Gulf and Red Sea Regions

The Iranian, Chinese and Russian navies will begin joint naval manoeuvres in the northern Indian Ocean waters on January 21, the semi official Iranian news agency ISNA reported on Thursday (20 January), citing the Iranian army’s press office.

There has been widespread international condemnation of a drone attack on Abu Dhabi International Airport. The Yemeni Houthi Group, which is backed by Iran, has claimed responsibility for the attack which killed three persons. The attack on the airport of the UAE capital is seen as a serious escalation of the ongoing conflict in Yemen where a regional coalition including Saudi Arabia and the UAE is assisting the internationally recognised government of Yemen in its efforts to regain control of the country from the Houthi movement which seized the capital and large swats of the country in 2015.

The Qatari Minister of Labour Dr Ali bin Saeed bin Smaikh Al-Marri has said that Qatar adopted many legislative and administrative reforms that stem from and are in line with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) as part of their agreement of partnership in 2017. 

Israeli leaders appear to have recently softened their position as regards a nuclear deal with Iran, saying they would not oppose "a good deal". Israel’s foreign minister, Yair Lapid, said that Israel would have no problem with a strong nuclear deal with Iran on condition that the deal permanently limits Iran’s ability to assemble a nuclear weapon.

We wish health, peace, and prosperity to all our readers and subscribers in Europe and Eurasia, the Caucasus Region, the Middle East and world wide. Happy New Year!

The Sudanese prime minister, Abdulla Hamdok has told a group of national political and civil society figures that he intends to resign today (22 December). The group had called on Hamdok to stay in office but sources claim he insists on leaving.