EU-Mideast ties

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Italy’s Meloni hosts Abbas amid EU Palestinian statehood push: What we know

During his three-day visit to Italy, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met with Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Pope Leo XIV and is reportedly set to meet with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves, right, and Qatari Finance Minister Ali bin Ahmed al-Kuwari arrive at the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Oct. 28, 2025.

Analysis

UK chases elusive GCC trade deal that could boost exports, economic links

A new charm offensive at Saudi Arabia's flagship investment conference has fueled optimism that a UK-GCC trade pact, under negotiation since 2022, could soon be completed.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA - JULY 18: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine attends a meeting between Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz at the Pentagon on July 18, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. This is Katz's first official visit to the United States and the counterparts will discuss shared defense priorities, including Iran’s threat posture and the ongoing war in Gaza. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Pentagon’s top general to visit Gaza monitoring center in Israel

US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine is expected to head to Israel with plans to meet top US and allied military officials involved in postwar efforts to stabilize Gaza.

Some Dubai-style Chocolate being made at Melt Chocolatier's masterclass in London.

Culture

From viral fame to fine craft: Dubai Chocolate finds new life in London

Melt Chocolates in London hosts 80-minute workshops twice a week to teach participants how to make the popular sweet treat.

United Arab Emirates

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Analysis

Turkish Cypriot polls: Winner not Ankara’s pick but can aid Turkey

Tufan Erhurman and his wife, Nilden Erhurman, celebrate on stage after their victory in the Turkish Cypriot leadership election in the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus on Oct. 19, 2025.

Ezgi Akin

In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO

Grappling with Western sanctions, Iran, Belarus strengthen military ties

Iran's Deputy Defense Minister Majid Ebnoreza (L) sits next to Andrei Matsiyevich.

Turkey, Qatar sign defense deal as Ankara eyes Doha’s Eurofighters

Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani

Maccabi Tel Aviv fans barred from UK soccer game over safety concerns

OPSHOT - Maccabi supporters wave yellow flags next to Israeli flags during the UEFA Europa League, League phase - Matchday 4, football match between Ajax Amsterdam and Maccabi Tel Aviv at the Johan-Cruijff stadium, in Amsterdam on November 7, 2024. (Photo by Robin van Lonkhuijsen / ANP / AFP) / Netherlands OUT (Photo by ROBIN VAN LONKHUIJSEN/ANP/AFP via Getty Images)

Greece's Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias (C) walks on Istiklal Avenue after his meeting with the Patriarch of Constantinople at the Greek Consulate in Istanbul on April 14, 2021.

Turkey's efforts to woo rivals yield mixed results

Diplomatically isolated and economically weak, Turkey is seeking to repair relations with its regional foes. But it's no easy task.

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (L) meets with European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell (R) in the capital, Tehran, on Feb. 3, 2020.

EU blacklist of Iran commanders strikes a nerve in Tehran

Tehran said the European Union cannot preach human rights and announced a halt in cooperation with the bloc on fighting terrorism and narcotics after the latter sanctioned Iranian commanders over human rights violations.

EU President of Council Charles Michel (R) and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (L) give a joint press after a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the EU headquarters in Brussels on March 9, 2020.

Top EU officials seek improved ties, positive agenda in meeting with Erdogan

Focusing on economic cooperation, migration and human rights, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and European Council chief Charles Michel sought to improve EU-Turkey ties during a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on April 6.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the EU Council President Charles Michel hold a video conference call with Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Brussels on March 19, 2021. The call comes as the two neighbors seek to make good on improved ties after a spike in tensions last year over maritime claims in the Eastern Mediterranean. The leaders of the EU's 27 member states are set to discuss the state of relations with Ankara as one of the issues at their summit in Brussels next week.

European Council report presents roadmap for EU-Turkey ties

Ahead of a European Council summit this week, a report by EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell laid out a roadmap to deepen bilateral trade despite recent setbacks in Ankara’s human rights record, while outlining economic sanctions should more turbulence arise.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (R), French President Emmanuel Macron (C) and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) and other leaders pose for a family picture at the Chancellery on January 19, 2020, in Berlin, Germany.

Is Europe on the way to appease Erdogan yet again?

The forthcoming Turkey-European Union summit could spell a diplomatic success for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, bolstering his hand in domestic politics.

French President Emmanuel Macron meets Algerian Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia at the Elysee presidential palace before the opening of an international congress on Libya, Paris, France, May 29, 2018.

Can France’s decision to speed up declassification of Algeria war archives ease trauma in Algiers?

In light of France's attempt to reconcile with its former colony Algeria, it has announced the easing of security restrictions on the French archives of the Algerian war.

Belgian children and some women to be repatriated from IS camp in Syria.

The Belgian prime minister said the children in the notorious al-Hol camp could become “the terrorists of tomorrow.” Women will be repatriated on a case-by-case basis.

Iran rejects EU invitation to talks with US on nuclear deal

Tehran's rejection may be posturing, but the clock is ticking on chances to limit its nuclear capabilities.

Leader of the Dutch far-right Party for Freedom (PVV) Geert Wilders speaks during a debate about French slain history teacher Samuel Paty at the House of Representatives in The Hague, the Netherlands, on November 12, 2020. - In the Netherlands, a teacher working in a school of Rotterdam had to go into hiding because of a cartoon he hanged in the classroom. (Photo by Sem van der Wal / ANP / AFP) / Netherlands OUT (Photo by SEM VAN DER WAL/ANP/AFP via Getty Images)

Dutch far-right politician under investigation for calling Turkish president a terrorist

The controversial Geert Wilders has had spats with the Turkish government before amid wider crises between Turkey and the Netherlands.

Italy top foreign investor in Turkey in 2020

Italy supports Turkey on several issues while other European states, especially France, have notable disagreements with Turkey.

Iranian diplomat sentenced to prison for bomb plot on Iranian opposition group

The Iranian government strongly condemned the trial. The bomb plot targeted the controversial National Council of Resistance of Iran.

Iran suggests European Union ‘choreograph’ return to nuclear deal

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif doubled down on his stance that the United States must relieve sanctions first but suggested the EU could coordinate mutual steps.