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
Iran, Saudi Arabia condemn Quran protest as Sweden relocates embassy staff from Iraq Another provocative protest by Sweden-based Iraqi refugee Salwan Momika targeting Islam’s holy book has the region up in arms once again. Saudi Arabia
Saudi Aramco acquires $3.4 billion stake in a China petrochemical firm The world’s biggest oil exporter is making further inroads in China, Saudi Arabia’s top customer for crude. Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia to give Tunisia $500 million amid economic crisis Tunisia is seeking help from the kingdom as well as the EU and the IMF as it battles debt and inflation. Saudi Arabia
Analysis On Gulf tour, Japan's PM secures energy ties as China’s influence grows Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s three-day trip that began Sunday to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar — its key energy suppliers — is seen as a crucial move to secure Japan’s energy future. By Salim A. Essaid
Saudi Arabia signs major deal with Turkey to acquire Baykar drones Riyadh has long been interested in Baykar drones and the possibility of producing the weapons in Saudi Arabia. Turkey
Work on Israel-Saudi land bridge has begun, Israeli Foreign Ministry confirms The project will facilitate the transfer of goods in trucks intially between the UAE, Israel, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Israel
Japan’s PM visits UAE after Saudi Arabia, talks green energy, supply sources Japan is trying to move away from fossil fuels toward greener energy, which it plans to promote in the region during Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s visit to the Gulf this week. Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia outranks US for expat life, Kuwait ranks worst Saudi Arabia was found to be the 28th best country to live in as an expatriate while the United States ranked 30th, according to a Tuesday report. Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia imports record volumes of discounted Russian fuel oil in June Europe used to be the top market for Russian oil and petroleum products but all that has changed since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Saudi Arabia
Saudi Public Investment Fund reports $11 billion loss for 2022 Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund reports its assets have risen from $676 billion to about $778 billion in 2022 in a rare gesture of transparency for the Gulf. Saudi Arabia
Congress grills PGA Tour on relationship with Saudi Arabia’s LIV Golf US Senator Richard Blumenthal, who led the hearing on the deal between the Saudi Public Investment Fund and the US golf circuit, told Al-Monitor that many questions remain unanswered. Legacy: Gulf
Pakistan thanks 'brotherly' Saudis for $2 billion ahead of IMF bailout decision Pakistan received Saudi Arabia's $2 billion deposit a day before the International Monetary Fund is expected to approve a $3 billion bailout on Wednesday that the country desperately needs. Saudi Arabia