The state of play on the eternal Syria normalization carousel: - Arab states normalized; got nothing for it - Turkey murmuring about normalizing; would get nothing for it - Miscellaneous EU states murmuring about normalizing; would most certainly get nothing for it

Iran's former foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Tuesday announced he was returning to his post as Vice President for Strategic Affairs after submitting his resignation this month over disappointment with Masoud Pezeshkian 's gov line-up. thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2024…

Lovely story by Lizzie Porterلِيزي بورتر about a publisher that is filling a translation gap, quoting the wonderful Khalil Assali

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's first trip abroad will be to Iraq - a visit that will take place before he goes to New York for the UN General Assembly. The move is unsurprising given the depth of the #Iran-#Iraq relationship. With Sinan S. Mahmoud thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2024…

Local dog known as 'The Boulder' is currently the hottest tourist attraction in Istanbul.

رئیس جمهور #ایران Masoud Pezeshkian در سفر اول‌ی او خارج از کشور ماه‌ی اینده به عراق سفر خواهد کرد. منابع از عراق و ایران به ما گفتند که این سفر قبل از سفر پزشکیان به امریکا برای ملاقات مجمع عمومی سازمان ملل رخ خواهد داد. و انتخاب عراق برای این سفر اول منطقی و قابل درک است، با توجه

"'Influence beyond neighbourhood': Turkey looks to Africa in strategic race" by Lizzie Porterلِيزي بورتر. thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2024…

Turkey's official statistics agency tuik.gov.tr says yoy inflation has fallen to below 52%; alternative price tracking group ENAG says it remains over 90%.

. Dareen Khalifa on #Egypt-#Turkey ties as #Sisi visits Ankara for the first time since becoming president over a decade ago: “#Libya continues to be a sticking point, but less so now [...] Of course if you ask the Egyptians they are going to say that they want all foreign troops out.

A Turkish security source told me yesterday that the Kosovan man accused of financing Mossad agents in Turkey & Syria has been charged with "espionage against the state" after being arrested in Istanbul. The National thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2024…

Now formally: Lebanese Financial Prosecutor Ali Ibrahim charges former central bank chief Riad Salameh with - Embezzlement - Stealing public funds - Forgery - Illicit enrichment Source: State-run national news agency. 1/2

My latest for ⁦The National⁩ : in 2019, President Erdogan of #Turkey said he would “never” meet his #Egyptian counterpart El Sisi. Now the two men have met twice in six months as Cairo & Ankara seek to mend ties. thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2024…

🇹🇷 🇪🇬 Türkiye-Mısır ilişkileri bağlamında The National’a verdiğim görüş. My perspective shared with The National in the context of #Türkiye-#Egypt relations. thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2024…

Horrific: Ugandan Olympic marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei dies after being doused in petrol and set on fire by boyfriend news.sky.com/story/rebecca-…

Turkey's stray dogs find homes abroad after new law to clear them off streets reuters.com/world/turkeys-…

Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz says authorities predict inflation to be 41.5% by the end of 2024, while the figure for 2025 has been revised upwards to 17.5% (the central bank previously predicted 14%).

Lizzie Porter of the The National penned a piece on the Egyptian President El Sisi's recent visit to Türkiye. It also features quotes from me👇 #Türkiye #Egypt ASBÜ Bölge Çalışmaları Enstitüsü

Students at Ankara's Middle East Technical University are known for expressing timely political messages at their graduation. This one reads: "While dogs have killed 10 people over 3 years Bosses have killed 878 workers over 6 months Men have killed 205 women over 6 months."

“How are you expected to rent a decent house, buy an average car, put food on the table and provide for family and childcare with an income that is barely enough for a single person?” said Kianoush Khashayar, a 27-year-old veterinarian. ft.com/content/bce57b…

US-Turkish citizen killed by Israeli gunfire in West Bank thenationalnews.com/news/us/2024/0…