Explainer Turkey slams France-Cyprus military pact as East Med rivalries deepen Ankara says a defense deal between France and the Republic of Cyprus risks upsetting the island’s delicate balance, as defense ties among Cyprus, Greece, Israel and France deepen. Turkey
Analysis As Trump admin drops Halkbank case, S-400 last big hurdle in US-Turkey ties The move eases a key source of friction with Turkey ahead of a NATO summit in Ankara. By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran says US strikes render April ceasefire ‘meaningless’ Fresh US strikes and Iranian retaliation deepen regional tensions, while Washington tightens sanctions, France pushes for a larger role in Lebanon, and more. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Newsletter: Business & Tech Gulf investors eye payday ahead of SpaceX IPO The IPO could leave Saudi investors holding a combined stake worth well over $15 billion in one of the world’s most coveted technology companies. By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Trump says Iran will 'pay the price’ for dragging out talks By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Analysis Turkey's probe into pro-secular tycoon goes beyond crude Kurdish joke By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Gul, Erdogan agree on Gulenists Turkey's prime minister and president are both convinced that Gulenists organized within the state should be confronted within the confines of law, reflecting the Turkish state's unity against the Gulenists. Turkey
Why is the PKK siding with the AKP in the AKP-Gulen conflict? The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) may believe that the enemy of my friend is my enemy. Turkey
Gul proposes Turkey-Iran cooperation in Syria Turkish President Abdullah Gul is distancing himself from the political culture and foreign policy of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. Turkey
Lebanon fights back against terrorists Despite the ongoing terrorist attacks in Lebanon, the country’s authorities have made significant arrests in their war against terror. Lebanon
The Syria disconnect in US terrorism policy The US national intelligence director, James Clapper, foresees a rise in "political uncertainty and violence" in the Middle East in 2014. Syria
Turkey, Iran seek workaround on Syria Ankara and Tehran are attempting to normalize a relationship put off track by Syria. Turkey
Al-Qaeda now frontline threat to Israel With gains in Syria, Lebanon and Egypt, al-Qaeda and its affiliates threaten Israel more than ever. Iraq
Syrian foreign minister calls for national unity government In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, Walid Moallem, Syria's minister of foreign affairs and expatriates, said that the Syrian National Coalition's rejection of a resolution condemning terrorism was "unfortunate and strange." Syria
Are UN Security Council anti-al-Qaeda terror statutes properly enforced? The UN Security Council has established a regime for a travel ban, asset freeze and arms embargo against the al-Qaeda network since 1999, but new circumstances bring about serious doubts if such a regime is still functioning. Yemen
Israel faces crisis of growing poverty Israel's new national committee on poverty has been asked to propose a comprehensive solution to the alarming increase in Israeli families living below the poverty line, most of them working poor. Israel
Checkpoint hardship for sick Gazans seeking care in Israel Some sick patients in the Gaza Strip have reported that Israeli security officers offered to exchange travel permits for information. Palestine