The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) reported looting at its field office in Gaza after thousands of Palestinians breached the facility, taking medications and causing damage to agency trucks and buses. The breach was described as "the direct result of unbearable and prolonged deprivation" by Louise Wateridge, a senior emergency officer at UNRWA. Israel's war against Hamas has killed over 52,000 Palestinians, including more than 2,200 in the past six weeks. Over 3,000 aid trucks with lifesaving supplies are backed up outside Gaza due to the Israeli blockade, which has left 1 million children without access to essential supplies. The UN is calling for the lifting of the blockade and the reopening of crossings to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.
https://stltoday.com/news/nation-world/article_c7a52270-580f-4ee6-a682-216c4f8b8a7e.htmlThe International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region of significant economic challenges due to uncertainty caused by tariff measures, lower oil prices, and reduced financial aid. The IMF predicts Brent crude oil prices will be $65-69 per barrel by 2025-2026, making energy-exporting economies vulnerable to market fluctuations. Director Jihad Azour notes that global uncertainty could impact growth by 2-4.5%, with the MENA region expected to grow 2.6% this year, compared to 1.8% last year. The IMF urges countries to implement structural reforms and diversify economic ties to drive growth, while also working with struggling nations like Syria.
https://africanews.com/2025/05/01/imf-global-uncertainty-weighing-on-mena-economies/The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned that countries across the Middle East and North Africa face significant economic challenges due to tariff measures, lower oil prices, and cuts to financial aid. The IMF predicts Brent crude oil prices will be $65-69 per barrel in 2025 and 2026, posing a risk to energy-exporting economies. Director Jihad Azour stated that countries need to devise policies to protect their economies from the negative impact of global uncertainty, which could reduce growth by 2-4.5%. The region's growth is expected to be 2.6% this year, but global uncertainty may affect the outlook. Economies in the Persian Gulf continue to attract substantial foreign direct investment, while other MENA nations struggle with slower inflows.
https://www.boston25news.com/news/tariffs-oil-prices/TY6CWCJWYFCGHFSESEDONMZ5XY/India's Foreign Minister discussed the deadly Kashmir attack with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, urging cooperation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours to de-escalate tensions. The US expressed support for India in combating extremism and urged Pakistan to cooperate in investigating the attack that killed 26 people.
https://www.tbsnews.net/world/india-wants-kashmir-attackers-brought-justice-foreign-minister-tells-rubio-1131076India's move to suspend the 64-year-old Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan is a legal façade, lacking substantive evidence. The treaty has withstood three India-Pakistan wars and multiple military conflicts, including terrorist attacks on Indian parliament and Mumbai. India cites "cross-border terrorism" as a fundamental change of circumstances, but this lacks factual basis and rests on speculation. Unlike the Nicaragua case, where an obvious action by the US constituted a material breach, no direct or attributable act by Pakistan has been demonstrated. The move appears to be a reactive measure to sabotage Pakistan's agrarian economy, which is heavily dependent on the Indus Basin water flow.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1306942-is-the-indus-decision-legalIndia is likely to flag Pakistan's alleged support for terrorism when the IMF considers a $1.3 billion loan on May 9. Indian Foreign Minister Rajnath Singh told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that "Pakistan has a history of supporting, training and funding terrorist organisations". The tension between India and Pakistan escalated after the Pahalgam attack, with Indian intelligence agencies suggesting Pakistani nationals were involved. US Senator Marco Rubio held talks with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, urging him to condemn the attack and re-establish direct communications. Pakistan's military is mobilizing its forces along the border with India, moving anti-aircraft weapons and large guns to the front areas.
https://www.firstpost.com/world/pahalgam-terror-attack-india-us-talks-rajnath-singh-pete-hegseth-13884721.htmlIndonesia's Foreign Minister Sugiono has urged the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to issue a new decision addressing Israel's failure to fulfill its international obligations as a UN member and occupying power in Palestine. Sugiono emphasized that Palestinians have the right to self-determination, as recognized by numerous UN resolutions, including those from 2004 and 2024. He highlighted Indonesia's support for the Palestinian people, citing the country's consistent stance on their rights at various international forums and bilateral meetings. Sugiono called for inputs from the Indonesian government and other parties to help ICJ judges deliver a just decision that will provide guidance in enforcing international laws and mitigating the humanitarian crisis faced by Palestinians.
https://en.antaranews.com/news/353557/israeli-violations-undermine-palestinian-peoples-rights-fmIndonesia has strengthened its trade ties with the US through high-level meetings and negotiations, including discussions with industry players like Boeing and Google. The country's position in the Indo-Pacific regional order and participation in multilateral forums such as ASEAN, G20, and APEC have enabled it to secure investment, technology transfer, and cooperation opportunities in digital economy and high-tech manufacturing sectors. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent praised Indonesia's quick response in negotiations, while the USTR has been appointed head of the US negotiating team to draft a fairer bilateral trade agreement. The Indonesian government has signed a Non-Disclosure Agreement with the USTR and formed three task forces to strengthen follow-up efforts, aiming to finalize the agreement within 60 days.
https://en.antaranews.com/news/353393/us-tech-giants-back-indonesia-in-tariff-negotiations?utm_source=antaranews&utm_medium=desktop&utm_campaign=popular_rightIndonesia's parliament is set to ratify an agreement with Vietnam next week, which sets boundaries for their exclusive economic zones in the South China Sea. The deal aims to reduce tensions over encroachments by Vietnamese fishermen in Indonesian waters and provide legal certainty for patrols and oil drilling. Indonesia hopes the agreement will ignore China's claims in the sea, while China disputes the ruling of an international tribunal that found its claims have no basis under international law.
https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2025/05/01/indonesia-poised-to-ratify-south-china-sea-boundary-deal-with-vietnam-lawmaker-says/175224