Rubio and Al-Zaidi Chart Course for US-Iraq Ties

UN Chief Calls for Stronger Protection of Humanitarian Workers on Anniversary of 2003 Baghdad Bombing

UN Secretary-General António Guterres marked the twenty-third anniversary of the bombing of the UN's Baghdad headquarters by honouring the 22 colleagues killed in the attack and urging renewed commitment to protecting humanitarian workers worldwide. Speaking on World Humanitarian Day, Guterres warned that rules designed to safeguard civilians and aid personnel are being violated with alarming frequency and impunity.

Jordan at a Crossroads: Politics, Economy, and Regional Role

Jordan occupies a pivotal position in the Middle East, balancing domestic reform pressures with a complex web of regional alliances and economic challenges. This overview examines the key forces shaping the Hashemite Kingdom's present and near-term future.

Even if Hamas disarms, the challenge in Gaza will be accountability

History suggests that without legal and moral accountability, reconciliation and durable peace will remain elusive.

Only 3 Percent of Gaza's Cropland Remains Accessible and Undamaged, UN Assessment Finds

A new geospatial assessment by the FAO and UNOSAT finds that just 448 hectares of Gaza's cropland are both accessible and undamaged, as restricted access to farmland and critical shortages of agricultural inputs continue to undermine local food production. The findings underscore the deepening deterioration of an agricultural sector that once supported the livelihoods of more than 560,000 people.

UN Security Council Condemns Houthi Escalation

The UN Security Council has issued a sweeping condemnation of Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia and commercial shipping, while warning that ongoing military escalation in Yemen risks widening the conflict and worsening a severe humanitarian situation. At least 125,000 people have been displaced across Yemen since the start of September, according to UN humanitarian figures.

Daily Life in Bahrain: A Blend of Gulf Tradition and Modern Cosmopolitan Culture

Bahrain, the small island nation in the Arabian Gulf, offers a lifestyle shaped by deep-rooted Islamic traditions alongside a notably open and diverse urban environment. From its bustling souqs to its international dining scene, life in Bahrain reflects the country's position as one of the region's most cosmopolitan societies.

EU Parliament Demands End to Aid Worker Killings

The European Parliament has adopted a resolution calling on the EU and its member states to unequivocally condemn the killing of humanitarian workers and the obstruction of aid delivery. MEPs also raised alarm over a global humanitarian funding crisis driven in part by aid budget cuts among key donors, including several EU member states.

More than half of Earth’s migratory bird species are declining – here’s how we can still save them

A new global assessment of the world’s migratory species finds reason for alarm, but also hope – and a road map for helping them survive.

Omani Shuwa: Spiced Slow-Roasted Lamb

In the cool hours before dawn on the eve of Eid, families across Oman gather around freshly dug pits in the earth, lowering banana-leaf-wrapped bundles of meat into smoldering coals. This is Shuwa, a ritual as much as a recipe — a dish that demands patience, community, and trust in a process that unfolds slowly, invisibly, over an entire day and night beneath the sand.

Yemen Risks Being Pulled into Wider Regional War, UN Envoy Warns Security Council

The UN Special Envoy for Yemen has told the Security Council that the country faces a greater risk of returning to large-scale conflict than at any point since the 2022 UN-mediated truce, as Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping lanes deepen Yemen's entanglement with the wider regional confrontation. A separate UN humanitarian briefing warned that 6 million Yemenis are experiencing emergency levels of deprivation, while the humanitarian appeal remains just barely 20 per cent funded.

Syria: All Syrians Must Shape Their Country's Future

The UN Security Council stressed that inclusive state institutions and the rule of law must underpin Syria's political transition, as speakers warned against replicating old power structures under new leadership. Humanitarian progress is emerging, but millions still lack access to basic services, and a newly launched UN fund seeks to address underfunded needs.

UN Security Council Must Not Become Platform for Disinformation, Members Warn as Political Deadlock Deepens

An annual open debate on the Security Council's working methods exposed deepening divisions among its permanent members and a record-length impasse over the appointment of subsidiary body chairs. Speakers from nearly 60 delegations urged reforms to restore transparency, functionality, and trust in the Council — with direct implications for conflict resolution efforts across the Middle East and beyond.