Category: Middle East
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Abu Dhabi is accelerating its digital transformation with a AED13 billion ($3.54bn) investment to become the world’s first AI-native government by 2027, led by the Department of Government Enablement – Abu Dhabi (DGE). Over 100 AI use cases are already active across 40 government entities, marking a shift from pilot initiatives to large-scale deployment. Key…
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Israel has delayed aid deliveries and kept Gaza’s border closed amid renewed displays of Hamas control, challenging US President Donald Trump’s peace plan to end the war. Three Israeli officials said aid was restricted and the Rafah crossing to Egypt would stay shut until Hamas returns the bodies of Israeli hostages. Hamas said recovery efforts…
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Seven hostages held in Gaza were released early Monday (Oct. 13) under a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed. The group was transferred to Israeli authorities by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The exchange is part of a Trump-backed truce marking a major step toward ending…
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday (Oct. 12) that the country’s military campaign is not over, ahead of the planned release of 20 remaining hostages and hundreds of Palestinian detainees under the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire with Hamas. In a televised address, Netanyahu called the release a “historic event” but warned…
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Thousands of Palestinians have begun returning to northern Gaza following the ceasefire agreement brokered by the Trump administration, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressing gratitude for the deal. Many returning residents describe their movement as driven by necessity rather than safety, with reports indicating that numerous homes have been destroyed, according to Rushdi Abualouf.…
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Türkiye and Iraq have reached a tentative agreement to manage water resources from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, aiming to ease tensions over dwindling supplies and worsening drought conditions. • Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said the water management framework would soon be signed in Iraq. • Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan described the rivers…
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Israel has approved the first phase of a Gaza ceasefire deal, paving the way for a hostage-prisoner exchange and expanded humanitarian aid. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the plan covers the release of all hostages, both living and deceased. Under the framework:• Hamas must release 20 hostages within 72 hours, followed by 28 bodies.• Israel…
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Israel and Hamas have agreed to release all remaining hostages in Gaza, marking the first phase of US President Donald Trump’s peace plan to end the two-year conflict. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Israel would withdraw troops to an agreed line “as the first steps toward a strong, durable, and everlasting peace.”…
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Syria will hold parliamentary elections on Sunday (Oct. 5)— its first since the ousting of former President Bashar al-Assad ten months ago — amid concerns over representation, transparency, and inclusivity. – Syria to hold first parliamentary elections The vote will not be direct. Instead, electoral colleges will select representatives for about two-thirds of the 210…
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Hamas have issued a statement on US President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan, signalling a potential opening in the conflict. – Hamas signals willingness • Hamas said it is ready to “immediately” enter negotiations for the release of hostages and to transfer Gaza’s governance to a technocratic authority supported by Arab and Islamic states. •…
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