Gadhafi-linked Libyan oil tycoon enters Washington lobbying fray Libyan oil tycoon Hassan Tatanaki has begun lobbying in the US in an effort to get the Donald Trump administration to get behind the push for fresh elections in the war-torn country. Libya
Detained Iranian environmentalist says she was tortured After a year behind bars, eight Iranian environmentalists appeared in court with the presence of court-approved lawyers. Iran
Numbers of Turkish universities soar, but quality falls Quality in education hasn't kept pace with the phenomenal increase in enrollment and facilities in Turkey's university system. Turkey
Abbas seeks to free Palestinian economy from Israel Palestinians are determined to revisit the Paris Protocol on Economic Relations, which they have said deepens their subordination to Israel. Palestine
Palestinian students stripped of US scholarships Palestinian students studying abroad on US-sponsored scholarships have found themselves in limbo after the Palestinian Authority declined further US assistance following enactment of the US Anti-Terrorism Clarification Act. Palestine
Israeli season of political mergers in full speed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pushing for mergers between small parties, including the ultra-Orthodox parties, to prevent a loss of votes for the right-wing bloc. Israel
Will Sisi run for third term? Egypt is seemingly heading toward amending Article 140 of the constitution, as well as others, which would allow President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to run for one or even two consecutive terms of six years each. Egypt
Ankara imam offers Turkey’s only English sermons Turkish imam Mehmet Akif Koc has been giving sermons in English for the past five years. Turkey
Macron addresses Egypt’s human rights record during trip to Cairo During his visit to Cairo, French President Emmanuel Macron agreed with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on several regional issues while highlighting France's view of Egypt’s human rights record. Egypt
Israel’s slackening in Gaza will escalate marches of return After Hamas rejected the transfer of a Qatari grant, protesters threatened to intensify the marches along the Gaza-Israel border to pressure Israel to abide by the truce agreement. Palestine
'The Guest' gets cold shoulder from Egyptian Islamic scholars Egyptian religious scholars want “The Guest,” an award-winning film, banned. Egypt
Israeli-Arab parties in trouble The withdrawal of Knesset member Ahmad Tibi from the Arab Joint List is confronting the already complicated alliance of factions with great difficulties. Palestine
Trump: Israel’s friend in words, not in deeds US President Donald Trump's isolationist policies in Syria and Afghanistan, coupled with placating gestures toward the government of Benjamin Netanyahu, rather than a push for peace with the Palestinians, are endangering Israel’s security. Israel
In Moscow, Iraqi foreign minister talks 'strategic cooperation' with Russia As more regional and global actors send their emissaries to Baghdad, Russia seeks to capitalize on the 75th anniversary of bilateral relations with Iraq. Gulf
Can Egypt’s new airport revive country’s ailing tourism sector? Egypt opened a new international airport in Giza governorate as part of the government’s efforts to boost the tourism sector that suffered a major setback following the January 25 Revolution. Egypt
Kurdish lobby struggles to slow US pullout from Syria An upstart Syrian Kurdish delegation urging the Donald Trump administration to slow the Pentagon pullout from Syria faces significant hurdles to get its message in front of a wary US administration. Syria
