After Jordan, Emirates also furious with Netanyahu Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not only managed to get into a diplomatic row with Jordan, he also succeeded in angering the Emiratis. Israel
Iran operating new advanced centrifuges, nuclear watchdog finds According to an International Atomic Energy Agency report, Iran is now using IR-4 centrifuges to enrich uranium in violation of the nuclear accord. Iran
Lawsuit filed to close pro-Kurdish party after lawmaker stripped of parliamentary seat Omer Faruk Gergerlioglu, a pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party deputy known to focus on human rights abuses, was stripped of his parliament seat and a lawsuit was filed to close the party March 17. Turkey
Netanyahu courts Arab voters as 'Abu Yair' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has adopted a new strategy for the Arab public: cynically rebranding himself as "Abu Yair." Israel
Is Hamas reconsidering its ties and policies? Hamas might be issuing a document soon detailing its stances toward various aspects of the Palestinian cause, as well as its ties with local parties and foreign countries. Palestine
Why calls for independence are in decline in Iraqi Kurdistan The economic crisis in Iraqi Kurdistan has decreased independence ambitions significantly, while the social and political demands to turn toward Baghdad are increasing in the region. Iraq
Iranians see Trump as dangerous — but to Iran or the US? Given the harsh rhetoric of both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton toward Iran, which candidate do Iranians prefer to be the next US president? United States
Is Iran shifting its policy toward Saudi Arabia? The increasingly tough rhetoric by the administration of President Hassan Rouhani toward Saudi Arabia may herald the beginning of a paradigm shift. Legacy: Gulf
Istanbul says farewell to favorite feline with new statue The global carefree cat meme, Tombili, is honored by a bronze statue as a result of an internet petition by locals after his death in his quiet Istanbul neighborhood. Turkey
Why Egypt's new church law has some activists worried A new law on the construction and restoration of churches is seen as unconstitutional by some civil society movements. Egypt
AKP fingers obscure professor for coup mastermind Many Turks agree that reviled cleric Fethullah Gulen at least inspired the botched July coup, but as the net tightens on his followers, the authorities' focus on a little-known academic seems a bit of a reach. Turkey
Controversy erupts as soccer, religion clash in Iran A prominent cleric is calling for the cancellation of a World Cup qualifier between Iran and South Korea because the match falls on a Shiite day of mourning. Iran
Even SpongeBob can’t escape Turkey’s post-coup crackdown Turkey has shut down the country's first and only Kurdish-language channel for kids, dealing a blow to efforts to keep the children connected to their culture. Turkey
What Moroccan government’s shortcomings mean for post-election coalitions As Moroccans prepare to head to the polls Oct. 7 to elect members of the lower house of parliament, a current lack of cohesion among government parties may indicate a post-poll realignment. Morocco
What's behind Ankara’s 'deafening silence' on Aleppo? Reconciliation with Russia is preventing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan from blasting away at Syrian President Bashar al-Assad as he once did. Syria
Will Abbas reconcile with Hamas over Dahlan? Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is under Egyptian pressure to achieve reconciliation with dismissed Fatah leader Mohammed Dahlan, but it might push the president to agree on reconciliation talks with Hamas instead in Doha. Palestine
