Syria: 9 killed as clashes erupt in Druze-majority town Clashes in a Damascus suburb pitted Druze residents against armed men from nearby Sunni-majority towns. Syria
France, Germany, UK to reapply Iran sanctions if US talks fall through: Barrot US and Iranian diplomats have in recent weeks held three rounds of Oman-mediated talks aimed at reaching a new deal on Iran's nuclear program. By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Analysis 'Out of loop': Israel increasingly fears being blindsided by a Trump-Iran deal The Israeli prime minister had wanted to keep the military option on the table, but for now must grit his teeth and let US-Iranian negotiations run their course. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Saudi Arabia, Israel, Turkey rank in top 20 global military spenders: What to know Regional military spending saw a significant increase in 2024, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, amid conflicts in Israel, Gaza and Lebanon, though it found that Europe drove the overall hike in global expenditures. Saudi Arabia
Iran, Azerbaijan ink 7 MOUs as Pezeshkian visits Baku: What to know As part of a broader diplomatic thaw, Iran and Azerbaijan have agreed to enhance cooperation in political, economic and security sectors during President Masoud Pezeshkian’s visit to Baku. Iran
China’s Sinopec, Saudi Aramco to establish $4B energy venture: What to know The joint venture will engage in port operations, crude oil transportation and other activities at the refinery and petrochemical complex in the Gulei Port Economic Development Zone in Zhangzhou, in China's Fujian province. Saudi Arabia
Egypt's Sisi hosts Burhan, eyes reconstruction in Sudan: What to know Egypt’s president, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, and Sudanese army head Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan met in Cairo for talks on the latest developments in Sudan as Cairo seeks lucrative reconstruction deals in the war-torn country. Sudan
