Al-Monitor

2 days ago | al-monitor.com | Adam Lucente

The Trump administration has named former Senate staffer Merav Ceren to the National Security Council, the White House confirmed to Al-Monitor on Monday, denying a report that Ceren was previously employed by Israel's Ministry of Defense. Who is Ceren? Ceren previously served as deputy policy director for the US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation from May 2023 until February of this year.

3 days ago | al-monitor.com | Rina Bassist

Two days after a second round of talks between the United States and Iran on a potential new nuclear deal, President Donald Trump spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The call focused on the Iranian nuclear threat and ongoing efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, including the release of hostages. It was their first conversation since Netanyahu’s visit to the White House two weeks ago, when Trump announced direct talks with Iran.

3 days ago | al-monitor.com | Adam Lucente

Church leaders, regional officials and Egypt’s Al-Azhar — Sunni Islam’s foremost religious institution — offered condolences this week following the death of Pope Francis, whose passing on Monday at the age of 88 drew tributes across the Middle East. Francis passed away following struggles with a respiratory illness, having been hospitalized for more than a month starting in mid-February. His last public appearance was on Sunday, when he greeted the crowd outside the Vatican for Easter Sunday.

3 days ago | al-monitor.com | Clément Melki |Alexandria Sage

Pope Francis, an energetic reformer who inspired widespread devotion from Catholics but riled traditionalists, died on Monday aged 88, just a day after greeting delighted worshippers after Easter Mass. The death of the Argentine pontiff, leader of the Catholic Church since March 2013, came less than a month after having been released from hospital following a 38-day battle with double pneumonia.

6 days ago | al-monitor.com | Rebecca Anne Proctor

Welcome back to Al-Monitor Dubai. As Art Dubai takes over the city, we highlight new shows in Dubai and Abu Dhabi exploring tech, food, labor and politics. Among the highlights is a new exhibition at Art Jameel by Spanish artist Asuncion Molinos Gordo, Indian artist Shilpa Gupta’s first solo show in the Middle East at Ishara Art Foundation, a new nightclub and restaurant opening in Dubai, and a show by French artist Thomas Lelu at Zidoun-Bossuyt Gallery.