Newsletter: Gulf Gulf states step up China diplomacy as Trump’s lame-duck session nears Oman and Saudi Arabia are deepening diplomatic outreach to Beijing as the outcome of Tuesday’s US midterm elections introduces fresh uncertainty over Washington’s Iran policy. By Francesco Schiavi In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance
Turkey’s parliament ratifies Mecca pact in boost to Saudi Arabia Turkey will now decide the scope of military support for Saudi Arabia amid ongoing Iran-backed Houthi attacks on the kingdom. Turkey
Culture What’s next for Cristiano Ronaldo after retirement from Portugal team? The Portuguese superstar is signed to the Saudi side Al Nassr until 2027, but the Yemen war is impacting the sport in the kingdom. Saudi Arabia
Newsletter: City Pulse Riyadh Dana Awartani revives lost mosaics Also this week: Lebanese dining, a new Arab art prize and ‘Girls of Riyadh.’ By Rebecca Anne Proctor In Dubai, reporting on culture
Newsletter: Business & Tech Democrats’ win: What’s at stake for Gulf business By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Newsletter: FutureVerse US elections spotlight Gulf tech risks By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
What do the Houthis need from Cairo? Egypt made sure that Egyptian fishermen safely returned home from Yemen as Yemeni patients arrive in Cairo for treatment as part of efforts to resolve Yemen’s conflict. Saudi Arabia
Dar al-Ifta joins in Egypt-Turkey culture war Amid heightened tensions between Cairo and Ankara, culture is emerging as the new battlefront as each party offers its own version of the Ottoman era. Saudi Arabia
How Houthi forces won key Yemeni district Houthi rebels take over Yemen's strategic Nahm district, defeating Yemeni government forces backed by the Saudi-led coalition. Saudi Arabia
Peace with the region is not a peace plan The Trump peace plan is flawed because it has more to do with building a coalition against Iran rather than with promoting peace between Israelis and the Palestinians. Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia turns to Democrat-tied lobbyists for Capitol Hill relationship advice The Williams Group is the 10th firm hired by Saudi Arabia’s embassy in Washington and the ministry of foreign affairs. Saudi Arabia
Erdogan to discuss trade, military plans in Pakistan Pakistani and Turkish officials have a variety of topics to address when they meet this week, including investment, foreign policy, China and defense. Saudi Arabia
How Saudi Arabian farmers are trying to preserve traditional coffee production Climate change, water shortages and newcomers are challenging the traditional coffee culture in Saudi Arabia, which has the 10th largest per capita consumption in the world. Saudi Arabia
Magnitsky law spawns cottage industry of sanctions lobbying The Magnitsky Act is being used in unexpected ways, with lobbyists pushing for human rights sanctions against nations on behalf of corporate clients. Legacy: Gulf
Intel: Democrats push Trump administration to crack down on Saudi prince Emboldened by the latest United Nations report implicating Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in hacking Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos’ phone, Democrats are pushing the Donald Trump administration to toughen up on the Saudi heir. Saudi Arabia
Sudanese troops continue exit from war-stricken Yemen Sudan's military contingent in Yemen has been reduced to a symbolic presence as the main players in the Saudi-led coalition scale back their fighting. Saudi Arabia
Intel: What’s behind Israel’s latest decision to allow travel to Saudi Arabia Israeli citizens are now allowed to travel to Saudi Arabia for the first time in the country’s history. Saudi Arabia
Are Saudis readying Yemen's Tareq Saleh for Sanaa battle? The situation in Yemen’s south is volatile and the north is still in the Houthis’ firm grip, so people's curiosity has been raised about the motives behind Brig. Gen. Tareq Saleh's recent trip to Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia