At Mar-a-Lago, Netanyahu seeks Iran strike approval while Trump presses Gaza plan US President Donald Trump is expected to push Israel to enter the second phase of his Gaza peace plan, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will focus on securing Trump’s approval for a potential strike on Iran’s ballistic missile program. Israel
Egyptian-British activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah arrives in UK after release from Egyptian prison Reuters
Analysis Middle East adapts to Trump’s tech agenda as Gulf AI gamble grows in 2025 This year saw a wave of dealmaking across data centers, chips, critical minerals and AI collaboration as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE eagerly aligned with President Trump’s tech agenda amid sharp swings in US foreign policy. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Israel becomes first country to recognize Somaliland in slight to Turkey As Somaliland wins diplomatic recognition from Israel, the move could upset Turkey’s interests in Somalia and the Horn of Africa. Israel
As UAE-Saudi rivalry heats up, Yemen’s STC accuses Riyadh of airstrikes Saudi Arabia has criticized the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council’s military offensive, which has sent shockwaves through the country and the Gulf. Yemen
