Assad sentence celebrations, Houthi attack kills six and UAE businesses to pay music copyright fee

Celebrations erupted among Syrians in the city of Deraa, where the 2011 uprising ignited, following the death sentence handed to President Bashar Al Assad in absentia. In a separate judgment, Damascus court also convicted Bashar's brother Maher, security official Atif Najib, and other officials for murder and torture.

Meanwhile, Yemen's government reported six fatalities after a Houthi missile strike targeted a cargo vessel in the Red Sea. The Iran-supported group has also alleged an attack on a Saudi ship carrying military supplies.

In the strategic Strait of Hormuz, maritime traffic has plummeted to just seven cargo ships per day, a significant drop from the usual 12 during a 10-day period. This decline is attributed to the breakdown of US-Iran talks, which had initially boosted confidence.

Lebanon's parliament has passed legislation to abolish the death penalty, marking it as the first Middle Eastern nation to ban capital punishment. The law solidifies a moratorium that has been in place since 2004.

In the United Arab Emirates, legal requirements will soon require cafes, restaurants, and hotels to remit an annual fee for playing copyrighted music. According to the Ministry of Economy, 10% of the revenue generated will be allocated to a fund dedicated to supporting musicians.