Saudi Arabia taps China’s MiniMax for Arabic AI model The development signals that the kingdom continues deepening AI ties with China while simultaneously pursuing major US technology partnerships, keeping the Gulf state at the center of an intensifying technology race between the superpowers. Saudi Arabia
Newsletter: Business & Tech Oil rises amid renewed US-Iran fighting Iran launched a wave of attacks on US sites across the Middle East on Wednesday after an extensive American bombardment. By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Saudi oil exports hit nine-year low as tanker attacks threaten recovery The country’s oil exports were around 3 million barrels per day in August. Saudi Arabia
Newsletter: FutureVerse LEAP’s comeback The fifth edition of the gathering offers a temperature check for the Gulf’s AI ambitions amid fallout from the US-Israel-Iran war. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran sets conditions for reopening Strait of Hormuz By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Newsletter: City Pulse Riyadh AlUla brings Saudi creativity to Paris By Rebecca Anne Proctor In Dubai, reporting on culture
What fading oil fortunes means for Turkey's businesses Turkish businesspeople are losing sleep over oil-producing states' deferrals of payments to international contractors and the possible loss of mega projects. Legacy: Gulf
Death, starvation haunt southern Yemen The catastrophic humanitarian situation in Yemen’s besieged Taiz calls for immediate action to lift the siege that has strangled the city for almost a year. Saudi Arabia
Will Saudi Arabia pressure Jordan to join ground offensive in Syria? There is increasing talk about a land war in Syria to combat the Islamic State, but the Jordanians thus far appear reluctant to get involved. Legacy: Gulf
Does Hezbollah seek Israel’s elimination? 'Not so,' says Nasrallah Hezbollah leader says group will not open new front against Israel; Turkey’s two-front war; battles for Aleppo “unlike any others”; Saudi military exercise provides distraction. Saudi Arabia
Can Ankara's plans keep up with Syria's escalation? The course of events in Syria offer opportunities but also new threats to Ankara, which still has to deal with structural flaws in its Syrian policy. Saudi Arabia
Are latest war games just a face-saver for Riyadh? Saudi Arabia is hosting over 150,000 troops from 20 countries for military exercises in the northeast, but while officially aimed at deterring Iran, they could have a very different purpose. Saudi Arabia
Turkey threatens fragile Syria peace accord Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says the United States is responsible for "sea of blood" in Syria as Turkey attacks Syrian Kurds; Ankara and Riyadh raise specter of ground operations in Syria. Saudi Arabia
Displaced Yemenis suffer in silence in Egypt Despite the war raging in their country, Yemen’s displaced citizens in Egypt await the day they can return. Saudi Arabia
7 things to consider before sending troops to Syria By supporting a Saudi ground invasion of Syria, the United States would be aiding and abetting the expansion of terrorism as well as pushing Iran and Russia toward threatening the very viability of the House of Saud. Saudi Arabia
As health system collapses, disease kills more Yemenis The blockades imposed by the warring Saudi-led Arab coalition and Houthi rebels in Yemen have caused severe medicine shortages, which in turn led to the spread of diseases. Saudi Arabia
What Hezbollah stands to gain from Iran's nuclear deal As the Iranian nuclear deal enters its implementation phase, analysts are discussing the repercussions of Iran’s openness to the West on Lebanese Hezbollah. Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia turns to Turkey Following the visit of a Turkish delegation to Saudi Arabia, the kingdom hopes to establish economic and military ties with Turkey to counter the expanding Iranian influence in the region. Saudi Arabia