Explainer As Guterres exits, here are contenders for UNSG and their Middle East outlook The next UN secretary-general will inherit a Middle East agenda dominated by crises. United States
Interview Ex-PM says Sudan risks partition amid US ceasefire push Former Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok also called for the United States to impose sanctions that would carry “personal consequences” for the warring sides.
Iran rallies thousands of volunteer fighters as talks with US stall: What to know Iran has been leading a volunteer recruitment drive and providing military training to civilians as talks with the US remain stalled. Iran
Lebanon PM meets Rubio as Israel talks stall: What to know The visit comes as US-brokered talks between Lebanon and Israel have made little headway, with Israeli elections looming. Lebanon
Saudi Arabia steps up role in Libya Saudi Arabia is reported to be providing greater financing to forces associated with Libyan strongman Khalifa Hifter in order to counter Turkey's intervention on the side of Libya's Government of National Accord. Saudi Arabia
12 years later, Olmert plan discussions could resume Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met with former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in New York to discuss reviving the Olmert plan to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Palestine
Will Tunisia have a seat in future Libyan dialogues? Tunisia appears to have lost an opportunity to garner international support to help it cope with the crisis in neighboring Libya when it rejected an invitation to the Berlin conference. Algeria
Algeria battles larger countries to vie for leading role in Libya peace process Algeria is seeking to recover its diplomatic role in the region, by pushing for a political solution in Libya and condemning foreign interference in its affairs. Egypt
Iraqi protesters demand UN protection from violence of authorities Iraqi protesters are seeking protection from the United Nations against the violence against them. Iraq
Pompeo mocks claim Soleimani was part of Iraq-brokered Iran-Saudi indirect talks The US secretary of state discounted the Iraqi prime minister's claim that on the day Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani was killed in Baghdad, he was going to pass on an Iranian message as part of indirect Iranian-Saudi communications. Saudi Arabia
Militias abduct Iraqi activists in attempt to stifle protests Hundreds of Iraqi activists have been abducted by unidentified forces trying to put an end to the ongoing protests. Iraq
Russia weighs two reconstruction strategies for Syria In the face of US sanctions, Moscow is considering whether the outsourcing of reconstruction efforts for Syria may be better for Russia than a long-term presence. Syria
Potential oil spill disaster looms off Yemen's coast, but who’s to blame? Calls are rising to separate the politics of the military conflict in Yemen from the issue of an abandoned oil tanker in the Red Sea, in light of a looming ecological disaster that could affect the entire region. Saudi Arabia
UAE hires its second former Samantha Power aide to defend itself at UN The UAE has tapped a former aide to Barack Obama’s UN ambassador as the country faces blistering criticism at the world body. United Arab Emirates
Iraqis gratefully welcome UN envoy's speech, demand more With few expectations, Iraqis expressed appreciation to the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert for her briefing on the protests. Iraq
IS kills priests in Syria as Turkish-backed fighters express IS sympathies Two Armenian Catholic priests are killed by the Islamic State near Hasakah and pro-Turkish Syrian fighters are reported to have hoisted the Islamic State flag in Ras al-Ain. Syria
