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Bashar Al-Assad's regime in Syria has been readmitted to the Arab League after more than a bloody decade on the sidelines, after Saudi Arabia and the UAE orchestrated a vote in favour ahead of a 19 May summit in Jeddah. Regional opposition to Syria hasn't disappeared, but Qatar and Kuwait decided not to stand in the way of readmission, in a further indication of Riyadh's new-found desire to flex its diplomatic muscles whatever western allies might think.

Stephen Peter Day was a committed Arabist, while also being a guardian of British national interests – positions the diplomat, who has died aged 85, saw as complementary rather than incompatible. His conflicts could be with elements of the British establishment rather than with foreign governments, groups and individuals with whom he engaged with ease.

Ajman Ruler Sheikh Humaid Bin Rashid Al-Nuaimi travelled to Dubai to offer condolences on the death of his sister-in-law Sheikha Mozah Bint Zayed Bin Saqr Al-Nahyan. Other members of Ajman’s ruling family also made the trip. 

A five-day meeting in Aden concluded with leaders from other factions joining the Southern Transitional Council (STC), prompting warnings from Houthi rebels and others about the growing risk of the secessionist movement gaining ground in Yemen.

Qatari Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al-Thani has made another revised bid to buy Manchester United Football Club (MUFC), in an effort to see off a rival approach from United Kingdom-based petrochemicals giant Ineos Group’s boss Jim Ratcliffe.

Dubai Culture & Arts Authority chair Sheikha Latifa Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum announced the birth of her second daughter, Sheikha Hind Bint Faisal, in a post on her Instagram account.

Former Italian foreign affairs minister Luigi di Maio was named as the European Union’s special representative for the Gulf region. Critics have questioned his suitability for the role, given the difficulties in Italian-Gulf relations when he was foreign minister.

Khalifa anniversary: The UAE marked the first anniversary of the death of president Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan on 13 May. Khalifa had been in office since November 2004, but had largely been sidelined after suffering a stroke in early 2014. His half-brother Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan (MBZ) was already the dominant figure in UAE politics and since replacing Khalifa as head of state has further entrenched the position of his branch of the family.

Revised March 2023, this map illustrates Yemen's oil and gas infrastructure as well as boundaries and the extent of disputed ares.  The locations of oil and gas fields and pipelines are marked alongside associated infrastructure including oil refineries, gas processing plants, tanker terminals and LNG facilities. The map is available as a PDF file using eps graphics, meaning that there is no loss of resolution as the file is enlarged.

There are clear signs of fatigue and apathy among both voters and candidates, as the Kuwaiti electorate and candidates gear up for yet another National Assembly (parliament) election on 6 June. It will be the third national poll in as many years.

Rashed Al-Makhawi, a former UAE ambassador to Germany, has lost a case in London's High Court in which Emirates NBD bank was seeking to enforce a $57.5m judgement against him made by the Dubai courts.

Alpha Dhabi Holding – the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX)-listed investment firm linked to national security advisor Sheikh Tahnoun Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan – said it had bought a 36.4% stake in National Corporation for Tourism and Hotels (NCTH) for AED730m ($199m), becoming the largest shareholder in the local hotel owner and operator.

Iran released Frenchman Benjamin Briere and French/Irish national Bernard Phelan from prison, describing it as a goodwill gesture. But it executed Swedish-Iranian national Habib Chaab, drawing condemnation from the EU.

UAE Football Association President Sheikh Rashid Bin Humaid Al-Nuaimi resigned from his position on the federation’s board of directors. He is also chairman of Ajman's Municipality and Planning Department.

Moody's Investors Service upgraded Oman's long-term senior unsecured rating from Ba3 to Ba2 while maintaining the positive outlook. The agency said the change reflected the continued reduction in Oman's sovereign debt burden and its improving debt affordability metrics during 2022.