Putin visits UAE and Saudi Arabia to build closer cooperation
In an attempt to strengthen bilateral relations in West Asia, Russian president Vladimir Putin visited Saudi Arabia and the UAE on December 6.
US bid to convince allies to normalize ties with Israel is floundering
Despite repeated high-level visits, US officials have so far failed to convince the Saudis to normalize relations with Israel. The recent visit by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also confirms speculation that Gulf Cooperation Council countries are striving for more autonomy
After facing criticism during his three-day visit to Israel, Biden will visit Saudi Arabia where he try to convince Arab nations to “normalize” tries with the Zionist regime
Saudi-based Yemeni leader steps down as president
The Houthis, who had rejected the invitation to join the talks in Riyadh where the presidential council was created, have refused to recognize the council calling it a foreign implant without any real representation of the Yemeni people
Saudi-led coalition announces ceasefire in Yemen for Ramadan
However, a top Houthi leader termed the act meaningless considering the siege of the country. On March 26, the Houthis had announced a three-day ceasefire with the offer to make it permanent if the Saudi-led coalition ceased hostilities and lifted the blockade
UN aid conference for Yemen falls short amid warnings of widespread famine and deaths
At the UN pledging conference for Yemen, Gulf countries that are party to the war in Yemen, like Saudi Arabia and the UAE, failed to commit any aid
Dozens of Al-Jazeera journalists allegedly hacked using Israeli spyware
According to Canada-based Citizen Lab, the UAE and Saudi Arabia hacked the Al-Jazeera journalists’ iPhones using Israel-based NSO group’s Pegasus spyware
In Kuwait, protesting Egyptian workers demanding repatriation face police action
Workers have been stranded in shelters meant for those violating Kuwaiti residency laws after being left jobless due to the novel coronavirus outbreak. Kuwait has recorded over 5,000 confirmed cases and 40 deaths due to COVID-19
The OPEC+ deal on oil production: what are the implications?
Total global production of oil may go down by 15% with promises from some non-OPEC countries as well. However, this may not be sufficient to stop the fall in international oil prices
Disastrous Saudi-led war on Yemen enters sixth year
March 26 marked the fifth anniversary of the Saudi-led war on Yemen.
Saudi-led war on Yemen completes five disastrous years
Intervention by the Saudi-led coalition, which is supported by the US and others, has led to what the United Nations has called the “world’s worst humanitarian crisis of the century” in Yemen
