Mysterious metal monolith appears at ancient temple site in Turkey Similar structures have appeared around the world since late 2020. Turkey
Erdogan seizes on student protests to further polarize Turkey The protests rocking Turkish university campuses are the biggest since the Gezi demonstrations and like them are the product of the president's stubborn refusal to consider popular sentiment. Turkey
Saudi Arabia commutes death sentences of young Shiites The sentences of Ali al-Nimr, Abdullah al-Zaher and Dawood al-Marhoon, who were arrested as teenagers in 2012, were reduced to 10 years in prison. Saudi Arabia
New page for US, Turkey reads like fantasy Hope for a reset in Turkish-American ties under the Biden administration will remain unrealistic until Ankara addresses its democratic issues and human rights record. Turkey
US calls on Yemen's Houthis to halt attacks on Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia said it intercepted four armed drones launched toward the kingdom by the Yemeni rebels. Saudi Arabia
Palestinian factions meet in Cairo ahead of elections Fatah, Hamas and several other Palestinian political parties participated in talks in the Egyptian capital about the upcoming elections in the Palestinian territories. Palestine
Iran, US spar over nuclear deal return Iran and the United States are clashing over which country will return to its commitments under the nuclear deal first. United States
Syrians in Kurdish-administered regions struggle with price of bread Should Syria’s economy and currency continue to deteriorate, it is likely that the cost of wheat will also rise, further straining the Kurdish-led autonomous administration in its efforts to maintain bread subsidies and keep basic goods affordable in northeast Syria. Syria
Lawmaker's proposal to place street children in camps stirs controversy A proposal from a member of parliament to detain street children in training camps has caused alarm among rights advocates, highlighting a negative perception toward the vulnerable minors — an outlook that has been reinforced by their portrayal in the media as thugs and criminals. Egypt
Netanyahu pleads not guilty in corruption trial Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three separate corruption cases. Israel
France, not US, offers to involve Israel in talks with Iran Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not react publicly to the statement by French President Emmanuel Macron over the need to involve Israel and Saudi Arabia in talks with Iran. Israel
King’s call to revisit political reforms triggers cautious optimism in Jordan In an interview, King Abdullah focused on the need to launch political and administrative reforms that include reviewing laws that govern elections and political parties, in a move that coincides with the start of the Biden administration. Jordan
Despite coronavirus, Suez Canal records high revenues Despite the negative repercussions of the outbreak of the coronavirus on global trade, the Suez Canal took in $5.61 billion in 2020, its third-highest total ever. Egypt
Egyptian-Turkish trade agreement comes under fire A member of the Egyptian parliament called for the need to reconsider the free trade agreement between Egypt and Turkey signed 15 years ago, claiming that it harms Egyptian interests and favors Turkish exporters. Egypt
Egypt concerned UAE-Israeli pipeline project will affect Suez Canal Egyptian officials have been expressing concern over the anticipated competition from the Eilat-Ashkelon pipeline project that would transport Emirati oil to Ashkelon in Israel and from there to European markets. United Arab Emirates
Syrian government, SDF trade accusations of violations of Russian-mediated cease-fire No sooner had an agreement been reached between the Syrian regime and US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces to lift the mutual sieges imposed in northeast Syria that accusations were traded about violations of the Russian-sponsored deal. Syria
