The Houthis’ latest advances along Yemen’s Red Sea coast mark a significant escalation amid the war with Iran, but US President Donald Trump has so far resisted greater military involvement in the region.After the Iran-backed group seized the strategic port city of Mokha last week and launched missiles and drones at Saudi Arabia, Mr Trump declined Saudi requests to conduct strikes against the Houthis, even after Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman urged him to intervene. Washington instead offered intelligence support, according to reports.“We’ve had discussions. The Houthis called us and they don’t want to fight with us,” Mr Trump said over the weekend, adding that they “don’t want us to go after them” and “would much prefer not having us involved".He said that Prince Mohammed is “a good friend of mine and it’s going to — I can just say everything’s going to work out fine and dandy. It’s going to be very good".Vice President JD Vance said the administration was in “constant contact” with Saudi Arabia, the UAE and other regional partners, while also holding direct conversations with the Houthis.“We actually feel like we are on top of the situation, it’s a very fluid and dynamic thing,” he said. “We want to keep on monitoring it.”The situation reflects the administration’s reluctance to open another military front while US forces remain focused on Iran and the Strait of Hormuz.The...
Read briefing Less than a month after US President Donald Trump threatened to bomb Oman amid the war with Iran, his administration on Tuesday indicated a rapprochement with Muscat. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke to Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al Busaidi and acknowledged Muscat's "important role in de-escalation in the region" and condemned recent Iranian attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.Mr Rubio "expressed support for deepening ties between Oman and the United States", State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said. The conversation marks an about-face in US public diplomacy towards Oman. Mr Trump, angered by Muscat's negotiations with Tehran over the Strait of Hormuz, has twice threatened to bomb Oman as it worked towards a deal with Iran.“If Oman gets in the way, we’ll bomb," Mr Trump said on August 17. He made a similar threat during a cabinet meeting in May.During Tuesday's call, Mr Rubio repeated the US commitment to ensuring Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon and to freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.Oman has spent decades cultivating a reputation as one of the Middle East’s most reliable diplomatic go-betweens, maintaining a long-standing strategic partnership with the US while preserving close ties with Iran.
Read briefing There is “every reason to believe” that chemical weapons have been used in Sudan, former war crime inspectors have said.Leading experts on Tuesday called for an international investigation into an alleged chlorine attack at an oil refinery north of Khartoum. Mark Albon, former head of the UN Organisation for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons' investigation unit in Syria, said an independent investigation should examine media coverage and video material, and interview people allegedly exposed to the attacks. “It’s clear to us, as investigators who have looked at this, that there is every reason to believe that a chemical weapons attack, at least one, has taken place,” Mr Albon told a panel titled Accusations about the Use of Chemical Weapons in Sudan. He identified an attack in September 2024 at Al-Jaili refinery, north of Khartoum, as the incident where the evidence was strongest. “The only incident that we were able to identify where there is a strong indication that a weapon that would conform to the framework of a chemical weapon was used was in September of 2024 at the Al-Jaili refinery site,” Mr Albon told the Geneva Press Club online panel. The material gave investigators “a very strong circumstantial case” that a chemical weapon had been used, said the former OPCW director for international co-operation. Access to sceneHowever, Mr Albon emphasised that the passage of time...
Read briefing The World Food Programme could be forced to sharply cut food aid to Sudan within weeks because of a funding shortfall, its acting chief said on Monday, as 20 million people in the war-torn country face acute hunger.“Our operations are completely underfunded and there is a risk that we will have to scale back quite significantly in the next few weeks unless more funding is being provided,” Carl Skau told reporters in New York after an eight-day visit to the US.WFP needs just under $300 million to sustain its current operations in Sudan, Mr Skau said. The agency has received about $206 million so far this year, compared with $645 million last year, as humanitarian agencies struggle with a wider decline in donor funding.Sudan remains the world’s largest hunger and displacement crisis, Mr Skau said, with 14 million people displaced and about five million facing emergency levels of hunger. About 200,000 people are at catastrophic levels of food shortage, he said.WFP reaches between four million to five million people each month, including up to 2.5 million in some of the hardest-to-reach areas, but funding shortages are limiting how much assistance it can provide.In Tawila, Darfur, where nearly one million people are now sheltering, WFP is providing food to about 950,000 people each month but can afford only half rations.“We are now delivering to the entire population, to some 950,0...
