Carla Canivete

Trump Gulf Allies Aim to Pursue Gaza Plan With or Without Hamas Gulf nations look increasingly likely to push ahead with US President Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza regardless of whether Hamas accepts it or not.

A consensus is forming on the need to move forward with the day-after plan for Gaza, denying Hamas a veto.

Israel’s Long War in Gaza and Mass Call Ups Strain High-Tech Economy With the war in Gaza intensifying and little to no sign of a ceasefire, Israel’s economy and businesses are bracing for further strain.

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Many Israeli entrepreneurs who have built lucrative businesses in the past decade and are now facing uncertainty as employees are drafted into the military.

As many as 130,000 reserve soldiers are expected to be mobilized, tying up some 3% of the nation’s workforce.

Israel Committing Genocide in Gaza, UN-Commissioned Report Says A United Nations-commissioned report concluded Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, and called for the international community to fulfill its legal obligations to end it and “pu...

Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, a legal analysis commissioned by the UN's Human Rights Council says. According to a team of independent experts, four of five legal markers defining genocide have been met.

Israel slammed the report, calling it “distorted and false.”

Turkey Opposition Chief Mulls New Candidate to Challenge Erdogan Turkey’s main opposition party raised the prospect of the mayor of Ankara being its next presidential candidate, amid a clampdown that’s seen its most popular official and several others jailed.

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Turkey’s main opposition party raised the prospect of the mayor of Ankara being its next presidential candidate, amid a clampdown that’s seen its most popular official and several others jailed.

Neom’s Desert Ski Resort Strains Saudi Prince MBS’s $1.5 Trillion Plan Trojena is designated to host the 2029 Asian Winter Games. But set in a region with little snowfall, it’s emerging as a great challenge to MBS’s flagship project

GIFT LINK: Trojena is designated to host the Asian Winter Games in 2029. But, set in a region with little snowfall, it’s becoming one of the most difficult tests yet of the kingdom’s ability to pull off Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s grand ambitions and meet commitments for international events.

Iran’s Military Elite Emerges From War Bruised and Emboldened The 12 day conflict in June was the most damaging in the IRGC’s history, yet the organization is now more critical to the survival of the Islamic Republic.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has had a profound influence on security in the Middle East for almost half a century and has often posed a direct challenge to the US and its allies. Golnar Motevalli takes a look at how Iran's recent confrontation with Israel both hurt and emboldened it.

Netanyahu’s Coalition Shrinks After Ultra-Orthodox Party Quits An Israeli ultra-Orthodox party said it’s walking out of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition, threatening to leave the government with a razor-thin majority in parliament.

The United Torah Judaism party said it would quit the coalition in protest for a bill seeking to curtail military draft exemptions long enjoyed by ultra-Orthodox Jews. Without UTJ's seven lawmakers Netanyahu wields just 61 of the 120 seats in parliament. The walkout takes effect in 48 hours.

Deadly Fire in Cairo Telecom Hub Causes Widespread Disruptions A blaze at a key downtown Cairo telephone exchange left at least four people dead and another 27 injured, cutting off network services and forcing the local stock exchange to cancel Tuesday’s trading ...

A blaze at a key downtown Cairo telephone exchange left at least four people dead and another 27 injured, cutting off network services and forcing the local stock exchange to cancel Tuesday’s trading session.

Israel’s Gaza Attacks Spur European Leaders to Criticize Netanyahu Some of Israel’s most loyal supporters in Europe are increasingly speaking out against the war in Gaza, with several nations, including Germany, considering trade sanctions and curbs on arms sales.

Some of Israel’s most loyal supporters in Europe are increasingly speaking out against the war in Gaza, with several nations, including Germany, considering trade sanctions and curbs on arms sales.

Israel’s Gaza Attacks Spur European Leaders to Criticize Netanyahu Some of Israel’s most loyal supporters in Europe are increasingly speaking out against the war in Gaza, with several nations, including Germany, considering trade sanctions and curbs on arms sales.

Some of Israel’s most loyal supporters in Europe are increasingly speaking out against the war in Gaza, with several nations, including Germany, considering trade sanctions and curbs on arms sales.

Germany Targets Centuries Old Payment System to Stem Dirty Money Germany is cracking down on a massive underground payments system called hawala which is being abused by money launderers and financiers of Islamist terrorism.

Germany is cracking down on a massive underground payments system called hawala which is being abused by money launderers and financiers of Islamist terrorism.

JPMorgan, BNY Limit Information Sharing With OCC After Hack Some of America’s biggest banks are limiting the sharing of information with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency because they are concerned about potential security risks to their computer n...

Some of America’s biggest banks are limiting the sharing of information with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency because they are concerned about potential security risks to their computer networks following a major hack of the regulator’s emails.

Brookfield Has Billions Riding on a Private Equity Revival in the Middle East The region is even more appealing as market turmoil fueled by Trump’s tariffs dashes hopes for a deals resurgence in the US.

First came the Wall Street banks and then the global hedge funds. Now, a wave of private equity firms led by New York-based Brookfield Asset Management are also setting their sights on the oil-rich Middle East to spur deals and profits.

Lebanon Vows to Make Depositors Whole in Bid to Unlock Reforms Lebanese depositors will get their money back over time as part of any financial overhaul, with the state, central bank and local banks sharing the burden of repairing the crisis-stricken economy, Eco...

