Newsletter: City Pulse Riyadh The Ship of Tolerance sails into Jeddah Also this week: new pizzeria in Riyadh, AlUla exhibitions and Spanish culture By Rebecca Anne Proctor In Dubai, reporting on culture
Newsletter: Gulf How Gulf states view possible US strike on Iran Saudi Arabia has led a quiet push — alongside Oman and Qatar — to persuade Washington against intervening militarily, warning that escalation would rattle oil markets and risk destabilizing the Gulf. By Francesco Schiavi In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance
Syria’s Sharaa heads to Davos, ending years of global isolation The World Economic Forum begins on January 19 and ends on January 23, hosting a cohort of around 400 political leaders. Syria
Israel holds drills, prepares missile defenses for possible Iran attack: What to know Israel is on high alert over the possibility of an American strike on Iran, which could trigger Iranian retaliation against the Jewish state. Israel
Analysis How Trump’s Venezuela oil grab could test OPEC’s power, Mideast energy models By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Analysis Amid Saudi-UAE rivalry, Turkey courts Riyadh without crossing Abu Dhabi By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Senate puzzles out how to punish Saudi Arabia ahead of unprecedented vote An overwhelming majority of senators want to punish Riyadh for murdering Jamal Khashoggi and because of the Yemen war. The question is how. Saudi Arabia
US ices Iran out of Yemen talks Iranian efforts to send a high-level official to Sweden talks with the Houthis have been rebuffed. Saudi Arabia
UAE, Yemen’s Islah Party try to tolerate each other The Islah Party in Yemen and the United Arab Emirates recognize they have a common enemy, but that doesn't make them friends. Saudi Arabia
Turkey issues arrest warrants for MBS associates Turkey sends a message to Saudi Arabia and the world about the Khashoggi murder. Saudi Arabia
Congress grills incoming Middle East commander on Yemen On the heels of a vote to end support to the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen, senators grilled President Trump’s choice to lead US troops in the Middle East about America’s role in the conflict. Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia's estrangement Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman got into the G-20 group photo, but his brand remains very toxic. Saudi Arabia
Economists unmoved by pause in Turkish lira's plummet Though the latest news about Turkey's currency is good, economists still believe Turkey could well be sailing into recession, while at the G-20 summit, the Turkish president is frustrated by how little is being made of the Jamal Khashoggi murder case. Saudi Arabia
Arab Spring memories fresh as Tunisians protest MBS Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was greeted in Tunisia by hundreds of protesters, blaming him for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and calling for an end to the Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen. Saudi Arabia
Trump administration dusts off Cold War playbook to defend Saudi ties The Donald Trump administration is using a popular 1980s theory to rationalize support for a friendly autocracy. Saudi Arabia
Will Erdogan, MBS meet at G-20? The Turkish president hasn't ruled out meeting with the Saudi crown prince in Argentina, but what could the de facto Saudi leader offer for Turkey to bury the Jamal Khashoggi murder case? Saudi Arabia