Read briefing The US on Monday imposed new sanctions on Russia's VTB Bank over its financial ties to Iran, accusing the country's second-largest financial institution of helping Tehran to evade restrictions.The measures against the heavily sanctioned lender are the latest by the US to isolate Iran's economy. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has been pushing European and Gulf partners to hit sources of the Iranian regime's revenue.Mr Bessent last week said the Treasury would impose sanctions on a “large bank” this week, although he did not identify which lender.“Under Operation Economic Outcast, Treasury will continue to target and disrupt those who provide material, technological or financial support that allows the Iranian regime to sustain its terrorist enterprise,” he said in a statement. “Treasury will not tolerate any support to the regime and will continue to identify, expose and isolate Iran’s enablers.”Mr Bessent announced the latest target in US President Donald Trump's maximum pressure campaign against Iran last month. The Treasury Department at the time said it was also broadening the scope of its secondary sanctions campaign, threatening to cut off the dollar access to institutions that continue to do business with Iran.The U.S. sanctioned VTB Bank for helping Iran evade sanctions and finance terrorism—opening offices in Iran, building ties with sanctioned Iranian banks, and movi...
Read briefing The US Department of Homeland Security has announced the detention of a Michigan man it claims was an intelligence officer in Saddam Hussein's regime.Raad Alanbagi was arrested after an investigation that uncovered his ties to the former Iraqi dictator's government, Homeland Security Investigations said in a post on X on Sunday."HSI continues to safeguard our communities and national security," the post said, describing Mr Alanbagi as a "high-ranking" former officer..@HSIDetroit gets results.HSI special agents arrested Raad Alanbagi after an HSI-led investigation uncovered information tying him to prior service as a high-ranking Iraqi intelligence officer during the Saddam Hussein era.HSI continues to safeguard our communities and… pic.twitter.com/fVQhKvjff8— Homeland Security Investigations (@HSI_HQ) September 13, 2026Iraq’s security force was an important instrument of state control under Saddam. Overlapping agencies allowed him to stay in power by dealing with real or fictitious threats to his regime.It is unclear what immigration status Mr Alanbagi had at the time of his arrest, or how he was able to move to the US despite his alleged connections. It is also unclear what charges he might face. No federal indictment is listed against him on a government database for Michigan.The National has contacted the Department of Homeland Security for further comment.Typically, accordi...
Read briefing French energy giant TotalEnergies is seeking a share in a new international consortium planning to build a pipeline to help export Iraqi oil to the Mediterranean, its chief executive Patrick Pouyanne has told The National."Total is in active discussion for a stake in the consortium that is planning to build the Basra-Baniyas pipeline," Mr Pouyanne said on Monday at a ceremony in the French presidential palace in Paris, where France and Iraq signed a series of agreements.Sources said TotalEnergies is seeking a 10 per cent stake in the consortium, which would give it a role in developing the pipeline to provide Iraq with an alternative route for exporting crude.Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al Zaidi travelled to Paris on Monday before heading to Berlin as Baghdad seeks solutions to its oil export difficulties since the shut-down of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran this year after a joint US-Israeli attack. Alternative routesThe pipeline project, which would allow Iraq to export from its southern oilfields in Basra near the Arabian Gulf to Baniyas on Syria's Mediterranean coast, and Europe and beyond, has been encouraged by the Iraqi government as an alternative export route to the Hormuz Strait. TotalEnergies announced in August that it would join the consortium that includes US oil and gas giant Chevron, Qatari-Syrian company UCC Holding and US investment company TI Capital. Discussions...
