Newsletter: Gulf Gulf states step up China diplomacy as Trump’s lame-duck session nears Oman and Saudi Arabia are deepening diplomatic outreach to Beijing as the outcome of Tuesday’s US midterm elections introduces fresh uncertainty over Washington’s Iran policy. By Francesco Schiavi In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance
Turkey’s parliament ratifies Mecca pact in boost to Saudi Arabia Turkey will now decide the scope of military support for Saudi Arabia amid ongoing Iran-backed Houthi attacks on the kingdom. Turkey
Culture What’s next for Cristiano Ronaldo after retirement from Portugal team? The Portuguese superstar is signed to the Saudi side Al Nassr until 2027, but the Yemen war is impacting the sport in the kingdom. Saudi Arabia
Newsletter: City Pulse Riyadh Dana Awartani revives lost mosaics Also this week: Lebanese dining, a new Arab art prize and ‘Girls of Riyadh.’ By Rebecca Anne Proctor In Dubai, reporting on culture
Newsletter: Business & Tech Democrats’ win: What’s at stake for Gulf business By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Newsletter: FutureVerse US elections spotlight Gulf tech risks By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Saudi Arabia borrowing rate hits new high, posing risk to foreign investments The Saudi Arabian Interbank Offered Rate climbed above an average of 6% in July, which was higher than the rate during the 2008 global financial crisis. Saudi Arabia
Israeli solar firm enters rare venture with Saudi business Such partnerships are seldom seen, as Israel and Saudi Arabia do not recognise each other formally and the two countries have never established diplomatic relations. Israel
Israel’s north-south rail project will link to Saudi Arabia, Netanyahu says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is optimistic about the possibility of connecting Israel to the Saudi and wider Gulf rail network. Israel
Analysis Iran should be catalyst for Israel-Saudi normalization Saudi-Israeli diplomatic relations could also give a financial and political boost to the moribund two-state solution. By Week in Review , Andrew Parasiliti
In a first, Saudi Arabia seals deal with Brazil’s largest miner VBM The Vale partnership will give Riyadh access to assets in Canada, Brazil and Indonesia. Saudi Arabia
Top White House officials meet MBS to talk Saudi-Israel normalization National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh as the White House seeks to further integrate Israel into the Middle East. Saudi Arabia
Kylian Mbappe declines Saudi meeting to discuss record $333 million transfer A report from L'Equipe newspaper said that the French captain never considered a move to Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia
China, UAE overtake US companies at Turkey’s IDEF 23 weapons fair During the 15th edition of the IDEF in 2021, the global fair saw more than a thousand companies from 53 countries attend and had more than 94 signing ceremonies take place. Turkey
IMF dims 2023 Middle East outlook as Saudi Arabia's growth slows The International Monetary Fund's projections for the Middle East and North Africa are down slightly in its latest report. Legacy: Gulf
Saudi oil exports hit new low, dropping by more than one-third In May of this year, Saudi Arabia’s value of oil exports hit a low of just over $19 billion, reported the kingdom’s General Authority for Statistics. This includes both crude and refined products. Saudi Arabia
EU commission sees Tunisia's migration deal as 'blueprint' for region On July 16, the bloc agreed to spend 100 million euros on Tunisia to combat human trafficking and illegal crossings of the Mediterranean Sea. Tunisia
Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal makes record $332 million bid for soccer star Mbappe Mbappe’s current club Paris Saint-Germain confirmed that the formal offer for its player took place. Saudi Arabia