GCC to Stay Economically Resilient in 2025

Israel's Defense Minister, Israel Katz, announced that Israeli troops will maintain control over designated security zones in Gaza even after the conflict ends, citing the need for protection against Hamas. Recent Israeli airstrikes resulted in at least 24 Palestinian deaths, including members of a family in Gaza City, contributing to over 1,650 fatalities since the renewed offensive began. The UN reports that 69% of Gaza is under evacuation orders, displacing approximately 500,000 people, while humanitarian...

Iran has rejected allegations from Britain linking it to the Sweden-based criminal gang 'Foxtrot,' which Britain claims has carried out attacks on Israeli and Jewish targets in Europe on Iran's behalf. The Iranian embassy in London called the accusations baseless and stated that the UK has not provided credible evidence, urging Britain to avoid hostile actions that harm bilateral relations. In response, the UK imposed an asset freeze on Foxtrot and travel bans on...

Lebanon's authorities have banned Disney's live-action adaptation of "Snow White" due to Israeli actress Gal Gadot's casting, as she is on the country's boycott list. The ban was enacted by Interior Minister Ahmad Hajjar following recommendations from the media censorship committee, citing Gadot's military service in Israel and her support for Israel during recent conflicts. Lebanon has previously prohibited screenings of other films featuring Gadot, highlighting ongoing tensions due to the country's laws against cultural...

As the humanitarian crisis intensifies in the Gaza Strip due to an Israeli siege, Israeli leaders assert that adequate food exists, while UN agencies report severe shortages of essentials amid escalating attacks. Israeli officials openly state their strategy of using starvation as leverage against Hamas, refusing to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, while a ceasefire proposal demands disarmament of Palestinian factions without Israeli commitments to withdraw or cease hostilities. The Palestinian resistance, led by Hamas,...

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declared that the country's uranium enrichment is "non-negotiable" after US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff called for its cessation. The remarks precede their upcoming meeting in Oman, following talks aimed at reviving the nuclear deal abandoned by the Trump administration in 2018. While both sides view the discussions as constructive, Araghchi emphasized the need for consistent US positions to avoid complications, and noted Iran's commitment to engaging with allies like Russia...

In southern Gaza, a mobile bakery, the last operational one in the region, is being towed by a tractor due to Israeli evacuation orders amid intensified military operations. The bakery, run by World Central Kitchen (WCK), produces only 25,000 loaves daily—one-third of its capacity—due to flour shortages caused by the Israeli blockade. With 2 million Gazans reliant on food aid, the humanitarian crisis has worsened since the World Food Programme had to close its bakeries,...