What is the Arabian Shield and why is Saudi Arabia keen to dig in? | The National
Saudi Arabia is betting that its next major economic opportunity lies not in oil under the desert, but in the rocks beneath the kingdom.
· Alvin R Cabral
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Newest first · UTC+11:00US vows to 'collapse' Iran with new sanctions as energy prices spike
The US will impose "the toughest sanctions in history” on Iran, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent said on Thursday, vowing to ramp up economic pressure on the Islamic Republic even as the economic toll of the war builds.
· Middleeasteye
Cost Of Living Remains Biggest Challenge Facing Americans
The war in Iran marked a significant setback in Americans' year-long battle with high prices.
· Tyler Durden
US pushes allies, China to back Trump's economic war on Iran
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United States on Thursday warned allies and China to join President Donald Trump's new campaign to isolate the Iranian economy, vowing that Washington would "collapse this regime" in Tehran.
· Agence France-Presse
US says it will impose ‘toughest sanctions in history’ on Iran
TRUMP AND IRAN. A 3D printed miniature of US President Donald Trump and the Iranian flag are seen in this illustration taken January 9, 2026.
· Herbie G
Blast in Syria's Idlib kills at least three
An explosion at a house in Syria’s Idlib early on Friday resulted in the killing of at least three civilians and the wounding of six others, the Syrian Civil Defense said.
· Middleeasteye
Four out of every five families in Gaza face 'critical or catastrophic' hunger levels, UN warns
The spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, Stephane Dujarric, warned that 94 percent of Gaza's over 2.1 million population are in need of shelter and basic household assistance.
· Middleeasteye
Fuel prices projected to go up for 2nd consecutive week
MANILA, Philippines — Fuel prices are estimated to increase once more next week, as tensions in the Middle East continue to influence the global market, local oil industry sources said on Friday.
· Ed Paolo Salting
CNBC Daily Open: Watching Iran's economy; a losing game for bonds
Hello, this is Anniek Bao writing to you from Singapore. Welcome to another edition of CNBC's Daily Open.
· Anniek Bao
Zomi Frankcom was killed by IDF drones. Australia says Israel’s response ‘falls far short’. How did it happen and what’s next?
Two years after a deadly strike on the Australian aid worker and her colleagues, IDF officers have been cleared of criminal wrongdoing. Frankcom’s brother says it’s ‘an insult’
· Ben Doherty
Terrorist shot after attempting to stab IDF soldier operating in West Bank, no IDF injuries
A terrorist armed with a knife attempted to stab an IDF soldier in the Jenin area in the West Bank, the IDF spokesperson announced on Thursday morning.
· ESTHER DAVIS
Why an anti-Israel DSA member bested Alex Vindman in a Florida Senate primary
When Democratic socialist Angie Nixon, an ardent critic of Israel, secured a surprise win in Florida’s US Senate Democratic primary Tuesday over Jewish former Soviet refugee Alex Vindman, pro-Israel advocates expressed alarm that even in the South, Democratic momentum seems to be shifting toward the party’s farthest…
· SHARON UDASIN/ JTA
Poll Shows Voters Reject US-Israel Military Integration
Authored by Brett Wilkins via Common Dreams
· Tyler Durden
El Ejército de EEUU cerrará una unidad en Europa centrada en aprender guerra con drones
El general Christopher LaNeve, subjefe del Estado Mayor del Ejército, testifica en el Capitolio el 19 de mayo de 2026, en Washington. (AP Foto/J. Scott Applewhite, archivo)
· Konstantin Toropin
Cartoon for August 21, 2026 | The National
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· The National
Japan headline inflation rate hits highest this year as energy prices bite
Japan's headline inflation rate hit its highest level this year, coming in at 1.9% for July as prices continued to climb due to energy prices.
