the Gulf

Attention is focusing on claims that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu passed a warning to the United Arab Emirates ahead of the October 7 Hamas attack. The reports have prompted debate over what Israeli leadership knew before the assault and whether intelligence was shared with Gulf partners. Commentators are pressing for clarification on the timeline and the substance of any such communication.

A SpaceX booster splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico off the Texas coast after carrying out a simulated landing burn, meaning the rocket rehearsed its descent sequence without attempting a full recovery. The test is part of SpaceX's ongoing effort to refine booster reusability for its launch programme. Coverage highlights the company's iterative approach, in which boosters are deliberately expended to gather data on landing procedures.

Oman has drafted a national law aimed at regulating and developing its space economy, according to a report carried by Zawya. The legislation would establish a legal framework for space activities in the Gulf state as regional governments compete to attract investment in satellites, launch services and space technology. Details of the draft's provisions and its timeline for approval have not yet been made public.

Researchers at the University of South Florida are working to improve tools used to forecast storm surge, the often deadliest element of hurricanes. The effort comes as Florida's Gulf Coast remains highly exposed to rising seas and intensifying storms, and better predictions could give residents and emergency managers more accurate warnings and more time to evacuate ahead of landfall.