Saudi Arabia

In a significant move, the Houthi rebels in Yemen have declared a ban on American, British, and Israeli ships from entering the Red and Arabian Seas, as well as the Gulf of Aden. The ban extends to vessels owned or partially owned by Israeli citizens or companies, as well as those flying the Israeli flag.

A crucial milestone is expected in March for the East to Med Data Corridor (EMC) telecommunications submarine cable system, an ambitious project aimed at creating an "international digital highway," where Cyprus, Greece and Saudi Arabia are key components.

Türkiye aims to increase bilateral trade volume up to $30 billion in the medium term, Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz said, adding that Türkiye may welcome more tourists from Saudi Arabia.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has appointed ambassadors to five countries, including regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia.

The Antalya Diplomacy Forum, which will hold its third event since its foundation, will focus on the ongoing crisis in Gaza, where the Israeli security forces are committing massacres of civilians that left more than 28,000 people already dead.

Representatives from more than 120 Saudi companies will visit Türkiye to discuss investment and cooperation opportunities.

Reports emerge from Sofia indicating that Bulgaria intends to deport a Saudi dissident who sought asylum but was rejected, sparking concerns for his safety upon return to the Gulf kingdom. The news, reported by AFP, sheds light on the plight of Abdulrahman Al-Khalidi, who fears persecution in Saudi Arabia if deported.

Turkish company Baykar has started building a drone factory near the Ukrainian capital of Kiev, says its CEO Haluk Bayraktar.

Baykar's TB2 or TB3 drone models will be produced at the plant, which will create jobs for 500 people, Bayraktar said, speaking at the World World Defense Show in Saudi Arabia's Riyadh.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Wednesday to push for a ceasefire as the Gaza war enters its fifth month.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in Israel on Wednesday, where he was expected to press for what he called an "essential" truce agreement as the war with Hamas entered its fifth month.

The diplomat was due to meet Israel's leaders as part of a Middle East crisis tour after earlier stops in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Qatar.