Read briefing Iran plans to widen its pursuit of regime critics abroad, with a new online system set up to “identify and punish traitors” outside the country. Under the scheme, loyalists are encouraged to “send information” about regime opponents to an online portal or messenger app. Those identified as “traitors” could have their Iranian citizenship revoked, state television said. It said the stated aim of the project – known as Elaaj, meaning remedy or cure – is to “protect national security and the interests of the Iranian people against anti-patriotic, separatist movements and those promoting sanctions and military attacks”. Punishments could also include “cutting off financial and media access for traitors living abroad”, state media said, without explaining what that would mean. Monday's announcement is the latest in a long line of Iranian policies to track down and intimidate expats who oppose the clerical leadership in Tehran. In June, two men were found guilty in Britain of stabbing a journalist for anti-regime TV station Iran International, a hit which prosecutors said had been ordered “on behalf of the Iranian state”. Iranian authorities regularly label opposition activists and dissidents abroad as “anti-revolutionary” or “separatist”. Human rights campaigners say such charges are often used broadly in national security cases. Iranian cyber attackers have also been known to develo...
Read briefing Manchester City showed they are up for a fight this season as Enzo Maresca's team clinched the Manchester derby by defeating United 1-0 despite being reduced to 10 men.Erling Haaland broke the deadlock at the hour mark after Phil Foden was shown the red card early in the first half. Foden was given the marching orders for violent conduct but City did not let the setback derail them as they put in a masterful performance at Old Trafford.City thus maintained their perfect start to the season, registering their fourth win in as many matches to be placed second in the table behind leaders Arsenal on goal difference.“It's a new experience for me to win with 10 men. It's amazing to be honest,” Haaland told Sky Sports. Foden was sent off midway through the first half for kicking out at Bruno Fernandes from a prone position. United struck the woodwork twice through Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo either side of half-time as they sought make the most of their numerical advantage.9 - Erling Haaland is now the top scorer in Premier League games between Manchester City and Manchester United:9 - Haaland (8 apps)8 - Agüero (13 apps)8 - Rooney (21 apps)Domination. pic.twitter.com/EBiifV12st— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 13, 2026But Haaland had other plans. The tide turned on the hour mark when Haaland steered home from a tight angle and though the goal was initially ruled out for offsi...
Read briefing Dubai's tourism sector is showing positive signs of a recovery, new figures have shown, even as the broader Iran conflict drags on.The city welcomed 869,000 international overnight visitors in August, the strongest month since the war began in late February, Dubai's government said on Sunday.Hotel occupancy reached 66 per cent in August. That was 89 per cent of the city’s occupancy levels in August 2025.By comparison, the city average in March was 36 per cent, Dubai Media Office said. Many hotels fell to single digits at the height of the war.“The true grit of any city is tested not when the path is smooth, but during challenging times," said Issam Kazim, Dubai's top tourism official."And in line with our leadership’s direction, we do not wait for the perfect conditions to continue delivering." The figures were released on the eve of Arabian Travel Market, one of the largest industry events of its kind worldwide, at Dubai World Trade Centre from Monday to Thursday."Our focus remains on close collaborations with our industry, strengthening demand across established and emerging markets, and continuing to give visitors compelling reasons to choose Dubai," added Mr Kazim, who is chief executive of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing.A news release said Dubai welcomed 6.97 million international visitors in the first eight months of this year. In 2025, visitor numbe...
