Ceuta border surge shakes Morocco’s image as the EU’s ‘trusted partner’
Lost in the furious response from EU leaders accusing Spain of gross negligence by allowing the storming of the EU border in Ceuta last Thursday (30 July), a Spanish enclave on the African continent next to Morocco, is the damage that this could do to EU relations with Rabat. Though Spain is facing»»»
Hard-right Reform UK proposes navy-led operation to stop small migrant boats
The hard-right Reform UK party on Monday revealed plans for "the largest military operation" in the Channel "since World War II", which would deploy Britain's Royal Navy to return small migrant boats to France. The proposal – which experts and other political parties promptly ru»»»
Morocco names Tiznit-Dakhla expressway after Trump, confirming US president's claim
Morocco has named the Tiznit-Dakhla expressway the "President Donald J. Trump Highway", casting the move as a mark of relations with the United States stretching back 250 years, the state news agency MAP reported on August 1. The naming formalises Rabat's embrace of a gesture Trump had publicised d»»»
Pochettino to stay as USA coach until 2030 World Cup
Paris, France: Mauricio Pochettino has signed a contract extension to remain the head coach of the United States national team until the 2030 World Cup, US Soccer announced Monday. The 54-year-old took over in 2024 and led the USA to the last 16 at the recent World Cup, which they co-hosted with Ca»»»
EU Migration Pact under fire after Spain’s Ceuta border crisis
On the last days of July, over 50,000 illegal immigrants breached the defensive perimeters of Ceuta and Melilla and swarmed into the Spanish enclaves in North Africa. This occurred against the backdrop of the grandly adopted New Pact for Migration in Brussels, which officially entered into force on»»»
EU chief urges 'united action' on borders after Ceuta migrant rush
Brussels, Belgium: EU chief Ursula von der Leyen called Monday for "united action" on border security after a migrant rush on Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta triggered a public spat between Madrid and several European partners. "From this incident, it is clear that we must do more to further»»»
Ceuta migrant crisis: Far-right govts 'ridiculously using these images' to stoke fear for votes
Jennie Shin is pleased to welcome Antoni Vives, policy analyst and the former Deputy Mayor of Barcelona. Vives offers a nuanced geopolitical interpretation of the Ceuta migration crisis, arguing that the events cannot be understood solely as a humanitarian emergency or a spontaneous wave of migrati»»»
Hard-right Reform UK vow to use navy to stop small boats
LONDON: The hard-right Reform UK party unveiled plans on Monday for, if it wins power, “the largest military operation” in the Channel “since World War II” to stop migrants crossing on small boats. The proposal — which experts and other political parties promptly rubbished — comes days after tens o»»»
Road to 2034: What does Saudi Arabia have to do to produce a successful national team?
RIYADH: In hindsight, Saudi Arabia’s exit from the World Cup after a stalemate with Cape Verde does not look as bad as it did at the time. The Blue Sharks were one of two teams to put two goals past runners-up Argentina, and the only team in the tournament to avoid both losing and conceding a goal »»»
Iran blames US and Israel for Spain migrant crisis
The US and Israel orchestrated the mass migrant crossing from Morocco into Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta to punish Madrid for its refusal to bow to pressure on the Middle East conflicts, Iran’s embassy in Kenya has suggested. Spain has been at odds with Washington and West Jerusalem over t»»»
As Ceuta returns to normal, far right vilifies Spain's immigration policy
The death toll from a mass rush of migrants from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta last week reached at least 72 on Sunday, as five more bodies were found along the North African coast, officials said. Moroccan authorities meanwhile report 11 deaths. Around 60,000 people crossed into Ceuta »»»
Spain Hunts for Possible Islamist Radicals After Mass Breach Into Ceuta
Spanish intelligence services have been mobilized to identify radicals who may have entered the autonomous city of Ceuta in North Africa along with the wave of illegal migrants, Spanish media reported, citing sources in the Interior Ministry. As the publication notes, seven kilometers from Ceuta li»»»
Morocco blames Ceuta migrant rush on 'misleading information' on social media
