Qatar PM arrives in Venezuela on first trip since Maduro’s ouster: What to know Qatar is moving to shore up ties with Venezuela as the US seeks greater control over the South American country’s oil revenues. Qatar
Analysis Egyptians in for another expensive Ramadan despite recovering economy Egyptians tend to spend more during the Islamic holy month relative to the rest of the year, but high inflation and low wages have reduced their purchasing power. By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Exclusive Direct Turkey-Armenia land trade to begin amid US-led Caucasus peace push New transit arrangement via Georgia cuts re-export costs, marking accelerating normalization between Ankara and Yerevan amid broader US-led peace efforts. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Meet Fahad Al-Saif, PIF exec and Saudi Arabia's new investment minister Saif previously led investment strategy at the kingdom's sovereign wealth fund and has held senior roles at the Saudi Awwal Bank and HSBC Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia
Analysis Why Algeria's nixing of UAE air deal is more diplomatic than economic By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Explainer: What is behind Iraq's Central Bank shuffle and what is next? The economic crisis in Iraq as a result of the ongoing rise in the value of the US dollar against the dinar resulted in the prime minister sacking the heads of the Central Bank of Iraq and the Trade Bank of Iraq. Iraq
UAE hosts Gulf leaders including Qatar's along with Egypt, Jordan Egypt and Jordan are increasingly looking to the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf states for development and economic support. Legacy: Gulf
Egypt green-lights sweeping privatization strategy following IMF agreement The plan defines the contours of the state’s future participation in the economy, including those activities it plans to exit, to increase the contribution of the private sector. Egypt
Iraq's PM Sudani hosted US envoy ahead of meeting Iran's Quds commander Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani received high-ranking US and Iranian envoys separately for discussions of bilateral issues related to both countries. Iran
Davos 2023: Saudi Arabia 'open' to discuss trading in non-dollar currencies Qatar also voiced support for Elon Musk’s leadership of Twitter at the annual forum in Davos, Switzerland. Legacy: Gulf
Lebanon's Riad Salameh probe tops visit of European investigators A European delegation is conducting an investigation into Lebanon’s banking system and the port explosion in the hope of providing some answers. Lebanon
Egypt, facing economic crunch, restricts non-essential travel for government The decision is the latest in a series of measures Egyptian public and private financial institutions are taking in an attempt to cope with the economic crisis. Egypt
Turkey's inflation slows most in December in a boost to Erdogan Facing crucial elections in spring, the Turkish government is trying to take credit for curbing inflation, even though the steep decline in the annual rate owes mostly to a favorable base effect. Turkey
2022 in review: Reforms, Ukraine war drive boost in UAE’s real estate market Improved regulatory policies and diplomatic measures amid the Ukraine war have welcomed foreign direct investment and boosted the UAE real estate market in 2022 above the global average. Legacy: Gulf
Secondhand clothes offer Egyptians respite as inflation skyrockets With living expenses rising and temperatures dropping and inflation surging to a five-year high of 18.7%, many Egyptians are looking to buy secondhand clothes at Wekalat al-Balah, Egypt's most famous used clothing market in the center of Cairo Egypt
Egyptian official says Suez Canal 'not for sale' amid fears of foreign investment The chairman of Egypt's Suez Canal Authority has responded after a parliamentary session discussing a private fund linked to the waterway sparked widespread criticism. Egypt
Iraqi PM stresses need for regional reconciliation at summit in Jordan Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani attended the second round of the Baghdad conference today in Jordan and expressed Iraq's willingness to push forward on regional cooperation and partnership. Iraq