Analysis Why Saudi Arabia, Egypt are wary of Turkey’s proposed 4-way defense pact with Pakistan The proposed framework faces major hurdles and fault lines, ranging from NATO constraints to Israeli opposition and weak military integration. By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
In Lebanon, Saudi Arabia pursues quiet diplomacy as Trump pushes Israel normalization Saudi Arabia has been engaged in intense diplomacy in Lebanon in recent days, leading up to the extension of a ceasefire with Israel. Lebanon
Why did the Met Opera lose its Saudi funding deal? The deal, announced as a nonbinding memorandum of understanding last September, would have seen the PIF inject up to $200 million into the opera institution over the next eight years. Saudi Arabia
Newsletter: City Pulse Riyadh Ithra brings MENA design to Milan Also this week: Lana Khayat at Art Dubai and Najdi dining in Diriyah By Rebecca Anne Proctor In Dubai, reporting on culture
Analysis Gulf energy deals face Iran war stress test as global expansion meets oil shock By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Newsletter: FutureVerse NEOM’s new logistics look By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Intel: Trump administration pursues new Saudi arms deal despite investigation The Donald Trump administration is doubling down with a new arms deal for Saudi Arabia despite an investigation into last year’s $8 billion emergency weapons sale to Riyadh, a key Senate Democrat revealed in a CNN op-ed Wednesday. Saudi Arabia
Saudi airlines to start domestic flights again Saudi Arabia has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, but is continuing with plans to reopen despite a significant number of new infections daily. Saudi Arabia
Missile strike on Yemeni military base kills 7, including top general’s son The Saudi-backed Yemeni government blamed the attack, which killed the son and nephew of the military's chief of staff, on Houthi rebels. Saudi Arabia
Democrats prepare legislation forcing Trump to declassify report on Khashoggi murder Democrats are drafting new legislation that would force the Donald Trump administration to declassify a report on Khashoggi’s murder, potentially implicating the crown prince. Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia again easing anti-virus restrictions The Gulf country is still recording more than 2,000 COVID-19 cases per day. Saudi Arabia
Khashoggi's son says family forgives killers Those sentenced to death in Jamal Khashoggi's killing can now be reprieved, but criticisms remain of Saudi Arabia's involvement in the murder and its response. Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia quarantines cash to prevent further coronavirus spread Saudi Arabia will isolate coins and banknotes for up to 20 days in sealed containers. Saudi Arabia
Global oil prices at highest since March following OPEC cuts Oil prices have fallen significantly this year as a result of the coronavirus and the Saudi-Russia price war, but Brent crude has now risen past $36. Saudi Arabia
Intel: US rescinds ban on British defense firm implicated in Saudi weapons fraud The US State Department is rescinding a 9-year-old policy that barred it from doing business with the Saudi subsidiary of a British defense firm, which pled guilty to fraud in a multibillion-dollar arms deal in 2010. Saudi Arabia
Intel: Pompeo refused interview on Saudi arms sale investigation before firing Linick Secretary of State Mike Pompeo refused to give an interview for State Department Inspector General Steve Linick’s investigation into a massive Saudi arms sale deal before asking President Donald Trump to fire the watchdog, Al-Monitor has learned. Saudi Arabia
Gulf countries increase virus-related restrictions after new cases The United Arab Emirates and Qatar registered more than 2,000 coronavirus cases between the two of them on Monday alone. Saudi Arabia
Egypt to export electricity to Saudi Arabia An interconnection power line between Egypt and Saudi Arabia is expected to generate important economic benefits for Egypt and boost its aspiration to become a regional energy hub. Saudi Arabia