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
9 Middle East universities, 3 in Saudi Arabia make world’s top 300 schools Nearly 150 universities from the MENA region are featured in a list of the world’s top universities. Saudi Arabia
Blinken: US warned Israel that West Bank tensions could undermine Saudi normalization Secretary of State Antony Blinken said it would be tough, if not impossible, to deepen and expand the Abraham Accords if the violence continues in the West Bank. Israel
Millions of Muslims mark Eid al-Adha in Saudi Arabia after hajj pilgrimage Muslims in the region are celebrating Eid al-Adha despite soaring prices. Saudi Arabia
British sustainable fuel startup eyes Middle Eastern market OXCCU looks to lower the cost of sustainable aviation fuel to make it a more attractive option for airlines to buy instead of fossil fuels. Legacy: Gulf
Top Saudi officials travel to China to attend 'Summer Davos' as ties deepen The kingdom’s economy minister and other top officials will participate in the so-called Summer Davos as China-Saudi ties continue to gain momentum. Legacy: Gulf
Analysis More Middle East aircraft orders expected after quiet Paris Air Show The IBA industry consultancy firm had expected an order from Turkish Airlines, but the carrier delayed its plans at the last minute by two months. By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Saudi Crown Prince MBS meets Egypt's Sisi in France Egypt has looked to Saudi Arabia for help during its ongoing economic crisis. Egypt
Oman seizes 6 million pills in Captagon bust with Saudi Arabia A video shared by the Royal Oman Police shows agents unloading what appears to be white cardboard boxes filled with bags of Captagon tablets encased in moss-colored bricks. Oman
The Middle East joins the global supercomputer competition While most of the Middle East is not competing in the supercomputing race, Israel is one of a handful of countries that include Saudi Arabia and the UAE that have the high-tech aspirations, financial resources and local talent to be players David Rosenberg In Tel Aviv, reporting on business and tech
Iran's FM visits Kuwait, then UAE in latest Gulf charm offensive Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian arrived in Oman on Tuesday to meet with Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi as part of his Gulf tour that began in Doha. United Arab Emirates
Analysis Saudi-France business ties flourish as Macron woos MBS Trade between the two countries came to $12 billion in 2022, a growth of 47% compared with 2021. By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
N’golo Kante transfers to Saudi’s Al-Ittihad, soccer club confirms The 32-year-old Frenchman’s contract at Stamford Bridge expires at the end of June and he will join the Saudi side after on a three-year contract. Saudi Arabia