· Lim Hui Jie
Zomi Frankcom did not deserve to die. Israel’s refusal to investigate her death and its failure to apologise is despicable | Geoffrey Robertson
The Israeli ambassador has claimed ‘a court came to a decision that there’s no criminal liability’ but there is no evidence that any court has been involved
· Geoffreyrobertson
US charges woman with Isis-inspired plot to blow up New York State Capitol
Jessica Bowie allegedly mused about posing as a food delivery driver to plant a bomb and kill senators before fleeing to Syria
· Agence France-Presse
US charges woman with Isis-inspired plot to blow up New York State Capitol
Jessica Bowie allegedly mused about posing as a food delivery driver to plant a bomb and kill senators before fleeing to Syria
· Agence France-Presse
Haredi protesters gather at Maccabim checkpoint over reported draft evader arrest - report
Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) protesters gathered at the Maccabim checkpoint near Modi'in on Thursday night, after rumors spread that police were arresting a draft evader at the scene, N12 News reported.
· JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Lebanese Shiite scholar says Hezbollah brought 'destruction' and 'hatred' to Lebanon
A well-known Lebanese Shiite scholar and critic of Hezbollah said that Iran "brainwashed" people into supporting the terrorist organization in an N12 News interview on Thursday.
· LEO FEIERBERG BETTER
How much could Trump's 'economic D-Day' hurt Iran?
Nearly six months after US President Donald Trump vowed a swift victory over Iran, the conflict appears to be at a standstill, with prospects of a military victory or negotiated settlement growing dimmer.
· Bbcnews
Israeli strikes target southern Lebanon and Syria
An Israeli strike targeted the heights of the Ali al-Taher area in south Lebanon, Al Jazeera reported.
· Middleeasteye
Beware Iran’s most devious weapon — another ‘October surprise’
See more of our coverage in your search results.
· Mark Dubowitz
Nearly everyone in Gaza in need of shelter aid, NRC says
An estimated 1.98 million Palestinians in Gaza, 94 per cent of the population, need shelter and basic household assistance, according to a new report by the Shelter Cluster, led by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC).
· Middleeasteye
US markets down amid plan to 'collapse' Iran's economy, ASX to follow
The United States is urging allies to join it in a bid to "collapse" Iran's economy to end the Middle East conflict.
· Daniel Ziffer
In photos: Funeral of 17-year-old Palestinian killed by Israel in March
Palestinians held a funeral on Thursday for 17-year-old Salim Sami Salim Fuqaha, whose body Israeli authorities had withheld since he was killed on 16 March, in the village of Sinjil, north of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.
· Middleeasteye
Army is shutting down a unit in Europe focused on drones
Gen. Christopher LaNeve, vice chief of staff of the Army, testifies at the Capitol in Washington, May 19, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
· Konstantin Toropin
Vatican says 'serious concerns' over Israel-Lebanon deal implementation
VATICAN CITY— The Vatican expressed "serious concerns" Thursday about problems implementing a US-brokered deal between Israel and Lebanon, following a meeting between Pope Leo XIV and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.
· Agence France-Presse
Israeli forces block Ramallah Governor’s departure, following slain teen’s funeral
Israeli forces detained Ramallah Governor Laila Ghannam and prevented her from leaving the town of Sinjil on Thursday after she attended the funeral of a Palestinian teenager, Wafa news agency reported, citing local sources.
· Middleeasteye
[Robert J. Fouser] Trump’s pivot; Seoul’s long game
Finding himself caught in a grinding war with Iran, US President Donald Trump has turned to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for help. Trump’s most consistent trait is a desire to control the narrative in his favor. Reaching out to Kim now offers Trump a chance to return to the “peacemaker” image he projected in the …
· Korea Herald
Woman charged with planning IS-inspired attack on New York state capitol building
Jessica Bowie, 35, of Albany, allegedly planned to deploy explosive before fleeing to IS-controlled territory in Syria
· Reuters
The US-Iran stalemate: Letters to the Editor — Aug. 21, 2026
See more of our coverage in your search results.
· Post readers
Opinion: Amid genocide in Gaza, why must Palestinian journalists uphold the illusion of neutrality?
