UAE, Azerbaijan sign trade deal as officials meet in Abu Dhabi for Armenia peace talks

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans to convene his security cabinet this week to discuss military strategies aimed at achieving war goals in Gaza, including defeating Hamas, securing the release of hostages, and neutralizing threats from Gaza. Reports suggest that Netanyahu is leaning towards expanding the offensive to seize the entire Palestinian enclave, with the cabinet meeting scheduled for Tuesday. Want More Context? 🔎

Israel's ongoing war in Gaza, now in its twenty-second month, has intensified political and social divisions, with families and friends split over calls for a ceasefire and the need to secure hostage releases. While peace activists push for a halt to the conflict, right-wing factions advocate for territorial expansion, leading to increased polarization and critiques of Prime Minister Netanyahu's motives amidst mounting international pressure. Want More Context? 🔎

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Kuwaiti Finance Minister Noora al-Fassam resigned, with Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad accepting her resignation and appointing Electricity Minister Subaih Al-Mukhaizeem as interim replacement. Fassam, who took office in August 2024 during a Cabinet reshuffle, was part of a government formed after parliamentary elections in April 2024 under the new emir, following political turmoil. Want More Context? 🔎

Around 1,500 people in Gaza have been killed since May while seeking humanitarian aid, according to the UN, which highlighted ongoing violence along aid routes. An Israeli airstrike on Sunday also killed a healthcare worker in Khan Yunus, with criticism mounting over a US- and Israeli-supported aid scheme deemed ineffective and dangerous. Want More Context? 🔎

The Trump administration announced it may withhold approximately $1.9 billion in disaster preparedness funding from states and cities that endorse boycotts against Israel or Israeli businesses. FEMA's grant conditions stipulate that applicants must not support any actions that limit commercial relations with Israeli entities, as detailed in the terms for the 2025 fiscal year. Want More Context? 🔎