Al Jazeera

Israeli settler violence against Palestinians intensifies, while plans to expand illegal settlements forge ahead. Israel's largest trading partner, the European Union, has condemned the attacks. But the bloc is split on taking action. Could that change?

The Achilles Shield is one of the largest military deals in Israel's history. It will see Greece take delivery of a multilayered air defence system to counter what it and Israel say are common threats. The multibillion-dollar agreement comes as tensions increase between Greece and Turkiye. The neighbours have been at odds over a range of territorial issues for more than five decades. Relations between Israel and Turkiye have also deteriorated. With Israel and Greece strengthening their alliance, what are the ramifications for the region?

On August 7, the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye signed a security agreement in Mecca. Now their defence and foreign affairs ministers are working out how to turn the pact into an operational framework. The terms clearly state that an attack against one of the three countries will be considered an attack against all of them. The Istanbul meeting focuses on coordinating defence production capabilities and deepening cooperation in the industry. But what are the hurdles to these three countries forming a functioning military and security model?

A new deal between Caracas and Washington would give US companies access to more than a fifth of Venezuela's vast oil reserves. But there's opposition in Venezuela - as well as debate about whether the plan is legal. What could the agreement mean?

The role of climate change in Wednesday's disaster in Nepal is under scrutiny by scientists - trying to find out what caused the catastrophe. Elsewhere, countries around the world have been hit by more severe weather events in recent months. So, what lessons can be learned from the Nepal disaster - and others this year?