Turkey accused of blocking Kurdish film at Iraqi film festival Turkey is accused of pressuring film festival organizers in Iraqi Kurdistan to cancel an award-winning movie depicting PKK forces. Turkey
Egypt sentences blogger Alaa Abdel Fattah to five years in prison Lawyer Mohamed el-Baqer and blogger Mohamed “Oxygen” Ibrahim were also each sentenced to four years in the same case for spreading false news and undermining state security. News Brief
Israel bans travel to US as omicron variant spreads Israeli citizens are barred from traveling to the United States and more than 50 other countries without explicit permission. News Brief
Iraqi Sunni parties compete for parliament speaker Two large Sunni coalitions, the Taqaddom alliance led by Muhammad al-Halbusi and the Azm alliance led by Khamis al-Khanjar, are competing for the position of parliament speaker. Iraq
Iraqi air force strikes Islamic State targets Iraq has bombed Islamic State targets in the eastern Diyala province for the second month in a row. News Brief
Drone sales could dampen Turkey’s African venture Turkey has made major economic and diplomatic strides in Africa since the early 2000s, but growing military sales to African countries raise the specter of a risky shift. Turkey
Saudi Arabia seeks consensus on Afghanistan at OIC summit in Pakistan In Pakistan, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, which is chaired by Saudi Arabia, laid out plans for relief efforts in Afghanistan. Gulf
Future uncertain for US Palestinian affairs consulate in Jerusalem Rumor has it that the United States has halted efforts to reopen a consulate for Palestinian affairs in Jerusalem. Israel
Israel’s security wall makes Gazans feel imprisoned For the 2 million Palestinians who have been living in a tight siege in Gaza since 2006, Israel's new high-tech separation wall has turned the enclave into the world’s largest open-air prison. Palestine
West Bank terror attacks challenge Bennett Recent terror attacks in the West Bank have put Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in a complicated spot with his right-wing base. Israel
Black Gaza artists fight racism with music Black Palestinians in the Gaza Strip still suffer racism, but the artistic community has a musical response. Culture
Egypt reclaims land for new port city, but environmental concerns loom Egypt is constructing a new port city near Alexandria by reclaiming land from the Mediterranean Sea, but the project has sparked fears over negative environmental impacts. Egypt
5 killed by stray bullets from soccer celebration in war-ravaged Yemen Yemen's winning West Asian Junior Cup 2021 has brought rare joy to all Yemenis, but the joy is mixed with sorrow at civilian casualties from celebratory stray bullets. Gulf
Egypt resumes hunt for Nefertiti’s tomb amid historical debate Egypt’s archaeological team, led by famed Egyptologist Zahi Hawass, resumed on Dec. 9 the hunt for Queen Nefertiti’s tomb in the west bank of Luxor, after years of debate over her burial site. Culture
Egypt ready to pump gas to Lebanon While Syria says the Arab Gas Pipeline on its territory is set and ready, Egypt announces that it is ready to export natural gas to Lebanon in the first quarter of 2022. Egypt
Egypt, Turkey compete for military foothold in Kenya Egypt and Turkey are vying for presence in Kenya, with both countries seeking to consolidate their relations at all economic, technological and industrial levels with the African country. Egypt
