Archives for February, 2017

Turkish forces and members of the Free Syrian Army are seen at the al Baza'a village on the outskirts of al-Bab town in Syria February 4, 2017. Picture Taken February 4, 2017. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi - RTX2ZOPF

What's really happening in Syria's al-Bab?

Everyone wants to know what's coming next in Syria — but it is hard enough to figure out what is going on right now.

Meet the powerful Iranian cleric looking to unseat Rouhani

Ebrahim Raisi emerges as the conservative consensus candidate in Iran’s upcoming May presidential elections.

A supporter holds a portrait of Figen Yuksekdag, detained co-leader of Turkey's pro-Kurdish opposition Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) at a meeting at the Turkish parliament in Ankara, on November 8, 2016.
The arrest of 10 of the HDP MPs, including party leaders Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag, added to tensions as Turkey wages a relentless battle against Kurdish militants and deals with the aftermath of a July 15 failed coup. / AFP / ADEM ALTAN (Photo credit should read ADEM ALTAN/AFP/Getty

Pro-Kurdish HDP leader kicked out of Turkish parliament

In Turkey’s latest salvo against the pro-Kurdish bloc, the parliament has expelled Peoples’ Democratic Party co-leader Figen Yuksekdag, who remains in jail with fellow leader Selahattin Demirtas and at least nine other HDP deputies while the ruling party continues its legal assaults ahead of the presidential referendum.

A general view of Nizip refugee camp, near the Turkish-Syrian border in Gaziantep province, Turkey, November 30, 2016. REUTERS/Umit Bektas - RTSU1N6

Refugee influx to Turkey sharply rises

In the past five months, 551,000 new refugees arrived in Turkey, raising the total number to 3.551 million and the monthly cost to host them to $590 million.

Russian Navy's reconnaissance ship Liman of the Black Sea fleet sails in the Bosphorus, on its way to the Mediterranean Sea, in Istanbul, Turkey, October 21, 2016. REUTERS/Murad Sezer - RTX2PW0R

Canal Istanbul: Still hyped, still 'crazy'

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is dusting off plans for the megaproject Canal Istanbul ahead of the constitutional referendum as an example of what a strong president could achieve.

Moshe Lifschitz of Shtreichman Shtreimelech, holds a shtreimel or traditional fur hat worn by ultra-Orthodox Jews on festive occasions and holy days, at a shop in Jerusalem's Mea Shearim neighbourhood April 28, 2010. Israel may be the first country in the world to pass a bill banning fur trade within its borders, but ultra-Orthodox parliamentarians who fear it will impinge on religious freedom, are attempting to block the bill. Picture taken April 28, 2010. REUTERS/Baz Ratner (JERUSALEM - Tags: RELIGION POL

Why Israel's ultra-Orthodox are fighting fur ban

A move to ban the sale of fur in Israel is being blocked by ultra-Orthodox Jews, who are hanging on to the tradition of wearing expensive fur hats on the Sabbath and other holy days.

Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad attends an opening reception of Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Delevopment (CEAPAD) in Tokyo February 13, 2013. Japan co-hosted the CEAPAD with Palestine in Tokyo on Wednesday as a part of efforts toward achieving the Middle East peace, according to the government statement. REUTERS/Issei Kato (JAPAN - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR3DQ69

Who are real losers of US veto at UN against former Palestine PM?

The United States' blocking of Salam Fayyad as an envoy to the UN secretary-general has reminded the world of the former Palestinian prime minister's applauded reputation.

How this West Bank village became a writers' retreat

A Palestinian journalist living in Germany started a cultural retreat program in the West Bank village of Kafr Rumman where visitors, in exchange for educating and interacting with the area’s children, can stay for free.

A Jordanian protester holds a Jordanian national flag, and chants slogans during a protest against a government agreement to import natural gas from Israel, in Amman, Jordan, October 7, 2016. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed - RTSR7I4

Is Jordan's state security court threat to freedom of expression?

As the Jordanian authorities arrested about 20 activists and referred them to the controversial State Security Court, some have been voicing criticism against the use of loose charges to silence peaceful opposition voices.

U.S. President Donald Trump (R) escorts Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu into the White House in Washington, U.S., February 15, 2017.REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque - RTSYUJN

Trump's warm embrace of Netanyahu nothing for Jews to celebrate

While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revels over his meeting with US President Donald Trump, US and Australian Jews are uncomfortable with his warm relations with a volatile and anti-Muslim leader.

A member of the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) stands in a military vehicle during a battle with Islamic State militants in east of Mosul, Iraq, January 21, 2017. REUTERS/Alaa Al-Marjani - RTSWPYD

Iraqi special forces stand to gain stature with victory over IS

Iraq's counterterrorism bureau, which is receiving accolades and lots of support, could become even more powerful in the post-Islamic State era.

A doctor buys face masks at a pharmacy in Cairo June 9, 2009. Egypt extended a quarantine of 234 people inside a dormitory at the American University in Cairo on Tuesday, ordering them isolated for a week after five more residents tested positive for the H1N1 flu, the university said. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh (EGYPT ENVIRONMENT HEALTH) - RTR24HEL

Online platforms help sick Egyptians find drugs

A medicine shortage produced by a currency valuation has Egyptians turning to the internet to locate donors and other sources for their medications.

A Syrian man casts his vote in a ballot box at a polling station in the city of Idlib as they elect the city's first civilian council, two years after it was overrun by rebels and jihadists, on January 17, 2017.
Regime forces were expelled from Idlib city in March 2015 by the Army of Conquest, led by the Fateh al-Sham Front, which changed its name from Al-Nusra Front when it broke ties with Al-Qaeda. Since then, a committee appointed by the Army of Conquest had run the city's affairs, electoral commission h

Why Moscow now sees value in Syrian local councils

Russia has come to realize that some opponents of the Syrian regime are actually moderates rather than terrorists and that a move to empower local governments could help resolve the conflict.

General view for Cairo international book fair in Cairo, Egypt, February 9, 2017. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany - RTX30BGM

Why was only one Palestinian publishing house at Cairo book fair?

The Cairo International Book Fair, the most prominent in the Arab world, saw the attendance of only one Palestinian publishing house, among dozens of other Arab and international publishers.

CORRECTION - Saudis attend a concert in Jeddah on January 30, 2017.
Saudi Arabia's "Paul McCartney" took to the stage as the kingdom seeks to boost entertainment despite religious warnings of "depravity." The performance was the first major concert in seven years in the kingdom's second city, according to Arab News.
/ AFP / Amer HILABI / The erroneous mention[s] appearing in the metadata of this photo by AMER HILABI has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: [AMER HILABI] instead of [AMEER A

Saudi clerics keep mum about concerts in the kingdom

The new open-minded tendencies of the Saudi Royal Court are causing controversy with the conservative religious establishment in the kingdom, especially concerning concerts.

Palestinian Christians learn iconography

The Bethlehem Icon Center is seeking to revive iconography that originated in Palestine, by offering classes for Palestinians and foreigners eager to learn this ancient Christian form of art.