Egypt celebrates Qatar’s National Day amid improving ties Egypt’s iconic Cairo Tower lit up with Qatar’s flag colors, in the latest sign of warming relations between the two countries after years of political rift. Egypt
Hamas leads military drills as Gaza blockade, reconstruction talks stall Hamas’ military wing and other armed Palestinian factions have begun military drills in Gaza. Palestine
Economic meltdown in Lebanon leaves pets homeless In Lebanon's ongoing economic collapse, hundreds of cats and dogs are thrown into the streets every month. Lebanon
Scandal threatens political ambitions of former Mossad Chief Yossi Cohen Revelations over an alleged liaison with a married woman could threaten whatever political ambitions former Mossad Chief Yossi Cohen was harboring. Israel
Iraq continues to kill, capture IS members as effectiveness questioned Iraqi security forces have captured and killed a number of key Islamic State facilitators and others in the past month amid a US mission transition and concerns over coordination. Iraq
Syrian government loosens travel restrictions on Christian clergy The Syrian government has waived border fees for Christian church leaders entering the country. Syria
Violence in West Bank may lead to new confrontation with Gaza Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad have claimed responsibility for two shooting attacks in less than a month in the West Bank and Jerusalem. Palestine
Gaza at Christmas: a bleak outlook A Christmas tree brings some joy; Gaza’s Jewish quarter and a new wall; "We want to live" protests Hamas policies; Hamas, PIJ killings continue; Racism persists against Black Gazans. Palestine
US government designates alleged al-Qaeda network in Brazil The US government has said in the past that Middle Eastern armed groups are operating in South America. News Brief
US Navy seizes thousands of guns bound for Yemen’s Houthis The US military said the boat, which was carrying the AK-47 cache, came from Iran. News Brief
Tunisian court sentences ex-president Marzouki in absentia Tunisian state news said former President Moncef Marzouki was convicted of “assaulting the external security of the state." News Brief
Bread prices ring alarm bells in Turkey For low-income households, bread and its price have become all the more important now that their purchasing power has melted amid the slump of the Turkish lira and surging inflation. Turkey
Currency crisis threatens Turkey's Syria strategy Turkey’s economic turmoil might challenge Ankara's grip over opposition-held areas in Syria, where in-house rivalries among the armed factions over financial resources have escalated. Turkey
Turkey arrests US citizen over selling passport, state media says The State Department said it was aware of the detention of a US citizen but denied he is a diplomat. News Brief
China provides grant to Syrian nonprofit The grant followed a phone conversation between Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his counterpart, Xi Jinping, about China's global economic initiatives and reconstruction in Syria. News Brief
Intel: US concerned over Iran, Turkey, UAE-supplied drones in Ethiopia war Ethiopia's government has rejected calls for a cease-fire after routing Tigray rebels with the help of high-tech foreign drones. The Horn of Africa
