Israel's president to visit Brussels, address EU parliament The upcoming visit of President Isaac Herzog to Brussels at the end of January could help establish a dialogue between the far-right Israeli government and European leadership. Israel
Syria's Assad hosts Russian envoy, discusses rapprochement with Turkey Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met with Russian special envoy Alexander Lavrentiev to discuss ending the occupation of Syrian land, highlighting the potential rapprochement with Turkey. Syria
Israel faces internal threat in Netanyahu’s judicial reforms After warning from Israel’s top opposition leaders, President of the Supreme Court Esther Hayut warns that the Netanyahu government judicial reform could crush Israel’s democracy. Israel
UN extends Lebanon investigation into Hariri assassination for another year The UN approved the extension of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon for about a year, to finalize its work. Lebanon
Electric vehicle manufacturing competition revving up in Middle East Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
On the Middle East with Amberin Zaman UK's Syria envoy warns normalizing relations with Assad regime will undermine efforts for justice and accountability Amberin Zaman
Iran's top diplomat to visit Turkey amid Erdogan-Assad thaw The foreign ministers of the two nations will hold talks next week amid ongoing Ankara-Damascus rapprochement. Turkey
Iran releases taped 'confessions' by dual British citizen sentenced to death Iran's state media outlets have released a video of Alireza Akbari allegedly confessing to his crimes a day after his death sentence was upheld by the country's Supreme Court. Iran
CIA director Bill Burns arrives in Libya on surprise visit Burns visit is most senior for a US official to Libya since President Joe Biden took office in January 2021. North Africa