KUWAIT - Kuwait advances to the 54th position on the 2018 Global Competitiveness Index.
RIYADH - Saudi Arabia dismisses as groundless the claims of a meeting between Saudi and Israeli chiefs of staff.
WASHINGTON - US Secretary of State has had "a constructive conversation" with Turkish President.
WASHINGTON - A man is sentenced to 24 years in jail for burning down an Islamic center in Texas.
NEW YORK - The UN Special Envoy for Syria is to step down late next month.
NEW DELHI - Three militants and an Indian police officer are killed in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir. (end) gb