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Politics & Security

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) casts his ballot, next to his wife Sara

Explainer

From Oct. 7 inquiry to blocking Netanyahu: Eisenkot's bloc maps out Knesset agenda

Israel's opposition to advance anti-Netanyahu government measures as soon as Knesset convenes Tuesday, without waiting for a new cabinet to take shape.

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 23: U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) speaks at a press conference on China AI export controls at the U.S. Capitol on September 23, 2026 in Washington, DC. Slotkin, joined by fellow Senate Democrats, urged Senate Republican's and the Trump administration to enact stronger export controls on AI technology and computer chips to China. The Democrats also call for a vote on bipartisan export control legislation, including the AI OVERWATCH Act, the MATCH Act, and the Chip Security Act. (

Slotkin, Van Hollen emerge as potential challengers to Schumer’s Senate leadership

A growing number of Democrats are calling for new leadership in the Senate to replace Schumer, arguing that the party needs a leader who better reflects its generational and ideological shift to the left.

SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images

Massie introduces impeachment articles against Hegseth over Iran war

House Democrats are on board with voting to impeach the Pentagon chief, but it's not clear how many Republicans will break with the White House's public messaging.

This photograph shows empty fresh-food refrigerators at an Intermarche supermarket in Nevez, France, on Oct. 12, 2026, following a cyberattack that caused its refrigerators to defrost.

France blames Iran for supermarket fridge hack, seeks EU sanctions

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on Monday blamed Iran for the October cyberattack that disabled refrigeration at supermarkets across France.

Latest News

Explainer

Iraqi PM cancels Mosul airport contracts, citing Iran militia links: What to know

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi speaks during a joint press conference with Germans chachellor at the Chancellery on September 15, 2026 in Berlin, Germany. High on the meeting's agenda is the expansion of economic cooperation between Germany and Iraq. (Photo by Michele Tantussi/Getty Images)

Trump meets Qatar PM as mediators push Iran deal

President Donald Trump (R) attends a bilateral meeting with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani during the G7 summit, in Evian, France, on June 16, 2026.

Lebanon replaces Detroit consul expelled over 1983 Marines attack posts

Marines barracks

Iran claims IAEA held 'recent' inspection at Bushehr plant: What to know

A picture taken on Nov. 10, 2019, shows an Iranian flag at Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant.

Amberin Zaman

Chief Correspondent

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Adam Lucente

News and Business Correspondent

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Diplomatic Correspondent

In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights

Ezgi Akin

Associate Editor (Turkey)

In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO

Ben Caspit

Israel Columnist

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

Jared Szuba

Defense and Security Correspondent

In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military

A photograph of a murdered Iranian woman hangs from a tree in front of the Palacio de la Moneda placed by Iranians living in Chile, as they protest against violence against women in their country, during the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women in Santiago, Chili, Nov. 25, 2022.

Police chief says 'no more restraint' as more die in Iran unrest

The commander suggested that his forces had so far tolerated the unrest, while rights activists counted the killings of over 470 protesters at the hands of security forces.

Mourners accompany the casket of one of the two protesters killed earlier in clashes.

Protests erupt in southern Iraq as man sentenced for tweeting against PMU

Security concerns for southern Iraq have risen following an attempted suicide attack near Karbala and deadly protests in Nasiriyah sparked by a prison sentence for a man accused of insulting security forces.

An Iranian woman walks past a mural showing Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the capital Tehran on March 9, 2022.

Iran's Khamenei shows no sign of retreat in latest speech

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has shown no signs of relaxing the country’s cultural policies.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (C) holds a joint press conference with Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto (L) and Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom (R) following meetings at the State Department in Washington, DC, Dec. 8, 2022.

US confident Sweden, Finland will soon join NATO despite Turkey's holdup

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the two Nordic states had taken "tangible steps" to address Turkey's security concerns.

Stephanie Saliba

Lebanese actress tied to corruption scheme allowed to enter country

Surrounded by controversy, Lebanese actress Stephanie Saliba enters Lebanon freely despite a search warrant in her name.

ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Getty Images

Child abuse case drags Turkey’s religious sects into public eye

A woman’s claims that she was married at 6 has raised questions about the role of Islamic orders and their influence in the state.

DANIEL SLIM/AFP via Getty Images

US unveils sanctions on Turkish businessman over IRGC oil sales

The United States designated what it described as an international oil smuggling and money laundering network led by Turkish businessman Sitki Ayan.

European Union commissioners meet for the weekly College meeting at the European Commission headquarters, Brussels, Belgium, Nov. 9, 2022.

EU halts talks with Israel on police intelligence-sharing agreement

After signing a draft of a cooperation agreement between Europol and Israeli Police, the political leadership of the European Union is now backing away from the agreement.

Brittney Griner

Inside UAE, Saudi roles in facilitating release of Brittney Griner

A high-level Gulf source with access to the details of the exchange told Al-Monitor that the exchange happened at a UAE airbase at 5:00 pm Abu Dhabi time (8:00 am ET).

Tunisia election

Tunisia's election campaigning begins quietly as boycotts, apathy prevail

A dull atmosphere shrouds Tunisia’s legislative elections slated for Dec. 17 amidst a boycott announced by many political parties to protest President Kais Saied.

China's President Xi Jinping (R) greeted by the Governor of Riyadh province Prince Faisal bin Bandar al-Saud (L) at King Khalid International Airport

Analysis

The Takeaway: Xi's Saudi Arabia trip sends a message to US

Plus, the Biden administration gears up for next week’s summit of African leaders and warns that Iran is still fueling Yemen’s war.

Elizabeth Hagedorn

By Elizabeth Hagedorn

In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights

People pose for a photo as artist JR, in partnership with For Freedoms, Vital Voices, and the Woman, Life, Freedom global coalition of Iranian women leaders.

TIME magazine names Iranian women ‘heroes of the year’

Iranian women are leading the protests in Iran that began after an Iranian Kurdish woman was allegedly beaten to death over her head covering.