Read briefing Kimi Antonelli moved closer to the Formula One championship after winning Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix, which was held at Madrid's new circuit.The Italian driver, 20, secured his eighth win of the season in Madring, extending his championship lead to 81 points after 14 rounds.Antonelli benefited from a well-timed virtual safety car (VSC) and disastrous McLaren pitstop that denied pole-sitter and early leader Lando Norris a likely win on a track where overtaking proved almost impossible.“I think today it's good to win but it doesn't feel as good because I think Lando today deserved the win but overall, we take it,” said Antonelli.Red Bull's Max Verstappen was second with Norris third. Antonelli has 292 points with closest rival and teammate George Russell, who finished fifth, on 211.“There was nothing I could do … just luck not on our side,” said Norris. “I felt like we deserved it today but that's racing sometimes.“I feel like I drove a perfect race today, just luck wasn't with me.”"A really strong race" 💪You said it, Kimi! 😮💨#F1 #SpanishGP @MercedesAMGF1 pic.twitter.com/diulTvZzcR— Formula 1 (@F1) September 13, 2026Fortunes changed with Norris was leading comfortably from pole position. The VSC was called on Lap 15 with Norris already past the pit exit. Once he got in, Norris's stop was slow and he rejoined the race in fifth place, effectively ending his victory prosp...
Read briefing Major traffic diversions are in place in one of Dubai's busiest traffic hotspots, the city's transport authority said. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced on X that diversions were in place as part of its Al Safa Street development project.The roadworks mean that the diversions are in place on both sides of Al Satwa Street and Al Multaqa Street to assist the flow of traffic around the City Walk area."As part of the Al Safa Street development project, the RTA implemented a traffic diversion on the street to ensure smooth traffic flow and ease of movement for you during the project completion period," the RTA said on X.Earlier this year, Dubai launched a Dh2 billion project to boost connectivity between the emirate’s vital roads and reduce traffic.The RTA said it had awarded a contract for the Latifa bint Hamdan corridor development project extending 12km to link Sheikh Zayed Road with Al Khail Road, Al Meydan Street, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Road, Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street and Emirates Road.The project, which will be completed by the end of 2028, will include seven bridges of 2.3km and eight tunnels covering 900 metres to enhance traffic flow with a capacity of more than 16,000 vehicles an hour in both directions.
Read briefing President Sheikh Mohamed received King Abdullah of Jordan in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.The Jordanian monarch was welcomed on arrival by Sheikh Mohamed, underscoring the strong bilateral ties between the two Arab nations, reported state news agency Wam.Senior UAE officials were also present to receive the Jordanian king, reflecting the significance attached to the visit by Abu Dhabi.Among those on hand to greet King Abdullah were Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi; Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Special Affairs; and Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad, Adviser to the UAE President. A number of other senior officials were also in attendance.King Abdullah was accompanied by a high-level Jordanian delegation including Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah, Prime Minister Jafar Hassan and a number of senior officials.The visit comes as the UAE and Jordan maintain close diplomatic, economic and cultural ties, with both countries regularly engaging at the highest levels of government. Meetings between the two leaderships have historically addressed regional stability, trade and investment, as well as broader issues of shared concern across the Arab world.
Read briefing Sudanese politicians have painted a bleak picture of the war-torn country, warning that it is sliding towards total state collapse as the warring parties chase an elusive military victory instead of a political solution.Fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has devastated the country of 50 million people and battered its economy.The war has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced millions and created one of the world's largest humanitarian crises. Yet SAF leader Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan has vowed to continue fighting until the RSF is defeated, rejecting repeated attempts by the US and regional powers to broker a ceasefire. Both forces have been accused of grave abuse during the war.“We are talking about a crisis, but in reality, it is more than a crisis. It is the beginning of a complete collapse of the state," former mining minister Adel Ibrahim told Sky News Arabia in an interview aired on Saturday. “The state has not collapsed yet, but the process has begun, and every day it is moving closer to total collapse," he added.“If you look at the value of the Sudanese pound against the dollar, it is changing and falling every day. As you mentioned, it has lost more than tenfold of its value compared with where it stood before."Earlier this month, the SAF faced fresh evidence over its use of chemical weapons. Reports...
