All posts tagged: Mideast

Asian stocks mixed as investors weigh Mideast ceasefire doubts, fallout worries

Asian stocks mixed as investors weigh Mideast ceasefire doubts, fallout worries

Published by Sam Flores

Markets digested the latest developments, weighing the long-term implications of already lost crude supply and the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz on emerging, energy-importing countries in Asia. “The conflict appears to have moved into a prolonged standoff rather than towards a swift or durable resolution,” MUFG analysts wrote in a note. “For markets, this environment implies continued disruption to energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz.” Asian currencies also came under pressure: the Indonesian rupiah weakened to 17,185 a dollar, within striking distance of its all-time low of 17,193 a piece.  The rupiah has been under sustained pressure since the Middle East war broke out in late February, losing over 2 per cent to become one of the worst-hit regional currencies. All eyes are on Bank Indonesia’s monetary policy meeting later in the day, where the central bank is expected to keep rates unchanged. “BI is not expected to face immediate pressure to tighten policy, instead prioritising financial market stability in the near term,” said Radhika Rao, senior economist at DBS Bank. “Potential …

An Israeli and a Palestinian work together for Mideast peace : NPR

An Israeli and a Palestinian work together for Mideast peace : NPR

Published by Sam Flores

Aziz Abu Sarah (left) and Maoz Inon in Jaffa, Israel, in January. Their new book, The Future Is Peace: A Shared Journey Across the Holy Land, documents their peace activism that emerged from trauma and loss. Abu Sarah’s brother died from injuries inflicted in Israeli custody and Inon’s parents were killed by Hamas-led militants on Oct. 7, 2023. Maya Levin for NPR hide caption toggle caption Maya Levin for NPR TEL AVIV, Israel — The war in Gaza has hardened positions in the Middle East and around the globe. But two men, an Israeli and a Palestinian, say that after that war began in 2023, they became like brothers. It is a brotherhood born out of trauma and one recounted in their forthcoming book, The Future Is Peace: A Shared Journey Across the Holy Land. Aziz Abu Sarah and Maoz Inon lived parallel lives. Both ran travel agencies and believed that travel and education could bring societies closer together. They first met a decade ago over tea in Jerusalem, where Abu Sarah, a Palestinian, was born, …

UN demands accountability for violations of rules of war in Mideast

UN demands accountability for violations of rules of war in Mideast

Published by Sam Flores

“Health workers, hospitals and ambulances have been targeted. Schools have been struck. Civilian infrastructure – including bridges, residential buildings, houses, water facilities and power plants – has been destroyed,” it said. The agency chiefs voiced particular concern about the impact on “women and children and others with specific needs”, as well as on global supply chains, “with food and fuel prices on the rise”. At the same time, they highlighted that “our humanitarian colleagues have been caught up in the hostilities”. Just since the beginning of this year, they said, “14 aid workers have been killed or injured in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, eight in Iran and five in Lebanon“. “This is an alarming toll.” The agency chiefs said they “strongly condemn all attacks on civilians, including humanitarian and health workers, as well as civilian objects”.  “We demand that all parties – whether Member States of the United Nations or armed groups – respect their legal obligation to protect civilians, including humanitarian personnel, and civilian infrastructure,” they said. “All violations must be met with accountability.” …

Evacuation of U.S. troops from Mideast base sends community groups scrambling to help : NPR

Evacuation of U.S. troops from Mideast base sends community groups scrambling to help : NPR

Published by Sam Flores

A plume of smoke rises after a reported Iranian strike on fuel tanks in Muharraq, Bahrain, on March 12. Fadhel Madhan/AFP via Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Fadhel Madhan/AFP via Getty Images NPR has learned that hundreds of sailors were evacuated back to the United States from their base in Bahrain after the base was attacked by Iranian missiles and drones. In addition to the base in Bahrain, NPR has learned that there have been evacuations at other U.S. military bases in the region, though the exact details are unknown at this point. Bahrain is the home of the Navy’s 5th Fleet, making it a central hub for providing maritime security in the Middle East region, including protecting commercial shipping. The country is an island in the Persian Gulf that sits roughly 124 nautical miles away from the coast of Iran, which makes Bahrain well within range of Iranian drone and missile strikes. Around 8,000 people were stationed at the base in Bahrain before the U.S. attacked Iran on Feb. 28. On the opening …

