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. Palestine
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. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
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. Palestine
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
Analysis Turkish Cypriot polls: Winner not Ankara’s pick but can aid Turkey By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
EU to cut aid to Turkey as accession talks trail off The European Council has decided to cut its pre-accession funds for Turkey in yet another bad sign for the country's EU membership process. Turkey
Why Netanyahu loses no sleep over European uproar Though Israeli leftists may welcome eight European countries' demand that Israel repay them for destroyed and confiscated aid for Palestinians, they may be playing right into the prime minister's hands. Palestine
Italy, Egypt renew relations despite unresolved murder The return of Italy’s ambassador to Egypt more than a year after the torture and slaying of Italian student Giulio Regeni in Cairo heralds new opportunities for cooperation between the countries. Egypt
Turkey indulges in schadenfreude as German right triumphs Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says mainstream German politicians paid a price for dragging Turkey into their campaign, but he may find the new government in Berlin even more reluctant to mend ties with Turkey. Turkey
Europeans: Trump can win on Iran without ending nuclear deal Envoys to Washington say trans-Atlantic cooperation against Tehran needs to build on the 2015 nuclear accord, not undermine it. United States
Khamenei says Iran will respond to nuclear deal violations Iran’s supreme leader warned of a response if the United States walks away from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. United States
Turkish FM says KRG referendum 'big mistake' In an interview with Al-Monitor, Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu speaks about the upcoming independence vote in Iraqi Kurdistan, Turkish-EU relations and expanding cooperation with Russia. Iraq
Egypt looks to Europe to help solve Renaissance Dam crisis Egypt and Germany have recently signed a cooperation agreement to fight illegal immigration to Europe, with Cairo hoping such a deal would garner European support regarding its dispute with Ethiopia over the Renaissance Dam. Egypt
Is Abbas under international pressure to relieve Gaza? Recent actions by President Mahmoud Abbas to relieve sanctions imposed on the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip may indicate pressure is being applied from the European Union. Palestine
Trump could kick Iran deal to Congress, Haley says US envoy to the United Nations Nikki Haley made the case today for President Donald Trump to not certify Iran’s continued compliance with the 2015 agreement. United States
Trump keeps world guessing on Iran deal’s future Even as Iran hawks complain they are shut out from the White House, proponents of the nuclear deal are not confident they will prevail with the president. Russia
Turkey-EU tensions spill over to customs union accord Amid mounting bilateral tensions, Germany has ruled out talks on improving Turkey’s customs union accord with the European Union, but such sanctions might have little effect on Ankara in the short term. Turkey