On 20 June 2026, the Israeli army killed Al Jazeera Mubasher cameraman Ahmed Wishah in a drone strike, less than two and a half months after the killing of his brother, Al Jazeera Mubasher correspondent Mohammed Wishah, who was targeted by the same army on 8 April.
· Middleeasteye
Iran responds over Trump's threat to crush its economy
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Israeli opinion article says Turkey's Nato protection does not apply to troops in Syria
An opinion article on Thursday in the right-wing Israeli paper Israel Hayom has suggested that any Turkish troops in Syria would be considered sitting ducks for Israel, because Nato's collective defence pact would not apply outside a member state's borders.
· Middleeasteye
Bessent urges U.S. allies to join economic pressure campaign on Iran
WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 (Yonhap) -- U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Thursday called on U.S. allies to join Washington's stepped-up economic pressure campaign against Iran, outlining a plan to impose the "toughest sanctions in history" on the Islamic Republic.
· Song Sang-ho
The unborn are dying in the siege of Gaza
By Eva Bartlett, an American/Canadian journalist who has spent years on the ground covering conflict zones in the Middle East, Venezuela and the Donbass, recipient of the 2017 International Journalism Award for International Reporting, granted by the Mexican Journalists’ Press Club and first recipient of the Serena …
· RT
US hits Hezbollah with fresh sanctions, emphasizing ties to Iranian government
The United States on Thursday issued fresh sanctions targeting Lebanon's Hezbollah, including re-designating it over actions on behalf of the Iranian government, according to a statement seen by Reuters.
· REUTERS
US Treasury chief urges China to back proposed Iran sanctions
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged China to “get with the programme” over proposed sanctions on Iran, saying Beijing would benefit from the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and lower energy prices.
· Middleeasteye
Israeli soccer set for another thrilling season
The new Israel soccer season is upon us as 14 teams from across the country will battle it out for supremacy and will look to knock defending champion Hapoel Beersheba off its throne.
· JOSHUA HALICKMAN
USS George Washington arrives in Middle East as USS Abraham Lincoln prepares to sail home - report
The USS George Washington aircraft carrier has arrived in the Middle East, US Central Command announced on Thursday, as a US official told The New York Times that the USS Abraham Lincoln began its journey back to the US on the same day.
· JERUSALEM POST STAFF
US Treasury secretary says new economic measures will ‘collapse’ Iran
United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said that a new series of economic measures will “collapse” the Iranian government, calling on countries to join the effort.
· Al Jazeera Staff
US vows to 'collapse' Iran with new sanctions as energy prices spike
The US will impose "the toughest sanctions in history” on Iran, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent said on Thursday, vowing to ramp up economic pressure on the Islamic Republic even as the economic toll of the war builds.
· Middleeasteye
US re-designates Hezbollah as terrorist group and unveils new sanctions | The National
The US on Thursday re-designated Lebanese Hezbollah as a terrorist group as it seeks to show the organisation is an Iranian proxy taking orders from Tehran.
· Thomas Watkins
UK, France, Germany, Italy and Canada condemn Israel's West Bank settlement project
File photo of the Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim in the occupied West Bank next to the so-called E1 project in East Jerusalem, taken in February 2026
· Bbcnews
Bessent vows to isolate Iran's economy as US increases pressure on allies | The National
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Thursday said the US will impose its toughest ever sanctions on Iran, as Washington increases its economic threats amid an impasse in negotiations to end the conflict.
· Kyle Fitzgerald
France, Germany, UK and Italy condemn Israel's 'E1' West Bank settlement plan
France, Germany, Britain and Italy condemned on Thursday plans by Israel to launch a construction tender for the E1 settlement project called 'E1' in the occupied West Bank.
· Middleeasteye
US urges allies and China to join economic campaign to 'collapse' Iran
Donald Trump is vowing to unleash economic warfare against Iran on "an unprecedented scale". (Reuters: Kylie Cooper)