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Friday

A State Department official warns Israel of 'major' reputational damage in Gaza war

This picture taken from Israel's southern border with the Gaza Strip shows an Israeli army tank moving along the border with the Palestinian territory on March 20. Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images

Middle East crisis — explained

A State Department official warns Israel of 'major' reputational damage in Gaza war

Assistant Secretary of State Bill Russo told Israeli officials last week the Gaza war is damaging Israel's global reputation, potentially lasting a generation, according to a readout obtained by NPR.

Wednesday

Why North Korea wants another chance with Donald Trump

North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un walks to a meeting with then-President Donald Trump in the Demilitarized Zone that straddles the Koreas on June 30, 2019. Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

Perspective

Why North Korea wants another chance with Donald Trump

Germany's former ambassador to North Korea provides insights from his time in the country, and explains why the regime would prefer a Trump win in 2024.

Wednesday

Thursday

What North Korea's shift toward Russia means for its global strategy

A man watches a television screen showing a news broadcast with a picture of North Korea's latest satellite-carrying rocket launch, at a railway station in Seoul on Nov. 22. Jung Yeon-Je/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Jung Yeon-Je/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

World

What North Korea's shift toward Russia means for its global strategy

Since the collapse of nuclear talks between Pyongyang and Washington in 2019, analysts see a major shift in North Korea's foreign relations. It has turned increasingly to Moscow.

What North Korea's shift toward Russia means for its global strategy

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Thursday

Lots of U.S. presidents have pushed for Middle East peace. Progress has been elusive

President Joe Biden speaks as he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu participate in an expanded bilateral meeting with Israeli and U.S. government officials, Wednesday in Tel Aviv. Evan Vucci/AP hide caption

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Evan Vucci/AP

Middle East crisis — explained

Lots of U.S. presidents have pushed for Middle East peace. Progress has been elusive

President Biden is the latest in a long line of presidents to place himself in the middle of a Middle East conflict. U.S. efforts have seen failed starts, wrong turns and dead ends, but some progress.

Thursday

Thursday

Iraq expels Sweden's ambassador over Quran burning, after protests at Swedish Embassy

Protesters scale a wall at the Swedish Embassy in Baghdad Thursday. Protesters angered by the planned burning of a copy of the Quran stormed the Embassy early Thursday, breaking into the compound and lighting a small fire. Ali Jabar/AP hide caption

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Ali Jabar/AP

World

Iraq expels Sweden's ambassador over Quran burning, after protests at Swedish Embassy

Iraq expelled Sweden's ambassador and recalled its diplomat from Sweden, hours after protesters attacked the Swedish Embassy in Baghdad, setting fire to part of the building.

Tuesday

Thursday

In this photo provided by Saudi Press Agency, SPA, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrives at Jeddah airport, Saudi Arabia, Friday, where leaders are gathered for the Arab League Summit.

In this photo provided by Saudi Press Agency, SPA, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrives at Jeddah airport, Saudi Arabia, Friday, where leaders are gathered for the Arab League Summit. Saudi Press Agency via AP hide caption

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Saudi Press Agency via AP

Middle East

Zelenskyy arrives at Arab League summit, as Saudi Arabia flexes diplomatic muscle

With the Ukrainian president's visit, Syria's president returning to the fold and Saudi Arabia's recent detente with Iran, this year's Arab League summit reflects a changing region.

Zelenskyy arrives at Arab League summit, as Saudi Arabia flexes diplomatic muscle

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Monday

Thursday

Wednesday

Japan and South Korea renew ties in first summit in 12 years

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol (left) and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida shake hands following a joint news conference at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo, Thursday. Kiyoshi Ota/Pool photo via AP hide caption

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Kiyoshi Ota/Pool photo via AP

World

Japan and South Korea renew ties in first summit in 12 years

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida are hoping to overcome historical feuds and domestic politics that have sent relations to their lowest point in decades.

Friday

Rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran restore ties, with China's help. Here's why it matters

Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani (right) shakes hands with senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi, as Saudi national security adviser Musaad bin Mohammed al-Aiban looks on during an agreement signing ceremony between Iran and Saudi Arabia to reestablish diplomatic relations and reopen embassies in Beijing, Friday. Nournews via AP hide caption

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Nournews via AP

Analysis

World

Rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran restore ties, with China's help. Here's why it matters

Saudi Arabia and Iran are restoring full diplomatic relations in a deal brokered by China, a move that could reduce tensions in the region and that asserts China's growing influence in the Gulf.

Rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran restore ties, with China's help. Here's why it matters

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Wednesday

Germany moves toward restrictions on Huawei, as Europe sours on China

Signs promoting 5G wireless technology from Chinese technology firm Huawei are displayed at the PT Expo in Beijing in 2018. Germany is reviewing the presence of Huawei and ZTE components in its telecommunications. Mark Schiefelbein/AP hide caption

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Mark Schiefelbein/AP

Analysis

World

Germany moves toward restrictions on Huawei, as Europe sours on China

Germany said Tuesday it is reviewing tech suppliers such as China's Huawei and ZTE, whose equipment is used in Germany's 5G networks. Europeans are starting to favor a tougher stance on China.

Thursday

U.S. and Russia's top diplomats meet for the first time since the Ukraine war began

Secretary of State Antony Blinken walks to a meeting on the sidelines of the G-20 foreign ministers' meeting in New Delhi on Thursday. Olivier Douliery/Pool/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Olivier Douliery/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

World

U.S. and Russia's top diplomats meet for the first time since the Ukraine war began

Relations between the two countries have collapsed over the Ukraine war, with the U.S. slapping thousands of sanctions on Russia, and militarily, economically and diplomatically supporting Ukraine.