The UN envoy with one of the best understandings of Sudan, Volker Perthes is a brain worth picking when it comes to the ongoing civil war in north-east Africa. Ibrahim Hamidi went to pick it, then heard a sobering assessment.

In Syria, the Kurdish-led SDF in the north-east had shown early signs of a willingness to integrate, within a new and inclusive national framework. But Charles Lister explains that the latest signs give no reason to cheer.

Across the Atlantic, entrepreneur Elon Musk was once US President Donald Trump's loudest cheerleader (and biggest donor), but the pair have fallen out and Musk has now set up his own political party. Christopher Phillips elucidates.

Back in early 2015, the televised savagery of Islamic State shocked the world, not least with the horrific execution of a Jordanian pilot who was burned alive on camera. A trial in Sweden is offering new details. Rania El-Akhdar reports.

In our Opinion section, Alia Mansour highlights how the new rulers in Damascus now have a choice about the kind of Syria they want to build. One based on the rule of law is not the easiest option, but for many is the best.

With Iran's defeat, and the defeat or dissolution of its proxies and allies, Houssam Itani dares to wonder whether this is a turning point for the Middle East. Might we one day look back on this period as the beginnings of peace?

Looking at Ukraine, Con Coughlin thinks this was the week when Trump finally lost patience with his opposite number in Moscow, learning what most Ukrainians already knew: Vladimir Putin has no interest in peace. 

In Business, we take a good at the investment going into Saudi ports, as Turki al-Harbi shows how the extra capacity along both the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf will help the Kingdom become a regional logistics hub.

Staying in the Gulf, Amer Ziab al-Tamimi ponders the centuries-old trading relationship between the region and India. These days, though, it's less about spices, and more about oil, gas, and personnel.

In Culture, and the Venice Biennale is one of the world's top cultural exhibitions. Iain Akerman sees how Europe-based architects have an exhibit highlighting the destruction of homes in Gaza.

In Science and Technology, Mohammed Mansour learns about space debris, climate change, and how the Earth's low orbit is becoming an increasingly dangerous place for satellites. Scary stuff.

And finally, America's head of Central Command (CENTCOM), Gen. Erik Kurilla, is emerging as a key figure influencing military thinking in the White House. Con Coughlin writes about the general with Trump's ear.