Trump warns US could ‘take the oil in Iran’ as Mideast war escalates

Trump warns US could ‘take the oil in Iran’ as Mideast war escalates

Published by Sam Flores

Smoke rises from the direction of an energy installation in the Gulf emirate of Fujairah on March 14, 2026. Smoke could be seen rising from the direction of a major UAE energy installation on March 14, in what appeared to be the latest strike targeting the Gulf’s petroleum facilities hours after the US struck Iran’s Kharg Island. – | Afp | Getty Images U.S. President Donald Trump said he could “take the oil in Iran” and seize Iran’s export hub of Kharg Island, as hostilities in the Middle East continued into its fifth week. Trump told the Financial Times on Sunday that his “preference would be to take the oil,” comparing it to the U.S. military operation in Venezuela earlier this year where the U.S. effectively gained control of the Latin American country’s oil industry, following the capture of its leader Nicolas Maduro. The Trump administration has weighed sending ground forces to the Kharg Island, according to Reuters, with one of its sources warning or such an operation being “very risky.” Tehran has the ability …

Houthi attacks on Israel open new front in Mideast war, threaten Red Sea shipping

Houthi attacks on Israel open new front in Mideast war, threaten Red Sea shipping

Published by Sam Flores

A new actor has stepped into a war already being waged on multiple fronts: Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who launched their first missile in months at Israel on Saturday. After the Middle East war broke out, the Houthis had voiced support for their ally in the face of a US-Israeli offensive, refraining from taking part while warning they had their fingers “on the trigger”. On Saturday, they pulled it, announcing they had fired missiles and drones at Israeli military sites. Israel reported detecting a missile launch from Yemen and said it was working to intercept it. Read moreYemen’s Houthis launch ballistic missile at Israel as Middle East conflict escalates The group’s entry into the conflict “marks a serious and deeply concerning escalation”, said Farea Al Muslimi, a research fellow at Chatham House. Houthi involvement risks “widening an already volatile war, with significant implications”, especially for regional stability and global trade, he told AFP. Here are the possible repercussions. An expected move Analysts had long predicted the Houthis – who have controlled large parts of Yemen, …

Iran-backed Houthis join Mideast war in sharp escalation – POLITICO

Iran-backed Houthis join Mideast war in sharp escalation – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Iran, meanwhile, fired six ballistic missiles and 29 drones at Prince Sultan Air Base, injuring at least 15 U.S. troops, several of them seriously, the Associated Press reported, citing two people briefed on the incident. The base — located roughly 96 kilometers from Riyadh and operated by the Royal Saudi Air Force with a U.S. presence — had already been targeted twice earlier this week. A previous strike wounded 14 American personnel, officials said, bringing the total number of injured U.S. troops at the facility to more than two dozen in recent days. The attacks mark one of the most direct escalations against American forces since hostilities erupted late last month, underscoring the growing risk of a broader regional confrontation. Washington is sending additional forces into the region, while European capitals are stepping up efforts to contain the economic and security fallout. In a video statement on Saturday, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the rebels’ attacks targeted “sensitive Israeli military positions” and came after continued targeting of infrastructure in Iran, Lebanon, Iraq and the …

Paul Klee Painting Thwarted from US Debut Because of Mideast War

Paul Klee Painting Thwarted from US Debut Because of Mideast War

Published by José Betancourt

A Paul Klee painting famously owned by the philosopher and cultural theorist Walter Benjamin is currently stuck in Israel as a result of the war waged by Israel and the United States in Iran. The work was to make its American debut earlier this month. As noted in a Hyperallergic review and then reported out by the New York Times, Klee’s Angelus Novus (1920) was supposed to appear in “Paul Klee: Other Possible Worlds,” an exhibition that opened last week at the Jewish Museum in New York. Instead, the work is represented by an authorized facsimile and a note in the wall text that reads: “Due to current conditions affecting international transport, the shipment of the original artwork has been temporarily delayed.” Related Articles James S. Snyder, the director of the Jewish Museum, told the Times that the Israel Museum’s loan of the work “remains operative” and will materialize “when the time is right.” Of the situation, he said, “We knew we had to be prudent and patient and to wait until conditions were appropriate.” …