West Bank olive harvest begins amid settler attacks on Palestinians, groves Between 80,000 and 100,000 Palestinian families in the West Bank rely on the olive harvest for primary or secondary sources of income, according to the United Nations. Palestine
Culture Algeria moves to restore death penalty for arson: What to know President Abdelmadjid Tebboune wants a return to executions after another summer of devastating wild fires, but rights groups say the amendment passed by parliament is problematic. Algeria
Israel, Turkey, Iran offer aid as Venezuela’s 2 quakes kill at least 188 Iran, Turkey and Israel were among the first countries to offer assistance to earthquake-hit Venezuela despite their varying diplomatic relationships with Caracas. Turkey
Interview UAE official says opening Hormuz integral to any Iran deal, describes infrastructure damage 'manageable' Abdulla Balalaa, UAE assistant minister of foreign affairs for energy and sustainability, spoke to Al-Monitor about the situation in the Gulf along with the UAE's focus on promoting privatization in the water sector and the 2026 UN Water Conference. Abdulla Balalaa UAE assistant minister of foreign affairs for energy and sustainability
Analysis Iran’s mismanagement in focus as fires ravage 25-million-year-old forests By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
Jerusalem wildfires rage for second day as environmental groups blame Netanyahu According to Israeli environmental groups, the government has repeatedly ignored calls to prepare for the threat of fires and to take more decisive action on climate change goals. Israel
17 missing after boat capsizes off Egypt's Red Sea coast The boat set sail on Sunday despite warnings from the Egyptian Meteorological Authority about large waves on the Red Sea. Egypt
Biden postpones Germany, Angola trips over Hurricane Milton The White House cited the need to prepare for the "projected trajectory and strength of Hurricane Milton" as well as deal with the impacts of Hurricane Helene. United States
Analysis Climate change, overreliance on Israeli gas add to Egypt's power crisis For a year now, load-shedding linked to falling gas production, rising demand and a shortage of foreign currency has led to scheduled two-hour daily power cuts in most parts of the country. By Jack Dutton , Rosaleen Carroll
Wildfires in Turkey: 11 dead, 78 injured as heat soars to 50 degrees Celsius Turkey has been grappling with wildfires across the country since last week due to hot temperatures soaring up to 50 C (122 F) above the seasonal average. Turkey
14 Jordanian, 5 Iranian pilgrims die at Saudi Hajj from extreme heat Last month was the hottest May on record, according to scientists, and rising temperatures are particularly concerning for the Gulf. Saudi Arabia
Record rainfall forces Gulf cities to rethink climate change A climate change monitor estimates that global warming made the Gulf deluge 10-40% more intense than it would have been in the pre-industrial era. United Arab Emirates
Turkey landslide leaves nine gold mine workers trapped As rescuers work to reach several people who have been trapped in the gold mine for more than six hours, observers are ringing alarm bells over the risk of contaminated soil entering the nearby Euphrates River. Turkey
Saudi mining firm Ma’aden announces gold discovery Saudi Arabia seeks to boost its mining sector, including via investment at home and abroad. Legacy: Gulf
Business & Tech Briefing: Dubai gears up for COP28 By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Over 8,000 dead in Morocco earthquake, Libya floods The two natural disasters in North Africa occurred within days of one another. North Africa
Morocco earthquake: death toll passes 2,400, historic Marrakesh buildings damaged Most of the casualties from the massive tremor were in an area south of Marrakesh. Morocco
