Egypt's African Cinema Club unleashes potential of continent's film industry Egyptians hope the African Cinema Club will help Egyptian-African relations and boost African filmmaking at the same time. By Amira Sayed Ahmed
US wrestlers barred from Iran in retaliation for Trump visa ban As US-Iran relations deteriorate over visa bans and missile launches, sports exchanges are collateral damage. By Barbara Slavin
How political risks wreck Turkey’s economic prospects Turkey has lost its investment grade status with all top three credit-rating agencies, falling behind many regional countries despite its geopolitical edge. By Mustafa Sonmez In Istanbul, reporting on economics
Radical sheikh still wields influence from Lebanese prison A suspect in the failed Jan. 21 suicide attack on a Beirut coffee house has reportedly admitted to being a homegrown terrorist aligned with the Islamic State and a follower of Salafist Sheikh Ahmad al-Assir. By Mona Alami
Palestinian historical city of Sebastia besieged by settlements Palestinian officials have been attempting to add the West Bank’s historical city of Sebastia on UNESCO’s World Heritage List to protect it from alleged Israeli violations. By Zuheir Dolah
The truth behind oil theft in Iraq's Basra Iraqi members of parliament have recently addressed the Oil Ministry with allegations related to the daily theft of Basra oil due to the malfunctioning of oil counters, to which the ministry responded without offering any proof. By Salam Zidane
'War of the shrines' stirs tension between Palestinians, Israelis The fate of the West Bank’s holy sites is the subject of intense competition between Palestinian historical narratives and the theological discourse of the settlement movement. They are also key targets for settlement activities. By Aziza Nofal
Will EU be more open to ICC probe of Israeli settlements? Palestinians are seeing an opening to push the International Criminal Court with Europe, as anger over Donald Trump increases. By Daoud Kuttab In Amman, reporting on Palestinian politics
The most powerful woman in Iran The death of Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has brought to the fore the story of the power and influence of Effat Marashi, his wife. By Saeid Jafari
Desperate Palestinian leadership could choose armed struggle With the Trump administration clearly on Israel’s side, Palestinian leadership might resort, once again, to armed struggle. By Uri Savir
Herbal medicine industry flourishing in Gaza Strip Gazans believe that herbal medicine is a better option for the public health and the citizen’s pockets in light of the decadelong Israeli siege. By Rasha Abou Jalal In Gaza City, reporting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Israeli volunteers drive sick Gazans from border to hospital Every day, Israeli volunteers drive Gazan medical patients, including children sick with cancer, from the Gaza border checkpoint to hospitals in Israel. By Shlomi Eldar
Egyptian court issues verdict to prosecute Israel Egypt's High Administrative Court court issued a verdict forcing the government to take necessary legal measures against Israel over its killing and torture of Egyptian soldiers captured during the 1956 and 1967 wars. By Mohammed Magdy In Berlin, reporting on Egyptian politics
Will debt and poor financial prospects close Gaza's Al-Azhar Institute? Al-Azhar's administration is calling for funds in the face of declining enrollment and rising debt. By Ahmad Abu Amer
The Israeli right's 'flattery fest' for Amona Before, during and after the evacuation of the illegal Amona outpost, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his ministers groveled to the right-wing factions of the settler movement. By Mazal Mualem In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics
Sundance Film Festival shines light on Aleppo The documentary "Last Men in Aleppo," which captured the suffering of the city's residents in the Syrian civil war, was honored with a top award at the Sundance Film Festival. By Tamer Osman