News stories I’m following this week …

• U.S., Europe Struggle to Keep Iran’s Drones From Russian Military. (WSJ)

• First Israeli Barak air defense system deploys to UAE, bigger deals expected: Sources. (Breaking Defense)

• Qatar's energy minister foreshadows COP27 fight. (Axios)

• U.S. makes unusual disclosure of ballistic missile submarine's presence in Persian Gulf. (NBC News)

• UAE paid hundreds of U.S. veterans to build up its military (Washington Post)

  More on this from CBS News below …

• UK Pushes to Fine Barclays £50 Million for Qatari Funding. (Bloomberg)

• Don't talk Saudi: Kuwait's censorship of activist Salman Al-Khaldy. (The New Arab)

• A Europe with zero Russian gas flows is unimaginable as Asian competition for supplies heats up, Qatar's energy minister says. (Insider)

• Mnuchin testifies in Trump ally Barrack's defense, cites Qatar blockade. (Reuters)

• Pakistan’s Election Commission Disqualifies Ex-PM Imran Khan. (Bloomberg)

• Eyeing Payback for Midterm Oil Cut, Biden Faces Saudis Going Their Own Way. (Newsweek)

• Opinion | Saudi Arabia sentences U.S. citizen to 16 years in prison for tweets. (Washington Post)

In other news …

• Secrets in The Sands Of Sudan: The Kushite Kings’ Pyramids. (Ancient Origins)

• Billionaire Adani to Target Europe With Huge Morocco Clean Energy Project. (Bloomberg)

• Qatar Airways Ready To Shine At 2022 World Cup As Official Airline Of FIFA. (Forbes)

• World Cup 2022 stadiums: Your guide to the eight venues in Qatar. (The Telegraph)

Social-Media …

🇺🇸United Arab Emirates' military relied on retired U.S. troops. (CBS News)

🎙 A conversation with Dr. Andreas Krieg "The parameters of this relationship are changing as the balance of power is shifting to the East".

Arab Digest @arabdigest

⚠️🎧NEW PODCAST - OUT NOW! Arab Digest editor @BillLaw49 ‘s guest this week is @andreas_krieg, asst professor at the Defence Studies Department, King's College London. They discuss challenges the #GCC faces as the war between #Russia & #Ukraine plays out open.spotify.com/episode/5zuop9…

12:49 PM ∙ Oct 21, 2022

---

1Like1Retweet

🇫🇷 60% of French intend to watch the World Cup in Qatar, 10% more than in 2018 in Russia according to polls 📊

Apolline Matin @ApollineMatin

⚽️🏆 « Les Français et la Coupe du monde » 📊 Selon un sondage exclusif réalisé par @harrisint_fr pour @RMCInfo, 60 % des Français souhaitent suivre la Coupe du monde 2022. +10 points par rapport à 2018. ➡️ Le détail à retrouver ici : bit.ly/3CNwsOx

4:58 AM ∙ Oct 20, 2022

---

10Likes10Retweets

In other ‘posts’ …

🇺🇸⚽️ The U.S Embassy in Qatar getts “Excited’ about the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

U.S. Embassy in Qatar @USEmbassyDoha

We’re just a month away from the biggest sporting event in the world. It’s time to get excited for the World Cup Qatar 2022! @USAmbQatar #SafirDavisFiDoha

1:46 PM ∙ Oct 18, 2022

---

149Likes51Retweets