Turkish Central Bank holds interest rate steady As forecasted, Turkey’s Central Bank policymakers held a key interest rate steady Thursday, saying they would continue working to reel in the nation’s double-digit inflation. By Diego Cupolo
Iran to begin administering imported vaccines in February Iranian officials have warned that the country is set to experience a fourth wave of the coronavirus. By Al-Monitor Staff
Turkey's scapegoating of McGurk rooted in revisionism National Security Council coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa Brett McGurk has worked closely with the Turks for many years on a range of knotty issues, and the growls from Ankara suggest that Turkey continues to pin US policies that it doesn’t like on "rogue" individuals. By Amberin Zaman In London, reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Dozens killed in Baghdad suicide bombings It is unclear who was behind the twin attacks in a crowded part of Baghdad. Such incidents are less common in the Iraqi capital than they were in years prior. By Al-Monitor Staff
Israel’s UN envoy takes second role as ambassador to US Israel’s ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan will start serving today also as the country’s ambassador to the US. By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Biden offers Israeli left chance to regain relevance With a new and friendlier US administration, Israeli progressives have an opportunity to promote their ideals, including the two-state solution. By Mazal Mualem In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics
Iraq’s general elections pushed to October The added time shores up Baghdad’s preparations for a more legitimate election process; but time is running out for protesters who fear the government will ignore their demands. By Al-Monitor Staff
Who is behind recent attacks against Turkish presence in Idlib? Unknown parties have carried out several operations against some of the Turkish army outposts in Idlib, with some accusing Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and others pointing the finger at Islamic State or regime cells. By Sultan al-Kanj
Syrian FSA fighters graduate from universities after years out of school Factions of the Free Syrian Army are supporting their fighters to return to school and graduate, as part of efforts to promote education among their fighters. By Khaled al-Khateb
Dahlan complicates Abbas' plans for Palestinian elections The upcoming Palestinian elections are expected to stir a new confrontation between Fatah and Mohammed Dahlan’s movement should the reconciliation efforts exerted by some Arab countries fail to unify the Fatah movement. By Ahmad Melhem In Ramallah, reporting on politics
Visitors can begin to follow Jesus along Egypt's Holy Family Trail Cairo has completed work on the first stops on the Holy Family Trail, a path connecting locations believed to have been visited by the Holy Family 2,000 years ago while fleeing King Herod’s soldiers. By A correspondent in Egypt
King Abdullah engaged regional leaders in preparation for Biden’s presidency In the week ahead of President Joe Biden's inauguration, Jordan engaged in a flurry of diplomatic activity. By Osama Al Sharif
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham challenges FSA in northwestern Syria After taking hold of Idlib, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham sought to expand control over the Free Syrian Army-held areas in the Aleppo countryside by marketing its alleged security and civil administration successes and the lack of security in the FSA areas. By Khaled al-Khateb
Egypt says it is renewing diplomatic relations with Qatar Qatar Airways also announced the resumption of its Cairo route as the Gulf rift comes closer to an official end. By Al-Monitor Staff
The Takeaway: Who goes first in return to Iran nuclear deal? Iran President Hassan Rouhani says ‘we are ready’; US Secretary of State designate Blinken says Iranian compliance, consultations with allies critical to new deal; Al-Monitor archive interviews with two members of Biden team; Egypt’s animal problems. By Andrew Parasiliti In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, national security
What Democrats' Senate majority means for the Mideast Incoming Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez opposed the Iran nuclear deal and has been a proponent of the US recognizing the Armenian genocide. By Adam Lucente In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change