MUST-READS

• New Delhi’s Balancing Act In A Chaotic Middle East

  India’s outreach to West Asian countries began shortly after Independence in 1947. India’s anti-colonial socialist leaders frowned upon Israel (a country built on religious nationalism just like Pakistan), fully supported the Palestinian cause, and, cognisant of India’s large Muslim population, tried to make common cause with Islamic nations. However, other than Israel, which was keen to court India but with whom India did not agree to establish diplomatic relations until 1992, few of the West Asian countries particularly responded to India’s overtures and indeed regularly gave Pakistan both political and military support. Today the tide has turned. Arab nations and Israel are both enthusiastic about building ties with India and Modi’s BJP government has responded in kind.

• Attack on ship in the Middle East causes first fatalities in assaults on commercial freighters

  A suspected attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on a commercial ship in the Gulf of Aden caused “fatalities” and forced the crew to abandon the vessel on Wednesday, authorities said, the first fatal strike in a campaign of assaults by the group over Israel’s war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

• Israeli tank in ‘likely scenario’ fired machine gun at reporters after deadly shelling, report finds

  An Israeli tank crew killed a Reuters reporter in Lebanon in October by firing two shells at a clearly identified group of journalists and then "likely" opened fire on them with a heavy machine gun in an attack that lasted 1 minute and 45 seconds, according to a report into the incident published on Thursday. The report, opens new tab by the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) - which was contracted by Reuters to analyse evidence from the Oct. 13 attack that killed visuals journalist Issam Abdallah - found that a tank 1.34 km away in Israel fired two 120 mm rounds at the reporters.

• U.S. presses for Gaza truce amid reports talks deadlocked

  Hopes for reaching a six week Gaza truce and the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas seemed uncertain on Wednesday, though the United States said it did not think a deal was out of reach and would continue to work for one. “We continue to believe that the obstacles are not insurmountable and that a deal can be reached, and a deal is in the interest of Israel, it’s in the interest of the Palestinian people, and it’s in the interest of the broader region,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told journalists at the department press briefing Wednesday (March 6).

• Saudi Arabia named ‘most improved country overall’ in US Chamber of Commerce IP Index

  Saudi Arabia has received recognition as “the most improved country overall” in the 12th edition of the US Chamber of Commerce International Intellectual Property Index. Released on March 2, the report emphasizes the several achievements of the Kingdom, with Vice President of Middle East Affairs at the US Chamber of Commerce Steve Lutes telling Arab News that Saudi Arabia has made significant strides in the technology sector over the past year.

• AlUla launches its first global tourism campaign

  The 2.5-minute film, directed by Bruno Aveillan, brings a cinematic dimension to the destination, highlighting its key attractions such as history, culture, nature and adventure. To complement this, a series of short videos presents AlUla's emblematic sites and the unique experiences it offers. At the same time, AlUla is embarking on a digital transformation with the creation of a new website, a mobile application and a redesigned social media strategy. This omnichannel approach aims to deliver an optimal customer experience, both online and on-site.

• Saudi Arabia’s NEOM unveils private residential golf community project Gidori

  The project’s progressive architecture centerpiece is a beach-front complex with a cantilevered structure that rises from the coastal landscape. “It will house 190 luxury sea-view apartments alongside a range of dining experiences, signature retail stores and garden spaces,” NEOM said in a statement.

• Saudi Arabia condemns Israeli settlement expansion plans in West Bank

  Saudi Arabia on Wednesday condemned an Israeli decision to approve the development of 3,500 new settlement units in the West Bank. The Saudi foreign ministry said the Kingdom “strongly condemned” the planned settlement and attempts to Judaized large parts of the West Bank. The statement comes as an Israeli minister said the plans to construct the units had been pushed forward. Israeli settlement watchdog Peace Now said there were 3,426 homes advanced through a planning committee, across Maale Adumim and Kedar, east of Jerusalem, and Efrat, south of the city.

• Baseball United signs historic partnership to bring game to Saudi Arabia

  Baseball United has announced a historic partnership deal with the Saudi Baseball and Softball Federation (SBSF) that provides them an unlimited term to host professional league and tournaments in the kingdom. It includes rights to new Baseball United franchises representing Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam – three of the kingdom’s largest cities, marking professional baseball's first foray into Saudi Arabia. “This is a monumental day for the sport of baseball,” Kash Shaikh, chairman, CEO, and co-founder of Baseball United, said.

• Dar Global reveals Trump Villas design for Muscat resort and golf course

  Saudi property developer Dar Global has released the designs for villas in the Trump community at its Aida resort and golf course development in Muscat. The Trump Signature Villas, an enclave of properties within Trump International Golf Club Oman, come with "elite membership" of the golf club and a Trump-branded golf cart, Dar Global said. The villas, which will have sea views from an elevation of over 130 metres, range from three to seven bedrooms, starting at 1,345 square feet in size. Phase one of the Trump Villas project is expected to be completed this year, according to Dar Global's website, with the development expected to be finished by 2026.

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