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
Could Turkish involvement in Yemen free Saudi Arabia? The Muslim Brotherhood and sources close to the Turkish government are arguing that Saudi Arabia could find a face-saving exit from the Yemen conflict it has been looking for by cooperating with Turkey. Turkey
Yemen's Houthis behind deadly attack on Aden airport, UN report says The Houthis previously denied responsibility for the attack, which came as Yemeni government officials disembarked from Riyadh. Yemen
Saudi official denies threatening UN investigator over Khashoggi killing Awwad Alawwad said he did not make menacing comments toward UN investigator Agnes Callamard after she said an unnamed Saudi official threatened to have her "taken care of" during a meeting. Saudi Arabia
China's top diplomat meets Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed strengthening ties and the controversial detention of Muslims in China's Xinjiang region. China-Saudi relations have strengthened in recent years, despite opposition from the United States. Saudi Arabia
UN investigator in Khashoggi case says she was threatened by Saudi official Agnes Callamard told The Guardian that a UN colleague informed her a visiting Saudi official threatened to have her "taken care of" during a meeting in Geneva in January 2020. Saudi Arabia
Intel: Saudi Arabia announces peace initiative to end Yemen war Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan offered major concessions demanded by the Houthis in a bid to end the Yemen conflict. Saudi Arabia
Intel: Saudi Arabia seeks Turkey’s drones, Erdogan says Riyadh's request could provide an opening for Ankara, which is also seeking to repair ties with Egypt. Saudi Arabia
COVID accelerates evolution of Gulf economies The economic policy response to COVID-19 is an acceleration of specific trends already underway across the Gulf Cooperation Council members, variously affecting tax policy, labor market regulation and immigration policy. Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia to take ‘necessary measures’ to protect oil after drone attack Riyadh wants international support to prevent future attacks, foreign minister says alongside Russian counterpart. Saudi Arabia
Saudi activist Loujain al-Hathloul's sentence upheld in Riyadh court The women's rights activist had appealed her probation, which reportedly includes a five-year travel ban. Saudi Arabia
Intel: US sends B-52 bombers back to Middle East amid attacks by Iran-linked proxies Following drone and missile strikes on Saudi Arabia this weekend, it is not clear that the Pentagon's deterrence tactic is paying off. Saudi Arabia
Saudi renews bombing of Yemen's capital following Houthi attacks The Biden administration's push to end the war has been stalled by a recent escalation. Saudi Arabia