Read briefing Rescuers recovered the remains of 41 people after a ferry fire in the Philippines, authorities said on Saturday, raising the death toll to 76 and leaving 13 people unaccounted for. The fire broke out aboard the June Aster ferry at around 6.45pm local time on Wednesday in waters off the island of Coron, Palawan, the Philippine Coast Guard said.Forensic teams faced the daunting task of identifying the victims. That painstaking process had already begun after 30 bodies recovered on Friday were brought to a port in Coron town, where temporary tents were set up for forensic teams to process and identify the dead.The vessel had departed from Manila and was travelling to Coron when it caught fire. The ferry's manifest of 134 people included 117 passengers and 17 crew.Firefighters entered the ferry for the first time on Friday after extinguishing the blaze more than a day after it broke out, giving authorities access to areas that had been hard to reach because of thick smoke and extreme heat. The Coast Guard said burnt remains were discovered in the ferry's economy accommodation section.Images released by the Coast Guard showed the scale of the destruction inside the vessel, with rows of steel bed frames twisted by intense heat and blanketed in ash. Some photographs appeared to show skeletal remains among the debris.Missing family membersResponders in protective suits were seen...
Read briefing Hull City maintained their impressive start since returning to the Premier League by drawing 2-2 away to big-spending Chelsea on Saturday.The Tigers went into the game having won one and drawn two matches so far, including a memorable opening day defeat of Manchester United.And it looked like Hull might have earned themselves a another major scalp when Mohamed Belloumi's first-half double cancelled out Morgan Rogers's opener, only for Joao Pedro to level with 24 minutes to go.The Tigers had to settle for a point when victory would have took them top of the table, albeit with Manchester City and Arsenal still to play this weekend. Arsenal face Sunderland away later Saturday while City travel to Old Trafford for a Manchester derby clash with United on Sunday.◉ W 0-1 vs. Coventry (A)◉ W 2-0 vs. Man Utd (H) ◉ D 0-0 vs. Aston Villa (H)◉ D 2-2 vs. Chelsea (A)Hull City, still unbeaten in the Premier League. 🐯 pic.twitter.com/3gA4yqU5no— Squawka (@Squawka) September 12, 2026Chelsea took a seventh seventh-minute lead when England attacker Rogers was given time and space on the left-hand side of the penalty area to fire a low shot inside Konstantinos Tzolakis's near post, as Hull conceded for the first time since returning to the top-flight.That maintained Rogers' flying start since his £117 million British-record move from Aston Villa , which has seen him score three goals and provide...
Read briefing Reigning Formula One world champion Lando Norris snatched pole position away from current title-race leader Kimi Antonelli in qualifying for Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid.It looked like Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton was set for his first pole since July 2023, only for Italian sensation Antonelli to jump into the lead.But McLaren driver Norris, who has won two out of the last three races, managed to grab the front of the grid at the death, finishing 0.011 seconds ahead of Antonelli with a brilliant final lap at the new Madring circuit.Hamilton had to settle for fourth after Red Bull's Max Verstappen leapfrogged his old rival by taking third place. Hamilton's teammate Charles Leclerc was in fifth place while Mercedes' George Russell could only manage sixth.It was an impressive turnaround for Norris after the Briton struggled with a gearbox issue during practice on Friday."That might be my best one" 🙌Lando Norris clinches his third pole in four races 😮💨#F1 #SpanishGP pic.twitter.com/69vVPYzm6l— Formula 1 (@F1) September 12, 2026“I am shocked and a little bit surprised to be here now but my God, it was probably one of the best laps I have done, ever in my career so very, very happy, very proud, very happy for the team,” said Norris, who secured back-to-back wins in Hungary and the Netherlands.“It was just one of those laps where everything came together. I had a good Idea of...
