Reuters reports that Saudi Arabia is intensifying informal talks with the Iran-aligned Houthi movement on a ceasefire in Yemen. The talks were launched in Jordan in September, with Riyadh taking sole responsibility for military efforts by the Arab alliance fighting in Yemen after the exit of the UAE.

BBC News and Reuters report that a ceasefire between Israel and militants in Gaza appears to be holding, despite the launch of several rockets hours after it took effect. Though, a lasting ceasefire appeared tenuous as both sides differ on terms. The truce ended two days of intense fighting in which militants fired some 450 rockets towards Israel and Israeli aircraft carried out waves of strikes. The fighting left 34 Palestinians dead and 111 injured in total, while 63 Israelis needed medical treatment.

The Times and Reuters report that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has rejected an appeal by US President Donald Trump to abandon his purchase of the Russian S-400 missile defence system. “We regard the proposal to completely remove the S-400s as meddling in our sovereign rights. There can be no question of us leaving the S-400s and turning toward the Patriots” he said. Reuters reports that the Republican chair of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee has stated that he does not want lawmakers to pass legislation imposing sanctions on Turkey, to lessen friction during talks over Turkey’s purchase of the Russian the S-400 missile defence system.

In the New Statesman, Anthony Lloyd writes that “the Turkish bombardment of northern Syria has left casualties suffering from horrific burns injuries, probably from the illegal use of incendiary weapons. So why is the international community not investigating?”.

The Times reports that Turkish police have confirmed that the death of White Helmets co-founder James Le Mesurier is being treated as suicide. Le Mesurier’s body was flown back to the UK from Istanbul overnight after a preliminary post-mortem examination.

BBC News and Reuters report that Turkey says it will extradite a US citizen suspected of being an IS militant after he was refused entry to Greece and stranded on the border between the two countries. The alleged militant will be extradited to the US. Turkey is currently expelling a number of foreign IS fighters.

The Times, Channel 4 News and Sky News report that a British national believed to be the first IS suspect to be deported by Turkey has been arrested after landing at Heathrow.

Channel 4 News interviews two men who left the UK to join IS and claim that they want to “return home to face trial”.

The Guardian reports that the Norwegian sovereign wealth fund has blacklisted shares in British security company G4S because of the risk of human rights violations against its workforce in Qatar and the UAE.

BBC News reports that an asylum seeker who wrote a book via Whatsapp from inside a detention centre has finally left Manus Island where he was held by Australia for six years. Behrouz Boochani, an Iranian Kurd, arrived in New Zealand on Thursday, vowing never to return to Papua New Guinea where he was detained.

The FT reports the Iranian government has increased petrol prices by at least 50 per cent in an unpopular move as the Rouhani administration struggles to offset the impact of US sanctions and a sharp fall in its income.

The Times reports that an Iranian suspected of sending thousands of people to their deaths in a mass purge of dissidents in the 1980s has been arrested by Swedish police.

Reuters reports that the UAE and Egypt plan to jointly invest $20bn (£15.63bn) in economic and social projects under a bilateral project announced by the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan.

In the FT, Chloe Cornish argues that “Lebanese youth voice anger at lack of opportunities”.

Reuters reports that Russia has set up a helicopter base at an airport in the north-eastern Syrian city of Qamishli, a move designed to increase Moscow’s control over events on the ground there.

Reuters reports that Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu said on Thursday he was on a mission in London to allay investor concerns over negative headlines about Turkey and predicted its economic woes were temporary.

Reuters reports that Eastern Libyan authorities forced a civilian flight to land for security checks soon after it had taken off from a city controlled by their rivals in the Tripoli government on Thursday.

Reuters reports that the Kuwaiti emir has accepted the resignation of his government, two days after parliament filed a no-confidence motion against Interior Minister Sheikh Khalid al-Jarrah al-Sabah.

In the Guardian, Simon Jenkins argues that “the US and Britain face no existential threat. So why do their wars go on?”.

In the Guardian, Oliver Wainwright asks “can an architecture triennial in the UAE really teach us how to go green?”.

The Economist argues that “the battle for Tripoli could be decided by the Madkhalis”: “An obscure group believes Khalifa Haftar is Libya’s rightful leader”.

In the Spectator, Louis Amis examines the “surrealism of [the] war against IS”: “At every break in the fighting in Mosul in 2016, out came the phones – for selfies, texting, calling mother or watching execution videos”.

Gantz meets Lieberman: All the Israeli media report the meeting yesterday between Benny Gantz and Avigdor Lieberman. After the meeting Lieberman said: “What I’m missing is a clear, sharp statement by all of the leaders of Blue and White saying that they accept the president’s outline.” Gantz said: “To the best of my judgment, Netanyahu is headed for elections. We made our position clear with regard to the possibilities, I am willing to consider any option that spares us this election.” Channel 13 News focused on the obstacles to a unity government, largely stemming from disagreements over when Netanyahu should resign if he is indicted. The report suggests Blue and White are wary that Netanyahu could try and exploit a loophole and ask the Knesset to vote to grant him immunity.

Polling: Israel Hayom publishes their latest option poll if there was a third election. Blue and White Party are projected to win 33 seats, Likud 31, Joint List 13, Shas 10, Yisrael Beitenu 9, United Torah Judaism 7, Democratic Union 6, Labour 6, New Right 5. This would translate to the Right-wing bloc: 53 seats, Centre-left bloc: 58 seats with Yisrael Beteinu 9 seats, continuing to hold the balance of power. When asked; If the prime minister were directly elected, for whom would you vote:? Binyamin Netanyahu was supported by 43 per cent and Benny Gantz 41 per cent.

Knesset speaker responds to European Court judgement: Maariv reports that Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein wrote to European Parliament President David Sassoli protesting against the European Court’s decision to require EU countries to label products from the West Bank and the Golan Heights and not as ‘made in Israel’. Edelstein said: “The court’s decision may undermine the political and economic ties between Israel and the EU and have far-reaching negative consequences for the prospects for peace between Israel and its neighbours in the Middle East. Out of dozens of disputed areas around the world, the Tribunal decided to order products from Judea, Samaria and the Golan Heights only. Moreover, the court chose to ignore the deep and historic connection between the Jewish people and the entire land of Israel. Ignoring the fact that the territories of Judea and Samaria were not “occupied territory” because they had never been part of another country; They are under legitimate Israeli control by virtue of the Balfour Declaration, the San Remo Decision and Article 80 of Chapter 12 of the UN Charter.”