Turkiye demanding too much for NATO application bid: Swedish PM

Turkiye and Hungary have so far refused to accept the NATO membership bids for Sweden and Finland

Iranian citizens condemn EU countries for halting visa applications

EU embassies have begun suspending processing visa applications as well as the issuance of new Schengen visas without official notice

Firearm applications hit record high in Israel

The 'unprecedented' demand for weapons among settlers comes on the heels of a spat of attacks by Palestinians across the occupied territories

Zelensky wants to sanction Iran ‘for 50 years’

This comes after a massive Russian attack against Ukrainian forces, which allegedly involved the use of dozens of Iranian drones

Imran Khan’s arrest and Pakistan’s struggle for stability

The brief arrest of the former PM has again unleashed political turmoil in Pakistan, amid speculation that powerful military opponents may have orchestrated the unrest for their own interests.

Iran’s non-oil trade with BRICS nations nears $40bn

The Iranian economy has been surging in recent years despite a 'maximum pressure' sanctions campaign from Washington

Lebanon to resume ‘voluntary’ repatriation of Syrian refugees

This comes a few weeks after the Lebanese army’s forced deportations of refugees, which were revealed by The Cradle to have been carried out illegally

Five Arab states plus Iran among 19 nations ready to join BRICS

As Global South nations continue to ditch the US dollar for trade, BRICS officials have said the bloc is working on developing a new currency

Turkiye approves Finland bid to join NATO

Turkiye initially denied Finland and Sweden's bid to join NATO over connections to Kurdish militant groups such as the PKK

Turkiye ready to ratify Finland’s NATO entry, Sweden left out in the cold

Stockholm and Washington are pressing Turkiye to ratify Sweden's ascension before the next NATO summit in July

Turkish parliament ‘highly likely’ to accept Finland NATO bid: Report

Sweden's prime minister says Finland is more likely to join NATO before Stockholm

Turkiye should reconsider purchase of ‘outdated’ F-16 fighters: Turkish official

Turkiye has chosen Russian to purchase superior Russian-made, rather than inferior US-made weapons in the past, to the consternation of Washington

More Israelis seek foreign passports after judicial overhaul: Report

Israelis are calling the far-right government's judicial overhaul a threat to Israeli 'democracy'

Sultan of Oman to visit Iran regarding nuclear talks

Oman has historically acted as an intermediary between Tehran and Washington to resolve issues concerning nuclear negotiations

Iran’s revolution at 44: A struggling economy with big potential

Forty-four years on from the Islamic Revolution, Iran boasts a more diversified economy, advances in technology, and major development milestones - despite decades of western sanctions aimed at hindering such progress.

Swedish authorities block protest against Quran burning

The demonstration was set to take place on 9 February, and was organized to protest against Sweden's bid to join NATO

Turkiye summons nine western ambassadors to protest embassies’ closure

Diplomatic tensions rose when Turkiye responded to an initial US security alert by warning citizens against possible xenophobic and racist attacks in Europe

Tanks for Ukraine will only prolong war, line pockets of arms dealers: Erdogan

The Turkish president has also doubled down on his opposition to allowing Sweden into NATO following Quran-burning protests in Stockholm

Several European consulates shut down over Istanbul terror threats

The US State Department issued a terror alert for Turkiye, stating that synagogues, churches, and western diplomatic missions are a potential target for attacks

UK Court to rule on controversial weapons sales to Saudi Arabia

A landmark case could finally determine the legality of Britain's arms trade to Saudi Arabia, which is fueling the war in Yemen.

Protesters gather at Swedish embassy in Turkiye to condemn Quran burning

Cities across West Asia have also witnessed backlash to the recent Quran burning, including in Amman, Baghdad, and Saada in Yemen

Sweden should not expect Turkiye’s backing to join NATO: Erdogan

The burning of the Quran by a Swedish far-right politician has drawn the ire of Ankara, with the Turkish president calling it 'blasphemy'

Turkiye cancels Swedish minister’s visit over Quran burning protest

The visit was aimed at addressing Turkey's objection to Sweden's bid to join NATO

Session to elect president fails for 11th time as Lebanese pound plummets

As a result of a lack of consensus, an absence of quorum, and mounting external pressure, Lebanon has continuously failed to elect a successor to Michel Aoun

Swedish prosecutor will not take action over Erdogan effigy hanging

The Swedish Public Prosecutor's Office closed the case, finding that the facts do not constitute a crime

Turkiye launches investigation into Erdogan effigy hung outside Stockholm city hall

Turkish media claims that the effigy incident may impact Turkiye's decision to approve Sweden's ascension to NATO

Israel works on proposal to annex Jordan Valley

Danny Danon of the Likud Party intends to apply Israeli law to all areas of the Jordan Valley including its industrial and archaeological sectors

WhatsApp sues Israeli spyware company

US President Biden approved the federal court's investigation into the activities of Israel's NSO Group, a spyware company with ties to the Israeli ministry of defense

Sweden ‘fully committed’ to Turkiye’s demands for NATO greenlight

Turkiye has blocked Sweden and Finland's ascension to NATO due to their support of Kurdish militant groups

US weighs denying visas to Israelis suspected of violence against Palestinians

Since the start of the year, 166 Palestinians have been killed in the occupied West Bank at the hands of Israeli troops