Analysis What challenges await Erdogan’s new rival and Turkey’s new opposition party? Ousted main opposition leader Ozgur Ozel's bid to challenge Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan depends on surviving a widening legal crackdown and reconciling deep ideological, nationalist and Kurdish divisions within his own coalition. By Halil Karaveli
Top ally of Turkey’s Erdogan backs state funding for Ozel’s breakaway party Devlet Bahceli’s suggestion exposes a more nuanced position within the country’s governing alliance over the ongoing legal crackdown against Turkey’s main opposition. Turkey
Analysis Why Mamdani concluded he can’t arrest Israel’s PM Netanyahu The New York City mayor said he lacks the "legal authority" to arrest the Israeli premier based on the ICC warrant, likely due to laws pertaining to the United Nations and the court, but the ordeal could increase pressure on Israel over the case. By Adam Lucente In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change
Turkish opposition leader Ozgur Ozel could launch new party by August Ozgur Ozel’s remarks on a potential new party came as the legal crackdown on the main opposition widened further this week with the arrest and suspension of the mayor of Cankaya, one of the party’s most secure and symbolically important strongholds in the heart of Ankara. Turkey
'Obliterated entire families': Amnesty calls for investigating Israeli strikes in Lebanon as war crimes Lebanon
Explainer Does provision 13 of Lebanon-Israel deal bar Beirut from pursuing war crimes claims? Lebanon
Could Israeli legal system force Netanyahu to resign? Faced with the cases against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit and the Supreme Court justices will be unable to ignore the precedent that booted indicted politicians. Israel
Netanyahu directs supporters to protest law enforcement For the first time in Israel's history, the prime minister has called upon his supporters to demonstrate against the country’s law enforcement agencies. Israel
Amid ongoing unrest, Iraq refuses to receive IS detainees from Syria Though Iraq previously said it would receive and prosecute foreign Islamic State fighters from Syria, it has now rescinded its offer. Iraq
Life sentence for killing rapist: When will Egypt's judiciary side with women? Small steps are being taken to change the mindset within Egypt’s judicial system when it comes to female victims of sexual harassment and rape. Egypt
Through Fatima's eyes: Jordanians take to streets against domestic violence The blinding of Fatima, a mother of three, by her abusive husband has disgusted and outraged Jordanians because of the lack of protection available for women experiencing domestic violence. Jordan
Hard-line Iranian cleric slams Rouhani over preelection 'uproar' A partisan battle is raging between Iran's political elites in the runup to the country's parliamentary polls. Iran
Turkish government fears compensation claims for Armenian genocide A resolution passed by the US House of Representatives recognizing the 1915 Armenian genocide has stirred up Turkish concerns of Armenian demands for compensation. Turkey
Turkey resurrects deadly Article 301 against dissent Prosecutors have renewed their use of an infamous article of Turkish law to punish the "crime" of denigrating the Turkish nation. Turkey
Congress puts heat on Saudis for helping fugitives flee country Congress is cracking down on Saudi Arabia for allegedly helping its citizens escape the US criminal justice system. Saudi Arabia
Critics say Turkish government’s judicial reform package falls short Members of Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party introduced the first package of its Judicial Reform Strategy, but critics say the provisions fall short of the government's stated aims. Turkey
Is Sisi overstepping the judiciary? President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has appointed a new public prosecutor, without referring to the Supreme Judicial Council, as per constitutional amendments recently approved, which raised the anger of the country's judiciary. Egypt
