Search - AL-Monitor: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

China's oil imports highest since 2023 amid Iran crude spike: What to know

Cheng Xin/Getty Images

Israeli kibbutz rebuilds after 2023 attack as residents mull return

Rebuilding work started at Kibbutz Nirim, one of the Israeli communities worst hit by the October 7, 2023 attack, soon after the Gaza ceasefire took effect on January 19.

Agence France-Presse

Meet Karim Souaid, Lebanon’s new central bank chief with daunting mission

Karim Souaid

US-Russia talks conclude in Saudi Arabia, most high-level meeting since 2023: What to know

TOPSHOT - (L to R) US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud, National Security Advisor Mosaad bin Mohammad al-Aiban, the Russian president's foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov, and Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attend a meeting together at Riyadh's Diriyah Palace on February 18, 2025. Top US and Russian diplomats were meeting in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for talks on res

Jerusalem patriarch hails pope's commitment to Gaza

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa on Francis: 'He was very close to the community of Gaza'

Agence France-Presse

Analysis

India's Modi visits Saudi Arabia, seeks to boost trade route to counter China

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) shakes hands with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman prior to a meeting at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Feb. 20, 2019.

Jennifer Gnana

By Jennifer Gnana

In Dubai, reporting on Gulf energy policy and politics

Hamas team heads to Cairo for Gaza talks as Israel strikes kill 26

Israel continued to strike the Gaza Strip on Tuesday as negotiators sought again to secure a new ceasefire

Agence France-Presse

Saudi private equity investment peaked at $4B in 2023 amid rising buyouts

Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

Oman’s sultan talks Iran-US nuclear mediation with Putin in first Russia visit

KRISTINA KORMILITSYNA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

GCC-Indonesia economic ties deepen with Saudi MoUs, joint Qatar fund

Jakarta