Read briefing The United Arab Emirates on Saturday urged the UN Security Council to extend its arms embargo across all of Sudan and to all parties to the conflict, after the council agreed to a one-month extension of the existing sanctions regime.“Such a measure would help stem the flow of weapons to the belligerents, protect civilians, and support efforts to end the conflict,” it said in a statement.“Sudan is enduring one of the world’s most devastating humanitarian crises. Urgent international action is needed to compel both warring parties and their affiliated militias to end hostilities and ensure safe, rapid and unhindered humanitarian access.”The UAE said the council should use the additional month to “reach agreement on meaningful measures that respond to the realities of the conflict and contribute to bringing it to an end”.The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a US-drafted resolution on Friday extending sanctions on Sudan for one month, as Washington pressed members to use the brief window to negotiate an expansion of the arms embargo.The resolution renews the sanctions regime until October 9, rather than extending it for another year, with the United States warning it would not accept a longer rollover without changes reflecting the conflict on the ground.US senior adviser Massad Boulos said Washington backed the short-term extension after consultations with allies, but warne...
Read briefing The US needs to put more diplomatic focus on Yemen, Washington's former envoy to the country said on Friday, as the Houthi rebels make major advances.Tim Lenderking, who served as special envoy for Yemen during former president Joe Biden's administration, said that interested parties need to act now to halt Houthi expansion.“They need more support politically, and at the end of the day, they're going to need more support militarily,” Mr Lenderking said during a webinar hosted by the Middle East Institute in Washington.His comments come after the Houthis took control of Yemen's entire western coast, including Mokha port and the strategically important island of Perim, giving them dominance over the Bab Al Mandeb strait.Saudi Arabia, which led a Gulf coalition against the Houthis starting in 2015, has been trading strikes with the Houthis in response to the group's expansion. Following "multiple" unattributed strikes, Riyadh announced on Friday it was shutting down its vital East-West pipeline.Mr Lenderking said that the US approach to Yemen has been decidedly laissez-faire diplomatically speaking since President Donald Trump returned to office, and that that needs to change. “This administration also came in asking the question, what can Yemen do for us? Well, Yemen can spoil our day,” he said.And the most recent Houthi advance shows just how much. The group's control over the...
Read briefing Damascus's UN ambassador on Friday condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to troops stationed in southern Syria, calling it a breach of sovereignty and international law.Mr Netanyahu entered Syrian territory on Wednesday and travelled to the summit of Mount Hermon, Ibrahim Olaibi told reporters at UN headquarters, amid what he described as Israel’s continued military presence and repeated incursions into the country.“Territorial integrity is not negotiable. It is the indispensable pillar of the international system, and the first line of defence against global instability,” Mr Olaibi said. “Undermine it, and the very framework that sustains peace and order crumbles.”Mr Olaibi, who was joined by representatives of the Arab Group and the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation, as well as other UN member states said the UN Charter and the 1974 disengagement agreement between Syrian and Israeli forces were “clear and must be respected”.He warned that Israeli military, political or other actions risked undermining progress made by Syria’s government at a critical stage in the country’s transition.“Syria's position has also been clear. It has consistently distanced itself from the ongoing regional escalation,” Mr Olaibi said, adding that Damascus had repeatedly stated it would not pose a threat to its neighbours.During his visit to southern Syria, Mr Netanyahu said...
Read briefing Adnoc, XRG and Masdar on Friday announced agreements with German companies covering liquefied natural gas (LNG), renewable energy, advanced materials and technology.The deals will potentially enable more than €5 billion in investment, Adnoc said in a press release, and were signed during President Sheikh Mohamed's state visit to Germany.The new agreements will strengthen the partnership between Germany and the UAE, Adnoc said. The deals follow the announcement this week of €40 billion in intended long-term UAE investments in the country.The UAE views its relationship with Germany as a long-term partnership built on more than 50 years of co-operation, trust and mutual interests, Sheikh Mohamed said on Thursday,Adnoc and Germany's RWE Supply & Trading signed a letter of intent to pursue up to two long-term LNG sales agreements, with supplies from Adnoc Gas and XRG’s growing portfolio potentially beginning in the early 2030s.The companies said the LNG could be delivered to Germany, Europe and Asian customers.Adnoc, XRG and Germany’s SEFE also agreed to explore co-operation across the natural gas and LNG supply chains, including supply, infrastructure and logistics.TA’ZIZ and chemicals company Covestro signed an agreement covering a feasibility study for a large-scale methylene diphenyl diisocyanate production chain in Ruwais.In renewables, Masdar and RWE agreed to explore joint pa...
