These are some the headlines we are tracking for you in this episode of On the News Line:
Turkey easing on Assad's departure
The complicated conflict in Syria has forced foreign players in the country to shift their policies on some occasions. This time, reports say Turkey's worries about an autonomous Kurdish region emerging in northern Syria could force it into easing up on demands that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad immediately exit. The reports say turkey needs to overhaul a foreign policy that has left it more isolated than influential.
Israel joining the UN
It was a surprising decision; one that drew criticism from the international community: Israel has been elected to head of the United Nations’ permanent committees: Tel Aviv is now chairing U-N’s legal committee. It’s one of the world body’s six permanent committees. This is the first time Israel is heading one of the world body’s permanent committees since its creation in 1948. This is how the Israeli Ambassador to the UN described the decision: I am proud to be the first Israeli elected to this position. Israel is a world leader in international law and in fighting terrorism
UAE declares end to role in Yemen war, then takes it back
The announcement by the United Arab Emirates that the war in Yemen is over for its troops may have come as a surprise to many. The UAE was a key member of the Saudi-led coalition that has waged a war for over a year on Yemen. And many questions are now surrounding its decision to announce an end to its involvement in the coalition. Speculations are already rising that a rising number of casualties and costs in face of no progress in the war have altogether pushed the UAE to make the decision. And in less than 24 hours, The UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs who said the UAE's role in the Yemen war was over, disowned his comments. This is while the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the deputy supreme commander of the country's military, had said UAE's role in the Yemen war was over.