Morocco on Sunday said 11 people died trying to reach Spain's North African exclave of Ceuta this week as the country's interior ministry blamed the sudden surge on the "spread of misleading information" on social media. Morocco’s figure is significantly lower than the death tol»»»
Beyond Borders: How MENA talent is shaping Esports World Cup 2026
DUBAI: As the Esports World Cup 2026 unfolds in Paris, the Middle East and North Africa’s influence on the tournament is increasingly more visible. Beyond the success of individual clubs, the tournament has revealed a regional talent pool that now stretches across international organizations, multi»»»
On This Day, Aug. 3: Astronauts carry out first emergency repair spacewalk - UPI.com
On Aug. 3, 2005, in the first emergency repair conducted in space, astronauts fixed a potentially dangerous problem by removing two strips of protruding cloth from the underside of the space shuttle Discovery. 1 of 7 | Mission Specialist Soichi Noguchi traverses along the Destiny laboratory of the »»»
Ceuta grapples with aftermath of border surge after most migrants leave the Spanish territory
CEUTA: Ceuta over the weekend no longer looked like a city on edge, but residents were still rattled by the events of the week. Most of the 60,000 migrants who swam, scrambled and later charged into the tiny Spanish exclave in North Africa this week had walked back to Morocco by Sunday, but some st»»»
Record 6.2 billion tune in to FIFA World Cup 2026 on beIN Sports
Doha, Qatar: The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be remembered as the tournament that rewrote the record books – and not only on the pitch. As the first 48-team finals produced the most goals ever scored at a World Cup (308), a record nine African teams in the knockout rounds, and a record eight Arab nati»»»
MoL underscores importance of national coordination to combat human trafficking
Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Labour (MoL) has underscored the critical importance of coordinated national efforts under the National Referral Mechanism for Combating Human Trafficking, highlighting its role in identifying cases, protecting victims and ensuring comprehensive support while advancing »»»
Spain's African exclave Ceuta calms after mass crossing that killed at least 67
The Spanish enclave of Ceuta regained a measure of calm after a mass crossing of thousands of Moroccans that left at least 67 people dead, as arrivals from Morocco slowed to sporadic attempts, El País reported on August 1. The crisis has exposed Spain to a fresh confrontation over migration policy »»»
Pegula leads Eala as storms push Washington Open finals to Monday
WASHINGTON, United States: World number three Jessica Pegula and rising star Alexandra Eala must wait until Monday to decide a Washington Open champion after thunderstorms postponed the completion of Sunday’s WTA final.After waiting through a three-hour thunderstorm delay to start, Pegula won the f»»»
Qatar readies for blockbuster season of events
Brahmananda Shasmal Doha As the world’s attention increasingly turns toward the Middle East, Qatar is preparing to host one of its most diverse calendars of international events, reaffirming its position as a global destination where sport, business, culture, entertainment and diplomacy converge. F»»»
All you need to know about Ceuta amid the migration debate
LONDON: Ceuta and Melilla, two Spanish-controlled cities on Morocco’s Mediterranean coast, remain at the heart of one of the world’s longest-running territorial disputes. In recent times, they have become key points in Europe’s migration-control system. Spain depends heavily on Moroccan security fo»»»
Moroccan families desperately search for loved ones after deadly Ceuta crossing
Fnideq, Morocco: Dozens of Moroccans gathered on Sunday in the town of Fnideq, desperately seeking news of their loved ones who were among the thousands who swam across the nearby border to the Spanish territory of Ceuta this week. Aldellatif, an agricultural worker in Moulay Bousselham, about 135 »»»
Iran’s Petrochemical Industry Turns Sanctions Into Domestic Manufacturing Boom
Over the years, the US and its allies tried extensively to sanction Iran’s petrochemicals sector into submission through corporate blacklisting, broker interdiction and secondary restrictions. These efforts appear to have failed. “Last year, more than 2k parts required by the petrochemical industry»»»
Spain's Ceuta navigates aftermath of border surge as most migrants return home
Ceuta was returning to normal over the weekend after an unprecedented migrant surge that saw up to 60,000 people enter the tiny Spanish exclave from Morocco in just two days. But with at least 72 migrants dead and most arrivals having already returned to Morocco, residents were still grappling with»»»
