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
Meet the likely successor of Islamic State’s Baghdadi After IS spokesman and second-in-command Abu Mohamed al-Adnani was killed in an airstrike last month, there are indications that Bahraini citizen Turki al-Binali may replace him. Saudi Arabia
Is Turkey backpedaling on expulsions following mass purges? Turkish officials have admitted that innocent people could have been victimized in the massive purges since the July 15 coup attempt. Turkey
Crushed under restrictions, young Turkish journalists find freedom in print media A new brand of literary magazines that present thinly veiled messages of popular resistance against increasing social, cultural and political pressure from the government have so far evaded censorship and are delighting more readers every day. Turkey
Iranian commander offers rare advice The special military adviser to Iran’s supreme leader has called for Tehran to strengthen ties with the Gulf states and avoid increasing tensions with Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia
Political accusations fly in Iraq's Kurdistan region The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan is witnessing a sharp division that could affect the regional government's ability to address Kurdish issues. Iraq
Israel dangles Gazan operatives, but Hamas won't negotiate Despite multiple offers by Israel, Hamas refuses to make a deal for the release of three Israelis before Israel releases 50 prisoners it recaptured in 2014. Palestine
Shimon Peres, the last Israeli giant The era of former president Shimon Peres, the last Israeli who was “there” — when Israel was established — is coming to its end. Israel
How Iran’s Ahmadinejad plans to propel political comeback In addition to opposition from the public and the Reformists, former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad faces antagonism within his own Principlist camp. Iran
Rise of Iran-backed militias jeopardizes US aid to Iraq US law prohibits military assistance unless Baghdad reins in PMU. Iraq
Is Egypt-Saudi love affair on the rocks? While some in Saudi Arabia are furious after the grand imam of Egypt’s Al-Azhar spoke at a Chechen conference that condemned Riyadh, others argue that ties between the two are stronger than ever. Saudi Arabia
Turks bicker about time change Turkey's government has decided to remain on summer time permanently, adding another hour of difference between Turkey and Europe, but putting Turkey in the same time zone as Mecca and Medina. Turkey
Turkey’s emergency rule stokes Kurdish separatism Purges at municipalities and schools in Turkey’s mainly Kurdish southeast, carried out as part of an emergency rule that was supposed to target the putschists behind the July 15 coup attempt, will make the Kurdish problem even more intractable. Turkey
