Jobless Syrians have little use for government’s new construction training program Syrians are reluctant to apply to the technical training centers the regime plans to establish because of the shockingly low stipends provided. Syria
Gazans outraged over million-dollar mosque reconstruction The reconstruction of a mosque at a cost of $1 million in the cash-strapped Gaza Strip has shocked Gaza's largely impoverished population. Palestine
Joint List splits as elections near Ra'am has left the Joint List, saying it can't do the work needed to effect decision-making in Israel while tied to lawmakers who refuse to engage in the political process. Israel
The Takeaway: If the phone doesn’t ring: Biden, Bibi still haven’t talked Iran and March 23 elections are top of mind for Israeli prime minister; can the US and Iran find common ground in Yemen?; Egypt’s diplomatic surge hopes to catch Biden’s eye; why did Rouhani mention UNSCR 598? Originals
US stands firm as Turkey proposes to ‘find solution’ over S-400 The State Department urged ally Ankara to get rid of the Russian air defense system Turkey
Oman closes land border, parks and beaches as vaccine rollout continues The sultanate's anti-virus committee announced several new restrictions on travel and gatherings on Wednesday. Oman
57 nations hit for failure to repatriate women, children from Syrian camps UN human rights experts are pressing Great Britain, France, Iran, Russia, Turkey, the United States and 51 other countries to repatriate nearly 10,000 of their citizens associated with the Islamic State. Syria
Israeli-developed coronavirus medicine shows promising results The coronavirus medicine developed by the Tel Aviv Ichilov Hospital shows promising results, thus offering hope to patients. Israel
Turkey to purchase fourth drilling ship to expand energy projects Amid maritime boundary disputes in the eastern Mediterranean and after a 2020 gas field discovery the Black Sea, Turkey’s state-owned oil and gas company is finalizing the purchase of a fourth drilling ship to expand its energy development activities. Turkey
Saudi women’s rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul released from prison Hathloul, who was arrested after campaigning for women's driving rights, had spent nearly three years in prison. Saudi Arabia
Israel’s military skirts budget restrictions for $9 billion air force upgrade The IDF will use a chunk of US aid and foreign borrowing to help fund its planned expansion of the air force's strike range Israel
UAE diplomat Gargash replaced in Cabinet reshuffle Gargash will serve as diplomatic adviser to the Emirati president, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. United Arab Emirates
Turkey aims for moon by 2023 as UAE reaches Mars Turkey's president announced he wants to send a spacecraft to the moon by Turkey's centennial the same day regional rival the United Arab Emirates reached Mars. Turkey
Turkey escalates attacks against PKK rebels across northern Iraq Ankara says it has captured a PKK militant responsible for "logistics," while also launching a new operation against the group in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Turkey
What’s next for Turkey in Libya after election of new interim leaders? Universal goodwill messages to Libya’s new interim leadership indicate how complex the Libyan file has become for all foreign actors in the country ahead of potentially clamorous elections in December. Turkey
Pandemic forces Iran to cancel mass marches for revolution anniversary Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Iran’s state-organized marches marking the anniversary of its 1979 revolution had to be reduced to vehicle parades. Yet Iranian officials found their own ways to address tensions with the West. Iran
