China settles first LNG trade in yuan with UAE deal China has held several discussions with countries in the Middle East and North Africa about conducting trade using its local currency. Gulf
Analysis Sacked Israeli defense chief may apologize as Netanyahu meets replacements Israelis are outraged by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu firing Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for speaking up against his judicial reform efforts. By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Two Syrian soldiers injured in suspected Israeli strikes Israel is suspected of carrying out numerous attacks against Syrian and Iranian military targets in Syria this year. Israel
Turkey ratifies Finland’s NATO membership Finland’s accession to the alliance will now be finalized by the US State Department and Helsinki. Turkey
Can Turkey's Kemal Kilicdaroglu win over key rival to defeat Erdogan? While playing hardball, Turkish presidential candidate Muharrem Ince hasn’t ruled out a potential electoral alliance against Erdogan. Turkey
Top US general advocates targeting Iran’s IRGC Quds Force after Syria drone attack Biden’s airstrikes in Syria highlight paradox of deterring Iran-backed groups without triggering further escalation. Syria
Analysis 20 years after US invasion of Iraq, what lessons remain? With the Pentagon now refocusing elsewhere, and with Iran getting closer to nuclear weapons by the day, the widening post-Iraq American boots-on-the-ground Middle East vacuum is cautiously being challenged by China. By Gilles Kepel
EU transport chief given new role after taking free Qatar flights Henrik Hololei, director general of the European Commission’s transport department, was moved to a new non-managerial role after details emerged that he accepted free flights and accomodation from the Gulf state. Gulf
Explainer: The Israel-Indonesia soccer dispute FIFA removed Indonesia as the host for an upcoming tournament after the country expressed opposition to hosting the Israeli team, and may sanction its soccer body. Anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian sentiment is strong in Indonesia, despite the country’s distance from the Middle East. Israel
Lebanon fumes as another woman murdered by husband The man killed his wife in front of their three children, renewing calls to enforce laws on domestic violence. Lebanon
International oil firms stop operations as Iraqi-Kurdish oil dispute continues A Kurdish official told Al-Monitor that the Kurdistan Regional Government disagrees with an Iraqi government proposal to resolve the issue, as the stoppage of oil exports to Turkey threatens the autonomous region's economy. Iraq
Saudis joining Shanghai Cooperation Organization as China bromance blossoms Russia, China and a number of former Soviet states in Central Asia created the SCO in 2001 to counter US hegemony in the region. Gulf
