Syria, Jordan focus on economic ties amid fallout from October attacks Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi met with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani on Monday as the two countries revealed 11 cooperation pacts spanning trade, investment and infrastructure. Syria
RSF drones knock out five Sudanese power stations, causing blackouts The four impacted states had a combined estimated population of about 14.1 million, according to 2024 UN data. Sudan
Qatar locks in US LNG through 2054 as it looks beyond Hormuz The Gulf state agreed to buy up to 4 million tons of US liquefied natural gas annually through 2054. Qatar
Turkey: Flash floods kill 3, paralyze Istanbul after record downpour Heavy rains stranded hundreds, blocking major roads and disrupting air and public transportation, flooding buildings and forcing school closures across Istanbul province. Turkey
Dozens of Turkish airport workers jailed after protest A labor protest demanding better conditions and a safer workplace at Istanbul’s controversial new airport, due to open in six weeks, lands 24 workers in jail pending formal charges. Officials say they are provocateurs seeking to sully one of Turkey’s grandest infrastructure projects. Turkey
Egypt announces massive budget to develop Sinai The Egyptian government announced a plan to develop the Sinai Peninsula, with the aim to eliminate terrorism that is widespread in this volatile area. Egypt
Iran turns to economic zones to encourage balanced growth Iranian lawmakers have approved a bill to establish a series of new special economic zones to counter the country's uneven development. Iran
Ankara plans road network to connect Syria with southern Turkey The Turkish government is working with local councils in Syria's Euphrates Shield area to build and improve a road network to connect the area's cities with southern Turkey. Syria
Will public opposition stop proposed Egypt-Israel railway dead in its tracks? Egyptian media outlets are making a fuss about a recent meeting between Israel's ambassador to Cairo, David Govrin, and the director of the Ibn Khaldun Center for Development Studies, Saad Eddin Ibrahim, discussing a railway between Egypt and Israel. Saudi Arabia
Can the private sector salvage Egypt’s dilapidated railway system? While a train accident in Egypt’s Giza governorate has placed the railway system's efficiency in the spotlight, experts remain optimistic about the government’s modernization plan. Egypt
Decks and the City: Artist proposes gardens over car parks in Beirut This year's Beirut Design Week focuses on urban design, and the projects and showcases include street revival and creative new green spaces. Lebanon
Syria's not waiting for peace to rebuild, and Iran wants to help There's a lot of talk about reconstructing Syria, but at the moment, Iran seems to be the only country actively working toward that end. Syria
Weary Istanbulites flock to seaside Izmir Tired of traffic, extreme concretization and decelerated social interaction, white-collar, educated Turkish people are abandoning Istanbul for Turkey’s Aegean coastal province of Izmir. Turkey
Iran’s housing sector keeps building Iran’s housing sector is on track to escape its yearslong stagnancy, yet Iranian tenants are still squeezed by rising rents. Iran
Ethiopian dam talks jammed with no compromise in sight Another meeting between Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia on the massive Nile dam ended in an impasse, leaving many questions about its construction unanswered. Egypt
Turkish firm brings light back to struggling Syrian city Turkey plans to help restore utilities and other services to Syrian towns, starting with a new power plant for the city of Azaz, which has been running on generators. Syria
