Senators call for release of 'unjustly imprisoned' women in Iran, Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia Democratic lawmakers condemn four Middle Eastern states for the politically motivated imprisonment of a number of women and call for the prisoners' release. Washington Pulse
Iran sending more weapons to Yemen's Houthis amid cease-fire effort: Pentagon Pentagon allegation comes as Iranian and Saudi officials are reportedly preparing to meet in Baghdad later this month United States
Syria's Assad appoints new government Most important government posts, including prime minister and defense minister, remain unchanged. News Brief
Turkey’s ruling 'White Party' turning gray, critics say Recent allegations stand in contrast to the ruling Justice and Development Party's pledges to rid Turkey of systemic corruption. Turkey
Russia denies siding with Ethiopia in Nile dam dispute Egypt interprets Russian reluctance to back its position in the GERD dispute as pro-Ethiopian, but Moscow says it is pursuing a balanced position between Cairo and Addis Ababa. Egypt
Wildfires have burned more than Turkey’s forests The Turkish government’s conduct during the wildfires that engulfed Turkey’s coastline has not only led to devastation of the country’s forests, but also caused loss of the nation’s sense of solidarity in the wake of natural disasters Turkey
Turkey arrests dozens in countrywide artifacts smuggling raid Smuggling of historical artifacts is an issue in the Middle East, and European states have returned objects to Egypt and Iraq recently. News Brief
At least 7 dead as Algeria battles raging wildfires Interior Minister Kamel Beldjoud blamed criminal activity as civil defense teams worked to contain the fires. Algeria
Sweden opens trial of Iranian accused of role in 1988 mass murder Swedish prosecutors accuse Hamid Noury of participating in the extrajudicial executions of political prisoners who were affiliated with an armed Iranian opposition group Iran
Israel rolls out red carpet for senior Bahraini official's third visit Visiting Israel for the third time, Bahrain’s undersecretary for international relations at the Foreign Ministry, Sheikh Abdulla bin Ahmed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, met with President Isaac Herzog, visited the Peres Center for Peace and innovation and even went diving in the Mediterranean. Israel
Israeli government's tight grip on pandemic slips Prime Minister Naftali Bennett had labeled himself as Mr. Coronavirus, but now that he is at the helm, the pandemic just keeps spreading. Israel
Iraq recovers thousands of smuggled artifacts for national museum The visit of the Iraqi prime minister to Washington led to the recovery of thousands of smuggled artifacts, including the Assyrian Gilgamesh tablet, leading the premier to announce the reopening of the Iraqi National Museum. Iraq
Israel’s new US ambassador intimately familiar with Washington Israel’s new envoy to the United States, Michael Herzog, is the only Israeli official to have participated in all diplomatic negotiations between Israel and Arab states over the past two decades and he knows Washington by heart. Israel
Cairo backs Tunisian president’s actions against Brotherhood Egypt said it fully supports Tunisian President Kais Saied, who fired the prime minister, suspended parliament and took control over the executive power in the midst of a severe political and economic crisis raging the country. By Mohamed Saied
Ethiopia-Sudan tension rises over Tigray conflict Sudan recalled its ambassador to Ethiopia after Addis Ababa accused Khartoum of interfering in the Tigray crisis amid doubts about Sudan’s mediating ability to end the nine-month-old fighting. Egypt
Is Ethiopia to blame for Nile crocodiles appearing in Khartoum? Officials in Sudan are advising citizens to avoid the Nile River because of crocodiles — which some are blaming on Ethiopia’s second filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. Egypt