Lebanese depositors will get their money back over time as part of any financial overhaul, with the state, central bank and local banks sharing the burden of repairing the crisis-stricken economy, Economy Minister Amer Bisat said.

And so it ends. Today I said goodbye to Bloomberg's London office.

Seven years, two roles and many many friends I'll be sad to leave. But as I prepare to relocate to Dubai for job #3 - Middle East Economics and Politics editor - I'm nothing if not excited.

See you in April!

Israel Strikes in Gaza Widen Attacks on Iran’s Militant Allies Israel ended the Hamas ceasefire with deadly airstrikes across Gaza, days after the US ordered an offensive against the Houthis in an escalation of hostilities against Iran-backed militant groups.

Israel ended the Hamas ceasefire with deadly airstrikes across Gaza. These, along with others overnight in Lebanon and Syria, come days after the US ordered an offensive against the Houthis in an escalation of hostilities against Iran-backed militant groups.

Turkey Voids Erdogan Rival’s Degree in Risk for Presidential Bid Turkey revoked Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu’s university diploma, potentially blocking President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s main rival from running for the country’s top office.

Turkey revoked Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu’s university diploma, potentially blocking President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s main rival from running for the country’s top office.

He's one of Turkey’s most popular politicians and has been widely viewed as a contender to the presidency.

Trump-Israel Tensions Begin to Surface Over Gaza Hostage Talks Rare tensions are surfacing between Israel and President Donald Trump’s administration, after the US engaged in direct negotiations with Hamas regarding hostages in Gaza, including an American nationa...

Rare tensions are surfacing between Israel and President Donald Trump’s administration, after the US engaged in direct negotiations with Hamas regarding hostages in Gaza.

Avi Dichter, a member of Israel's security cabinet, said Monday Boehler's outreach to Hamas is "very bad, very problematic.”

Anytime. And since it's a gift, I might as well pay it forward.

❗️NOW: UK prime minister Starmer just arrived to the summit as he seeks members for a “coalition of the willing” to provide security guarantees to Ukraine.
On Thursday, EU leaders will meet in Brussels to accelerate plans for increasing defense spending and additional support for Ukraine

European Leaders Meet in London on Ukraine: Live Blog European Leaders Meet in London to Discuss Ukraine Crisis

What does one do on a Sunday morning? Blog the emergency summit in London. If you're around, follow along

Wondering about rare earths? Give this a listen and, while you're at it, do a quick search about commercial viability studies and the difference between resources and reserves. TL;DR: just cause I found oil/minerals in my yard, it doesn't necessarily mean I've hit the jackpot.

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A composite of posters showing Shiri Bibas and her two children Ariel and Kfir.

The remains of four Israeli hostages were returned Thursday, with Hamas saying they include a young mother and her two small children. Nine-month old Kfir Bibas was the youngest abductee in Oct. 2023.

For Israelis, the Bibas family is a symbol of 16 months of anguish over the fate of hostages.

Israel Says Army Retreating from Lebanon, But For Five Outposts Israel says it’s retreating from Lebanon by a Tuesday ceasefire deadline, but named five spots inside the country where soldiers will remain, drawing protest from the Lebanese government.

Israel says it’s retreating from Lebanon by a Tuesday ceasefire deadline, but named five spots inside the country where soldiers will remain, drawing protest from the Lebanese government.

Most ground troops have returned to Israel. Yet the army will stay in five positions near Israeli communities.

Russia Set to Keep Reduced Military Presence in Post-Assad Syria Russia will likely keep a reduced military presence in Syria, achieving a key objective for President Vladimir Putin after the downfall of the Assad regime he backed, according to people familiar with...

Russia will likely keep a reduced military presence in Syria, securing a key goal for Putin after the downfall of Assad. However, keeping naval and air bases in Syria will disappoint those hoping for a clean cut with Russia. The chess board keeps being rearranged

Trump Says Zelenskiy to Take Part in Talks With Russia President Donald Trump said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy will be involved in peace talks with Russia, a day after top US advisers suggested the negotiations might go on without him.

Trump said Zelenskiy will be involved in peace talks with Russia. It was the first definitive statement from the White House that Ukraine would be permitted a seat at the table when the US and Russia discuss ending the war

Israel Insists on Posts in Lebanon as US Rejects Pullout Delay Israel is pushing to hold onto a handful of positions in Lebanon after a request to keep the bulk of its troops in the country beyond next week’s deadline was rejected by the US, said people familiar ...

Israel is pushing to keep a handful of positions in Lebanon after it was denied an outright extension to the ceasefire deadline of Feb. 18.

An agreement hasn't been reached.

As Trump Makes Overtures, Iran Weighs Its Next Move The US call for conciliation may be landing at the right time for the Islamic Republic with the country weakened economically and militarily.

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Khamenei was typically combative in his speech to the nation on Friday. How can Iran trust the Americans and their new president?

But critically, Khamenei didn’t explicitly rule out talks with the US after President Donald Trump's strongest signal yet that he wants to directly engage.

Israel has identified an airport and seaport as potential departure points for Palestinians, according to a draft plan on how to implement Trump’s controversial proposal.

That the US president's road map will be implemented at all is far from certain.

- Dan Williams