Russia in talks on 'reformatting' its military sites in Syria: What to know Moscow signals it wants to maintain its presence in Syria, where President Ahmed al-Sharaa recently said that Russian bases will be converted into training centers. Syria
Newsletter: Business & Tech Gulf investors eye payday ahead of SpaceX IPO The IPO could leave Saudi investors holding a combined stake worth well over $15 billion in one of the world’s most coveted technology companies. By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Trump says Iran will 'pay the price’ for dragging out talks US President Donald Trump threatened Iran on Wednesday, saying that Tehran had waited too long to reach a deal after the largest direct exchange of fire between the two countries since an April ceasefire. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Syria says Iraqi oil shipments surge as Damascus courts foreign energy investment Speaking at the Atlantic Council Global Energy Forum in Washington on Tuesday, Syrian Petroleum Company CEO Yousef Qiblawy said Iraq's overland oil exports through Syria have expanded rapidly in recent months. Syria
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran attack on Kuwait airport kills one, halts flights By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Turkey, Iraq Work to Renew Ties Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari’s visit to Ankara last week suggests Turkey is trying to adjust its approach to its neighbors. Iraq
Kurdish Rebels Ban Child Soldiers The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) has signed on to the Geneva Call’s initiative after three years of negotiation. Syria
Syria’s Race Against Time UN-Arab League Joint Representative Lakhdar Brahimi presses for Geneva II, while Saudi women are on the road again. Saudi Arabia
Syrian Kurds Win Support In Battle With Al-Qaeda Forces Syrian Kurdish forces are winning local support in Ras al-Ain by beating back jihadist groups. Syria
Aleppo's war economy Residents of Aleppo have moved beyond the initial shocks of war and are adjusting to make ends meet. Syria
Syria's Impasse Likely to Last Years Former UN official Salman Shaikh contends that neither the Bashar al-Assad regime nor the official opposition represent the true will of the Syrian people. Israel
Syrian Opposition Leader Rejects Iran Role in Syria Conference In an interview with Al-Monitor, Salem al-Meslet, vice president of National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, calls for the "London 11" group to relieve the humanitarian crisis in Ghouta. Syria
Malta Sinking Highlights Palestinian Resentment Toward Leadership Following the death of dozens of Palestinian refugees after a boat headed for Europe sank off the Malta coast, popular discontent toward the inefficiency of Palestinian leaders’ efforts to protect their people has surfaced. Palestine
Iraqi Shiites join Syria war Many Iraqi Shiites are joining the fight in Syria, by first receiving weapons training in Iran and then traveling to Lebanon, from where they are taken to Damascus by Hezbollah. Iraq
Saudi Decision on Security Council Is About Syria Saudi Arabia’s decision to decline a Security Council seat expresses anger in some Sunni Muslim quarters about the Syria war. Saudi Arabia
Turkey Rescues Its Pilots in Swap Deal Turkey’s silent diplomacy yielded results on Oct.19, when it rescued the two Turkish Airlines pilots kidnapped in Beirut on Aug. 9. Lebanon
Is Saudi Arabia Holding Up The Geneva II Conference on Syria? While Turkey may be shifting its Syria policy in response to domestic and international pressure, Saudi Arabia appears to be digging in to oppose the trend toward a diplomatic solution. Saudi Arabia
