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56 stories from Middle East Affairs.
UN backs new world map that enlarges Africa, shrinks polar regions
The UN General Assembly voted to promote an equal-area map projection that represents continents more accurately than the Mercator projection, which has been standard since the 16th century.
AI spending boom cushions global economy against multiple shocks
A surge in spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure is helping the global economy absorb shocks from trade conflicts, energy disruptions, and rising borrowing costs, according to analysis from the Wall Street Journal and economists.
U.S. analysis: Iran willing to absorb costs of prolonged conflict
A New York Times report citing U.S. officials says Iran's leadership believes it can sustain a prolonged confrontation while Iranian civilians bear economic hardship.
Three experts assess path to US-Iran deal as conflict deepens
The conflict between the US and Iran appears to be hardening, with little prospect for near-term agreement despite US pressure campaigns combining military strikes and economic sanctions.
Iranian media reports explosions near Kharg Island oil terminal
Iranian state media reported hearing multiple explosions near Kharg Island, the country's main oil export terminal, as military tensions with the United States intensified.
UN adopts resolution to redraw world maps, enlarging Africa
The UN General Assembly voted on Friday to endorse new world maps showing Africa's true size and reducing the visual area of the United States, reversing distortions from the colonial era.
US and UK Sign Pact on Cryptocurrency Investment Fraud
The United States and United Kingdom have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly disrupt cryptocurrency investment fraud networks and share intelligence on organized crime.
US and Iran resume strikes after monthlong lull
A monthlong pause in hostilities between Iran and the United States ended this week with renewed military strikes in the Persian Gulf region.
Pentagon tests dozens of Joint Staff members over classified leaks
The Pentagon subjected about 50 members of its Joint Staff to polygraph examinations following unauthorised leaks of classified information to news outlets.
US Navy escorts tankers through Hormuz as mine-clearing effort accelerates
The US Navy is escorting tankers carrying roughly 7 million barrels through the Strait of Hormuz as it clears mines from the shipping channel.
Fuel shortages again snarl Baghdad traffic, close stations
Fuel shortages have returned to Baghdad and southern Iraq, closing dozens of filling stations and creating long queues for gasoline and gasoil.
Trump warns of Iran strike as regional tensions escalate
Tensions are mounting across the Middle East as the United States and its allies pursue military and diplomatic responses to recent Iranian actions, while the Pentagon investigates leaks about the conflict.
Iranians weigh Trump's calls to resist amid shifting US priorities
Some Iranians expressing doubt about whether to heed Trump's calls to rise up against their government, citing months of shifting US policy between supporting protesters and negotiating with Tehran.
Trump threatens imminent strike on Iranian military site
President Trump said the United States may soon strike an Iranian military site, as administration officials signaled economic and military pressure on Tehran.
US tightens grip on Iran's shadow financial networks
The US is intensifying efforts to sever Iran's decades-old financial networks that have sustained the country under sanctions.
Congo pledges to move Israel embassy to Jerusalem
The Democratic Republic of Congo said it would relocate its Israeli embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, following the United States and a handful of other countries.
Trump calls Iran conflict 'small potatoes' as US plays down war
President Trump described an ongoing six-month conflict with Iran as minor for the United States, part of an administration effort to reduce its political impact before November's midterm elections.
Lebanon's prime minister pledges to secure remaining prisoners and Israeli withdrawal
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Lebanon will continue working to free all prisoners held by Israel and secure a complete Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory.
Iran says it attacked U.S. bases in Gulf, after reporting American strikes
Iran's military said it attacked U.S. bases in the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait after reporting that American strikes killed nine Iranian service members.
Tesla unveils driverless taxi with no steering wheel or pedals
Tesla has unveiled a new driverless taxi called the Cybercab, designed to compete with existing robotaxi services operated by Uber and Waymo in the United States.
Israeli defence minister says forced transfer plan frozen, not abandoned
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said a plan to forcibly displace Palestinians from Gaza is frozen rather than abandoned, and requires U.S. support that is not currently forthcoming.
Iran turns to shadow networks and cryptocurrencies to weather Trump sanctions
Iran is relying on shadow business networks and cryptocurrencies to circumvent the Trump administration's new sanctions on oil, banking and technology sectors.
Opinion: Israel's identity battle prefigures American threat
A columnist who holds both American and Israeli citizenship argues that delegitimizing narratives about Israel's existence, not merely its policies, could become a template for attacking American identity.
Trump says US may soon strike Iran nuclear site
President Donald Trump said on Friday the United States may soon strike a heavily fortified Iranian site near the Natanz uranium enrichment facility.
US approves $5 billion arms sale to Saudi Arabia
The United States has approved a $5 billion sale of bombs, guidance kits and military equipment to Saudi Arabia, citing threats from Iran and Yemen-based Houthi militants.
Iranian community in Kuwait navigates wartime pressure
An Iranian restaurant removed Iran from its name, and Kuwait shut an Iranian school, as the Iranian community of roughly 52,000 faces pressure from the wider conflict between Iran and the United States.
U.S. sanctions Turkish bank over Iran ties; South Korea considers Hormuz role
The U.S. Treasury sanctioned a Turkish bank for alleged ties to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, while South Korea said it was considering contributing to security operations in the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump says oil flow through Strait of Hormuz returning to pre-war levels
Trump said oil flow through the Strait of Hormuz has returned to pre-war levels as the U.S. military escorts cargo ships and repels Iranian attacks in the vital waterway.