Death toll from migrant rush into Ceuta rises to 72
CEUTA: The death toll from Thursday’s mass rush into Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta from Morocco reached at least 72 on Sunday as five more bodies were found along Ceuta’s coast, officials said. More than 50,000 people crossed into Ceuta by land and sea in an unprecedented surge that began »»»
Ceuta grapples with aftermath of border surge after most migrants leave the Spanish territory
CEUTA: Ceuta over the weekend no longer looked like a city on edge, but the events of the week were still on everyone’s minds. Most of the 60,000 migrants who swam, scrambled and later charged into the tiny Spanish exclave in North Africa this week had walked back to Morocco by Sunday, while others»»»
Ceuta: Spain slams "selfish" EU partners
Almost all of the migrants who entered Spain’s enclave of Ceuta had left by Saturday, according to officials. An estimated 60,000 migrants entered Ceuta from neighbouring Morocco over just a few days, with at least 67 people losing their lives in the attempt. Spain has announced plans to install a »»»
Europe to hold meeting Tuesday over Ceuta after migration flux
Spain has installed a 500-metre-long sea barrier between its North African enclave of Ceuta and neighbouring Morocco. It comes after tens of thousands of migrants breached the border earlier this week, with at least 67 people dying in the attempt. While most of those who crossed quickly returned to»»»
At least 72 died in Spain’s Ceuta migrant rush
Ceuta: At least 72 people died during the mass influx in recent days of migrants into Spain’s Ceuta enclave, when tens of thousands of people mostly swam around the border post from Morocco, local officials said on Sunday. Most of the estimated 60,000 people who rushed into Spain’s north African te»»»
At least 72 died in Spain's Ceuta migrant rush
Ceuta, Spain: At least 72 people died during last week's mass influx of migrants into Spain's Ceuta enclave, when tens of thousands of people mostly swam around the border post from Morocco, local officials said on Sunday. Most of the estimated 60,000 people who rushed into Spain's north African te»»»
No spontaneous combustion? Regarding the causes of the Ceuta migrant surge, look who’s gloating
The recent burst of illegal migration into Spain’s Moroccan exclave of Ceuta was, above all, a sensational media event produced for political effect. It will have lasting consequences, but not in terms of who ended up where: Of the about 50,000 migrants who suddenly, as if on command, stormed Ceuta»»»
Death Toll Rises as Ceuta Migrant Crisis Deepens
The death toll among migrants trying to reach the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco has reached 90, according to Spanish media reports citing sources. Spanish authorities have recovered 74 bodies, while Moroccan officials have retrieved 16 others.The crisis erupted in late July, when Ceuta expe»»»
Analysts: Saudi-US nuclear deal offers strategic gains for both sides
RIYADH: The civil nuclear cooperation agreement between Saudi Arabia and the US is expected to usher in a new phase of economic and technological partnership that extends well beyond the construction of nuclear reactors and electricity generation, encompassing the localization of high-value industr»»»
Spain installs floating barrier in Ceuta after migration influx
The Spanish authorities said on Saturday that they were installing a floating barrier on the sea border between its North African territory of Ceuta and neighboring Morocco, after a surge of tens of thousands of migrants into the territory earlier in the week prompted alarm across t»»»
Oliv Sees Digital Factoring as a Catalyst for Egypt's SME Growth Arab Finance For Information Technology
Arab Finance: Egypt’s small and medium enterprise (SME) sector faces an estimated $10 billion factoring gap and a broader $48 billion MENA region financing shortfall. Despite representing the backbone of economic growth and employment, SMEs in Egypt remain severely underserved by traditional bankin»»»
Experts gather in Doha to advance strategic leadership and innovation
Ashraf Siddiqui Doha Experts, academics, policymakers, entrepreneurs, researchers and professionals from across the world gathered in Doha for the 4th Honorary Doctoral Awards and Global Leadership Conference, a four-day international event that promotes strategic leadership, innovation, and instit»»»
‘I just want a chance’: Moroccans sought better future in collective crossing to Spain territory
