UN Security Council Condemns Houthi Escalation

Houthi advance boosts Iran’s leverage over the US and Saudi Arabia – but may cost rebel group its legitimacy back in Yemen

Seizure of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait complicates a widening conflict in the Persian Gulf. It also risks reigniting Yemen’s civil war.

Iran war pushes diesel – the economy’s lifeblood – to record high prices, with no relief on the horizon

The country, and the world, have been losing diesel refining capacity for many years and can’t just ramp up production to fill the shortages.

UN Council Split Over Iran Sanctions 'Snapback'

The UN Security Council held a fractious debate over the validity of the 1737 Iran sanctions committee's mandate, with Western members warning of nuclear escalation while Russia and China rejected the meeting's premise entirely. Deep divisions over whether the JCPOA 'snapback' mechanism has been triggered have left the committee without a chair or a functioning Panel of Experts.

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.

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

Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi to discuss the future of the bilateral partnership. The two officials aligned on the need for Iraq to dismantle terrorist militias, halt attacks originating from its territory, and assert full sovereignty.

Slow-Baked Jachnun: Yemenite Sabbath Pastry

Long before the sun rises over Jerusalem's stone alleys or Tel Aviv's bustling shuk, ovens across Israel are already humming with a secret that has traveled thousands of miles and hundreds of years. Inside them, coiled rolls of golden dough sit patiently in low, steady heat, transforming overnight into something extraordinary: deeply caramelized, faintly sweet, impossibly tender jachnun. This is the taste of Yemenite Jewish heritage, carried by immigrants who settled in Israel and brought with them a Sabbath ritual as much about patience as it is about flavor.

Jordan: A Kingdom at the Crossroads

Jordan is a small but strategically vital Hashemite Kingdom in the heart of the Middle East, bordered by Israel, Palestine, Syria, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia. Its history, geopolitical role, and ongoing challenges make it one of the region's most consequential 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.

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.

Classic Egyptian Koshari: Cairo's Beloved Comfort Bowl

Step onto any bustling Cairo street corner as the sun begins to dip, and you'll catch the scent before you see the stall: cumin-laced tomato sauce simmering, garlic sizzling in oil, and the sweet caramel perfume of onions frying to a deep golden crisp. This is the aroma of koshari, a dish so woven into Egyptian daily life that it transcends class, neighborhood, and generation. From marble-countered downtown eateries to plastic stools set up along dusty alleyways, everyone has an opinion about whose koshari reigns supreme.

FAO Chief: Horticulture Must Drive the Next Transformation of Global Agrifood Systems

FAO Director-General QU Dongyu told the International Horticultural Congress in Kyoto that unlocking horticulture's full potential is essential to delivering healthy diets and resilient food systems, warning that rising production figures have so far failed to translate into better nutrition outcomes. He called for targeted investment, innovation, and stronger policies to close widening gaps in productivity, availability, and affordability.

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.