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Residents wave Somaliland flags as they gather to celebrate Israel's announcement recognizing Somaliland's statehood in downtown Hargeisa, on Dec. 26, 2025.

Analysis

Israel’s Somaliland gamble: Redrawing influence in the Horn of Africa

The United States was the only country Monday to defend Israel at the United Nations Security Council over its decision last Friday to recognize breakaway Somaliland.

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Yasir Al-Rumayyan, head of the Public Investment Fund, Saudi Arabia's influential sovereign wealth fund, addresses the opening ceremony of the Future Investment Initiative, in Riyadh, on Oct. 28, 2025.

Gulf accounted for 43% of global sovereign wealth fund investment in 2025

Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund was the world's highest spending sovereign wealth fund in 2025, investing some $36.2 billion.

Saudi Arabia

Culture

Turkish museums celebrate banner year for history, architecture, art

From Italian architect Renzo Piano’s Istanbul Modern to a restored mansion in Izmir, Turkey’s museums swept awards for architecture and visitor experience.

Turkey

US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan gesture as they pose for a photo during a world leaders' summit on ending the Gaza war on Oct. 13, 2025 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.

Analysis

Trump-Erdogan ties pay off for Turkey in 2025 as Ankara pushes for F-35s

Leader-level diplomacy between Ankara and Washington produced selective gains but failed to break the deadlock over defense sanctions imposed for Turkey’s S-400 purchase.

By Ezgi Akin

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

Latest News

Analysis

Middle East adapts to Trump’s tech agenda as Gulf AI gamble grows in 2025

Guests stand at the booth of Saudi AI company Humain during the Future Investment Initiative conference in Riyadh on Oct. 29, 2025.

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Analysis

What's next for Yemen as UAE withdraws, rift with Saudi Arabia grows?

By Adam Lucente

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

Analysis

Iran rocked with new protests as economic anger meets mounting foreign pressure

A woman walks past a currency exchange office in Tehran on Sept. 28, 2025, as Iranians feel economic strain deepen, with prices soaring and the rial sinking to new lows.

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Analysis

Iran threats, flattery, unresolved gaps: What Trump really gave Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago

By Ben Caspit

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

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The Saudi strike targeted what Riyadh said were Emirati deliveries of supplies to Yemen's STC separatists

Best of frenemies: Saudi, UAE rivalry bursts into view

Agence France-Presse

Yemen’s Aden airport shuts as Saudi-UAE rift deepens

Reuters

Protests by shopkeepers and traders in the capital Tehran erupted last week and have now spread to other Iranian cities

Fresh clashes kill six in Iran cost-of-living protests

Agence France-Presse

FILE PHOTO: People walk past closed shops, following protests over a plunge in the currency's value, in the Tehran Grand Bazaar in Tehran, Iran, December 30, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS/File Photo

Several reported killed in Iran protests over economic woes

Reuters

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The Al-Monitor Brief

Middle East 2025 in review: Iran & Israel go to war as UAE-Saudi tensions, Syria challenges come to a head

Adam Lucente interviews Amberin Zaman, Joyce Karam, Rina Bassist and Daoud Kuttab

17:53

Adam Lucente, Sam Wendel and Jack Dutton

The Al-Monitor Brief

2025 Middle East business review: Gulf AI and mineral races heat up as startups, Red Sea shipping bounce back

Adam Lucente interviews Sam Wendel and Jack Dutton

27:24

The Al-Monitor Brief

Turkey’s year 2025 in review: Progress abroad, challenges at home?

Adam Lucente interviews Ezgi Akin

18:03

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Interview

Cyprus weighs joining Gaza force but 'not enough clarity' on mission, FM says

Constantinos Kombos

Cypriot Foreign Minister

Interview

UNRWA plans Turkey office to boost Gaza, Syria aid as pledges dip

A boy sits outside the entrance to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) building complex in Gaza City, on Sept. 6, 2025.

Tamara Alrifai

Interview

Can protests in Israel halt Netanyahu's second attempt at judicial overhaul?

Shikma Bressler, an Israeli physicist and one of the leaders of the protest against the government's judicial overhaul.

Interview

Robots can solve UAE construction labor shortage, says Buildroid AI

Analysis

Stay a step ahead of your colleagues.

Analysis

Trump-Erdogan ties pay off for Turkey in 2025 as Ankara pushes for F-35s

By Ezgi Akin

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

Analysis

Middle East adapts to Trump’s tech agenda as Gulf AI gamble grows in 2025

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Analysis

Iran rocked with new protests as economic anger meets mounting foreign pressure

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Analysis

Israel’s Somaliland gamble: Redrawing influence in the Horn of Africa

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Amberin Zaman, Elizabeth Hagedorn, Danny Makki, Joyce Karam in a virtual discussion on Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa's visit to Washington

Syria's Sharaa in Washington

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1:00:44

Iraqis prepare to head to the polls

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Amberin Zaman Reports from Damascus

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Elizabeth Hagedorn Reporting from UNGA in New York

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Past Live Journalism

AL-Monitor Global Institute hosts food security forum with Dr. Conrad Rein

On October 16, 2025, the AL-Monitor Global Institute hosted Dr. Conrad Rein, Secretary of the Global Flagship Initiative for Food Security, alongside representatives from multilateral development banks and the private sector for a discussion on food security in the Middle East and Africa.

Washington, DC

October 16, 2025 11:00 EDT

Past Live Journalism

AL-Monitor Global Institute hosts Digital Cooperation Organization Secretary-General Deemah AlYahya

On Sept. 21, 2025, the AL-Monitor Global Institute hosted Deemah AlYahya, Secretary-General of the Digital Cooperation Organization, for a discussion on digital inclusion and economic empowerment in the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.

New York, NY

September 21, 2025 17:00 EDT

Past Live Journalism

Iraqi Kurdistan Prime Minister Masrour Barzani at AL-Monitor Global Institute

AL-Monitor Global Institute hosts Iraqi Kurdistan Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and US Energy Secretary Chris Wright

On May 22, 2025, the AL-Monitor Global Institute hosted Prime Minister Masrour Barzani of the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq and US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright in Washington DC to discuss the future of power and energy in Iraq’s Kurdistan region.

Washington, DC

May 22, 2025 10:30 EDT

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