oman's economy
Source: Arabian Business
Full Article: Oman GDP grows 2.5% in Q1 2025 reaching .5bn

Indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas are set to resume Sunday in Doha for a Gaza truce and hostage release deal, ahead of a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House.Netanyahu had earlier announced he was sending a team to Qatar, a key mediator in the conflict, though he said Hamas's response to a draft US-backed ceasefire deal contained "unacceptable" demands.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Gaza truce talks to resume in Doha before Netanyahu heads to US

The trials are scheduled to begin later this year, with plans to launch a fully driverless commercial service in 2026
Source: Arabian Business
Full Article: Dubai’s RTA launches trials for driverless vehicles

The agreement follows the Dubai Government's announcement of plans to enable payment of government fees using digital currencies
Source: Arabian Business
Full Article: Dubai real estate: Investors can soon buy, sell property under new DLD, Crypto.com deal

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said Sunday his group would not surrender or lay down its weapons in response to Israeli threats, despite pressure on the Lebanese militants to disarm.His speech came ahead of a visit expected Monday by US envoy Thomas Barrack during which Lebanese authorities are due to respond to a request to disarm Hezbollah by year's end, according to a Lebanese official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Hezbollah chief says won't surrender under Israeli threats

Syrian authorities said some 100 square kilometres (40 square miles) of forest had "turned to ash" in wildfires as firefighters from neighbouring Jordan arrived Sunday to battle a fourth day of blazes in the province of Latakia.Syrian emergency workers have faced tough conditions including high temperatures, strong winds, rugged mountainous terrain in the coastal province and the danger of explosive war remnants, in a country worn down by years of conflict and economic crisis.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Syria fights 'catastrophic' fires for fourth day

His family told local authorities that he left around 5 pm local time on Tuesday for a hike toward Whistler’s MacLaurin’s Crossing, on a path he had taken many times during the day. 
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Search ensues for missing Israeli-Ukrainian in Canada