CEUTA, Spain: When he heard the border had been breached, Abdulah Buji jumped on his motorbike and raced from his home in northern Morocco toward Ceuta, joining tens of thousands of people trying to swim into the tiny Spanish territory in North Africa. Like many of his fellow countrymen, Buji was i»»»
Trump warns US faces Spain-style migrant invasion if Democrats return
The surge of migrants across the border from Morocco into Spain is an example of what could happen to the US if Republicans aren’t elected, US President Donald Trump has claimed. Trump has repeatedly attacked his political opponents over immigration, blaming his predecessor Joe Biden for illegal bo»»»
Ceuta: 60,000 cross the border, 57 died
After a day of deadly chaos in Spain’s tiny North African enclave of Ceuta, calm has returned for now. Of the 60,000 migrants who stormed into the territory, around 45,000 returned to neighbouring Morocco within hours. Authorities ordered people to turn around and go back, warning they could otherw»»»
Ceuta 2026 dwarfs 2021 migration crisis
Almost all of the tens of thousands of migrants who entered Spain’s enclave of Ceuta had left by Saturday, according to officials. An estimated 60,000 migrants crossed into Ceuta from neighbouring Morocco over just a few days, with at least 67 people losing their lives in the attempt. Spain has ann»»»
Morocco NGO calls for probe after Ceuta migrant influx
RABAT: A Moroccan rights group on Saturday called for an independent inquiry to be launched into the causes of the influx of tens of thousands of migrants into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta this week. As many as 60,000 migrants entered Ceuta in recent days, mostly swimming around the small border po»»»
Spain leaving Schengen ‘not on the table’, says French minister
PARIS: France’s Interior Minister Laurent Nunez on Saturday said his country would not seek Spain’s suspension from Schengen rules, after tens of thousands of migrants entered Spain’s enclave of Ceuta in North Africa. “Spain does not need to leave the Schengen zone. It’s absolutely not on the table»»»
August’s total solar eclipse will sweep over Spain, Iceland and Greenland
MADRID: For the first time in more than a century, a total solar eclipse is coming to mainland Spain with an even longer encore next summer. Toss in a crescendoing meteor shower and a six-planet parade on the same day, and the heavens will be overflowing with awe. Daytime darkness will descend Aug.»»»
Migrants say hunger and hostility drove them back from Spain’s Ceuta to Morocco
FNIDEQ, Morocco/CEUTA, Spain: Migrants who swam or jumped over fences to rush into Spain’s African enclave of Ceuta this week were returning home on Saturday, with many saying hunger, exhaustion and hostility from locals had crushed their hopes of a new life in Europe. Those heading back told Reut»»»
Hungary joins 21 EU leaders in criticism of Spain's migration response after mass arrivals
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar has joined 21 other European leaders in signing a joint letter criticising Spain’s handling of a recent migration surge, warning that recent developments could undermine the protection of the European Union’s external borders. The initiative follows reports tha»»»
Military Takes Key Sites in Spain's Ceuta Under Guard Amid Migrant Crisis
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Military personnel, police and Civil Guard officers have been deployed in key areas of Spain's autonomous city of Ceuta in North Africa amid the ongoing migrant crisis, a Sputnik correspondent reported on Saturday. Military vehicles and patrols are present in the city's central s»»»
Spanish Minister Slams EU 'Selfishness' Over Calls to Suspend Spain From Schengen
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska on Saturday accused some European countries of taking a selfish and irresponsible stance amid calls for Spain's temporary exclusion from the Schengen Area. He said most EU countries supported Spain. "But there are other countries»»»
Mark your calendar: A rare total solar eclipse will light up skies on August 12
Dubai: Millions of skywatchers are expected to turn their eyes to the heavens on August 12, 2026, when one of the year's most significant astronomical events unfolds: a rare total solar eclipse. While the path of totality will bypass the Arab world, parts of North Africa, particularly the Maghreb, »»»
Buraidah hosts annual dates carnival
BURAIDAH: This year’s Buraidah International Dates Carnival opens on Saturday and runs through Oct. 14. The annual event brings together farmers, traders, and importers from across the Kingdom and abroad. The carnival also features cultural, tourism, and entertainment activities at several venues, »»»