Read briefing Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Energy on Friday announced that the vital East-West oil pipeline has been shut down as a precautionary measure following "multiple" attacks.The attacks on the pipeline in the Riyadh and Madinah regions came on Thursday and resulted in a number of injuries, the ministry said in a statement on X.Officials later said drones launched from Iraq had the pipeline, but said it would not retaliate for now, following a request from Iraq’s Prime Minister.Riyadh said it reserved the right to take all necessary measures to protect its sovereignty, security and critical facilities, according to a Saudi Foreign Ministry statement.The full pumping capacity through the East–West pipeline amounts to approximately seven million barrels per day.It is critical in linking oil production facilities in the Eastern Province with Yanbu on the west coast, and provided flexibility to export from Saudi Arabia's east and west coasts.#Statement | East–West Pipeline shut down as a precaution following multiple attacks. pic.twitter.com/I9LWwsi53Z— وزارة الطاقة (@MoEnergy_Saudi) September 11, 2026Following Riyadh's accusation that the strikes came from Iraq, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al Zaidi ordered an investigation into the incident. He issued a statement declaring Baghdad's "rejection of any aggression that threatens the Kingdom's security and stability".Th...
Read briefing Meghna Dixit spent four years freelancing as a creator and digital strategist in Dubai before founding her own company. “The biggest misconception about freelancing? People confuse self-employed with ‘free’,” she tells The National. This, she says, is why so many professionals underestimate what independence actually costs – before they have a single client, let alone a stable income.In the UAE, where the self-employment infrastructure has expanded considerably in recent years, the entry price for the necessary legal work starts at a few thousand dirhams for those already holding a valid residence visa and climbs past Dh40,000 for a first-year full set-up with a business licence. Between those two points sits a layered landscape of free zone permits, visa fees, mandatory insurance and recurring platform charges that shape the economics of going it alone.Visa and licence come firstFor professionals already on a sponsored visa, licensed set-up provider Dynamic Freelancer, for example, prices a professional services permit at Dh6,500 plus VAT. For those requiring the complete package – permit (Dh11,500), municipality fee (Dh350), unemployment insurance (Dh350) and medical insurance (Dh1,500 plus VAT) – the total comes to Dh14,888. Then, if you’re invoicing via the company, they take a 2.49 per cent processing fee on top of that.Across the broader market, options vary considerably....
Read briefing Israel's military blew up Hezbollah tunnels under the Ali Al Taher ridge on Thursday night, "completing the establishment of the security zone in southern Lebanon", according to a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office. The explosion caused "tremors and a loud bang that resonated strongly in Nabatieh and its region", Lebanon's National News Agency said.The Israeli military said it used more than 1,000 tonnes of explosives to demolish two tunnels, which extended for more than 2km. It said last week that it had cleared the area of Hezbollah fighters, some of whom were killed while others fled.A joint statement by Mr Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said the Ali Al Taher ridge contained “strategic terrorist infrastructure that was built over two decades, with Iranian funding and planning”.They added that its destruction “completes the achievement of operational control over the Ali Al Taher ridge – above and below ground.”“The terror infrastructure and the command centre on the ridge were designed to serve as the staging base for the conquest of the Galilee, and had observation and fire dominance over Metula and Kiryat Shmona,” Mr Netanyahu and Mr Katz said.They said Israeli forces would continue to occupy southern Lebanon in the “security zone”.
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