British newspapers debate Israeli settlements, Sudan's migration crisis, and Trump
British newspapers publish commentary on Israeli settlements policy, Sudan's civil war driving migration, and US-UK relations under Trump.
Moon passes in front of Venus in rare daytime event
The Moon passed directly in front of Venus on Wednesday in a rare daytime event visible across the United States and parts of Canada.
U.S. trade chief says Britain choosing Brussels over America
U.S. Trade Representative Jameson Greer said Britain has chosen alignment with the European Union over closer commercial ties with America, signaling frustration over British regulatory decisions.
Global food prices hit highest level since late 2022
Global food prices rose in August to their highest level since November 2022, driven by adverse weather, supply disruptions linked to regional conflict, and concerns about grain exports through the Black Sea.
Data centers' energy and water use accelerates as AI demand surges
Data centers powering AI and cloud services consume growing amounts of electricity and water, with most U.S. facilities still running on fossil fuels and electricity demand expected to double by 2030.
Weapons experts say U.S. munition hit wedding reception in southern Iran
Weapons experts examining photographs verified by Reuters said a house hosting a wedding in southern Iran was struck directly by American munition, not damaged by ricochet, as Iran reported at least five deaths.
South Korea considers role in Strait of Hormuz security
South Korea said Friday it is considering a contribution to securing the Strait of Hormuz amid escalating U.S.-Iran clashes, as Tehran launched new strikes on American interests and vowed retaliation for a wedding airstrike.
US election calendar constrains response to Iran conflict
The Trump administration is attempting to contain fighting with Iran until after November midterms, relying on economic pressure rather than military escalation while public opposition to the conflict grows.
Milei Says U.S. May Shift on Falklands, Vows Sanctions on Oil
Argentine President Javier Milei said the U.S. position on the Falkland Islands may be changing and threatened sanctions against oil companies operating in the British territory.
Netanyahu says toppling Iran government "within reach" as U.S., Iran trade strikes
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that overthrowing Iran's government is "within reach," as the United States and Iran exchanged military strikes this week.
Explosions reported near Iranian oil hub; damage unclear
Official Iranian news agencies reported explosions near the Kharg Island fuel hub on Saturday, with no visible damage confirmed.
Content-monitoring apps offer child safety but pose their own risks
Content-monitoring apps designed to protect children from digital harms have prevented some serious incidents but can also trigger false alarms and erode trust, researchers say.
Trump's Qatar jet to get security overhaul after Iranian threat
President Donald Trump said a Boeing 747-8 donated by Qatar for presidential use will undergo extensive security modifications beginning in October, prompted by concerns about its defenses following an Iranian threat.
China's Xi calls for end to "foreign interference" in Middle East
Chinese President Xi Jinping called on Middle Eastern countries to oppose "foreign interference" during a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo, his first visit to the capital in a decade.
Trump hints at potential military action against Iran nuclear site
President Trump suggested the United States might attack Iran's fortified nuclear facility near Natanz, characterizing any such conflict as a limited military operation.
UAE explores AI-powered materials discovery as next economic frontier
The UAE is positioning itself to use its AI infrastructure advantage to accelerate the discovery of advanced materials, which experts argue could anchor its transition to a knowledge-based economy.
Iran attacks Kuwait as fighting with U.S. intensifies
Iran launched attacks on Kuwait on Thursday, part of an intensifying exchange of strikes with the United States that included American bombing of a wedding in Iran.
US oil rigs rise for first time in three weeks
The number of active oil rigs in the United States rose by two in the week ending September 4, marking the first increase in three weeks.
U.S. targets Iran financial operations in Gulf
The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned individuals and entities it said were helping Iran access international financial systems, drawing a sharp rebuke from Tehran.
Trump says Iran seeks talks; Tehran sets conditions
President Trump said Iran is seeking negotiations, while Iran's foreign minister outlined conditions for resuming diplomacy.
Boyle's Ink Opens Venice Festival With Tale of Tabloid Rise
Danny Boyle's Ink, opening the Venice Film Festival, chronicles Rupert Murdoch's acquisition of the British newspaper The Sun and its transformation into a bestselling tabloid.
FBI Investigates Leak of 153 Million Driver's Licenses
The FBI's New Orleans office opened an investigation into a dark web service offering digital scans of over 153 million driver's licenses from the United States and Canada.
Trump says Iran threat to shipping has faded
President Trump said Iran's response to U.S. actions is restrained, as CENTCOM's commander announced the clearing of sea mines from shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. approves $800 million helicopter sale to Iraq
The United States has approved a potential $800 million Foreign Military Sale to Iraq including Bell helicopters, machine gun launchers, rocket systems and related equipment.
Trump renames Lake Ontario to "Lake America," Canada refuses
U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Aug. 27 renaming Lake Ontario to Lake America, a move Canada rejected, insisting on the 400-year-old name.
Canada signals readiness to resume US trade negotiations
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he is willing to resume trade talks with the United States but suggested American officials need to adopt a more serious negotiating stance.
Report raises questions about activist's background ahead of deportation hearing
A 101-page report by researchers David Collier and Rachel Feldman questions the accounts given by Mohsen Mahdawi, a Columbia graduate student facing deportation, claiming his public biography contradicts years of archived social media posts.
Iran strikes Kurdish targets in Iraq as US tensions rise
Iran carried out drone and missile attacks on targets in Iraqi Kurdistan, including positions of the KDPI Kurdish opposition group, amid escalating tensions with the United States.
