# Hottub Newsmap · Week 40, 2026 · Middle East Middle East, Week 40, 2026: 28 September – 4 October 2026 · Coverage by where it was published · 15,954 reports from 13 countries · final · computed 2026-10-18T06:17:00Z Map: https://hottub.news/maps/2026-w40/middle-east.svg · Card: https://hottub.news/maps/2026-w40/middle-east.png · JSON: https://hottub.news/maps/2026-w40/middle-east.json · Page: https://hottub.news/maps/2026-w40/middle-east > Map of Middle East of news coverage on the week of 28 September – 4 October 2026, shaded by publisher country; most from the UAE and Egypt. Top stories: “Netanyahu Visits Emirati Leader After…”; “Flydubai says flights to and from Israel…”. ## Top stories 1. [Netanyahu Visits Emirati Leader After Reports on Warning About Hamas Attack](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/28/world/middleeast/netanyahu-emirati-leader-hamas-attack.html) — nytimes.com, 10 outlets, 21 reports Official statements said bilateral relations were discussed. But the question of who bears responsibility for failing to prevent the Oct. 7 attack is a major election issue in Israel. 2. [Flydubai says flights to and from Israel will be suspended while the investigation continues](https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/flydubai-says-flights-and-israel-will-be-suspended-while-investigation) — middleeasteye.net, 6 outlets, 18 reports Flydubai says flights to and from Israel will be suspended while the investigation continues Flydubai said in a statement on Wednesday it was suspending flights to and from Israel following an incident involving flight… 3. [Two Iranians charged over suspected plot to target Jews in Manchester](https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/two-iranians-charged-over-suspected-plot-target-jews-manchester) — middleeasteye.net, 8 outlets, 16 reports Two Iranians charged over suspected plot to target Jews in Manchester Two Iranian nationals were charged in Britain with preparing a terrorist attack against the Jewish community in northern England, police said on… 4. [Almost 400 children arrested in France after thousands of teenagers protested in front of schools, blocking access](https://www.libertatea.ro/stiri/proteste-elevi-franta-licee-blocate-violente-peste-400-arestati-hz689lb) — libertatea.ro, 4 outlets, 14 reports (original: Aproape 400 de copii au fost arestați în Franța după ce mii de adolescenți au protestat în fața școlilor, blocând accesul) Peste 400 de persoane, în majoritate copii și adolescenți, au fost reținute marți în Franța, după ce un val masiv de proteste ale elevilor de liceu a dus la blocarea accesului în sute de unități de învățământ din… 5. [Trump: We’re going to win this war very soon](https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/433739) — israelnationalnews.com, 5 outlets, 13 reports Trump tells Fox News the US will win the war with Iran soon as Washington and Tehran remain divided over nuclear concessions, Hormuz and a potential deal. 6. [France in a state of emergency: Youth protests escalate - Hundreds arrested](https://www.kreiszeitung.de/politik/frankreich-gewaltsame-schulproteste-eskalieren-schueler-unruhen-zr-94522693.html) — kreiszeitung.de, 8 outlets, 11 reports (original: Frankreich im Ausnahmezustand: Jugendproteste eskalieren – Hunderte Festnahmen) Schüler beklagen Ratten in Klassenräumen, Lehrermangel und überfüllte Klassen, während die radikale Linke für die Unruhen verantwortlich gemacht wird. 7. [Morocco makes history: King appoints first female prime minister](https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/433846) — israelnationalnews.com, 6 outlets, 10 reports 8. [‘Strong indication’ of Iran’s involvement in suspected plot near RAF base: UK PM](https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20260930-strong-indication-of-irans-involvement-in-suspected-plot-near-raf-base-uk-pm) — middleeastmonitor.com, 7 outlets, 10 reports There is a “strong indication” that Iran played a role in Sunday’s suspected terror plot near Royal Air Force (RAF) Fairford base in South West England, the prime minister confirmed Wednesday, Anadolu reports. “There is… 9. [Netanyahu asked UAE leader to publicly deny 7 October 2023 warning to Israel: Report](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/netanyahu-asked-uae-leader-to-publicly-deny-7-october-warning-Israel-report) — middleeasteye.net, 7 outlets, 13 reports Netanyahu asked UAE leader to publicly deny 7 October 2023 warning to Israel: Report Submitted by MEE staff on Mon, 09/28/2026 - 17:13 Israeli prime minister travelled to UAE on Sunday in a bid to discredit reports he… 10. [Yemen government forces strike Sanaa and Saada as Houthis claim Aramco attack](https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/gulf/2026/10/04/yemen-government-forces-strike-sanaa-and-saada-as-houthis-claim-aramco-attack) — thenationalnews.com, 6 outlets, 11 reports Yemeni government forces said they launched strikes on Houthi targets in Sanaa and Saada, the rebels' northern stronghold, hours after the Iran-backed militia claimed an attack on an Aramco oil facility near Riyadh.… ## Reports by publisher country | Country | Code | Reports | Share | |---|---|---:|---:| | United Arab Emirates | AE | 3,778 | 23.7% | | Egypt | EG | 3,418 | 21.4% | | Israel | IL | 3,269 | 20.5% | | Lebanon | LB | 1,404 | 8.8% | | Palestine | PS | 1,075 | 6.7% | | Iran | IR | 955 | 6.0% | | Qatar | QA | 927 | 5.8% | | Saudi Arabia | SA | 405 | 2.5% | | Kuwait | KW | 241 | 1.5% | | Oman | OM | 207 | 1.3% | | Jordan | JO | 174 | 1.1% | | Syria | SY | 64 | 0.4% | | Yemen | YE | 37 | 0.2% | ## About this map Hottub News counted 15,954 reports from outlets in 13 countries for the week of 28 September – 4 October 2026. The UAE, Egypt and Israel published the most (3,778 reports), and the five busiest countries account for 81% of the total. The most widely covered stories were: “Netanyahu Visits Emirati Leader After Reports on Warning About Hamas Attack” (10 outlets, mostly Israel and the UAE); “Flydubai says flights to and from Israel will be suspended while the investigation continues” (6 outlets, mostly Israel and the UAE); “Two Iranians charged over suspected plot to target Jews in Manchester” (8 outlets, mostly Israel and Egypt). Each report is placed in the country of the outlet that published it (from its feed, web domain or Wikidata), not where the events happened. Stories group reports of the same event across outlets and languages; for a week or month, a story's outlet count is its biggest day's. Paid placements are never included. 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