Turkey’s central bank continues window dressing with currency swaps Hit by a foreign reserves drain, Turkey’s central bank eyes fresh currency swap deals, including with the central banks of Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Libya. Turkey
How attack on Kurdish-run prison in northeast Syria will affect Islamic State The Islamic State launched a massive attack on a Kurdish-run prison in Hasakah in northeastern Syria with the aim of releasing about 5,000 inmates. Syria
Idlib residents demand release of detainees in jihadist group’s prisons The families of detainees in Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s prisons in Syria’s Idlib province organized a series of protests, demanding that the group free their relatives, amid rumors that some of them will be executed. Syria
Israel’s president to pay first visit to UAE President Isaac Herzog will leave with his wife Michal on Sunday for a historic first visit to the United Arab Emirates. By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Iraqi Federal Court rejects appeal to nullify selection of parliament speaker The selection of parliament speaker has been upheld as the federal court rejected the request of the Coordination Framework to cancel the process. Iraq
Qatar’s emir heads to Washington next week, report Discussions are likely to include Iran negotiations, Afghanistan and a US effort to provide alternative energy supplies to Europe in the event Russia invades Ukraine. Washington Connection
Syria’s Kurdish-led forces advance into Islamic State prison Syrian Kurdish-led fighters have advanced slowly into the Hasakah prison amid reports of hostages. Syria
House Democrats press Blinken on military aid to Egypt In a letter to the US secretary of state, lawmakers described Egypt's "pervasive and systemic violations of human rights." Egypt
Saudi Arabia reports more non-oil exports, large amount of trade with China The kingdom is trying to reduce its dependence on oil. Gulf
Iran signals readiness for direct talks with US Amid reported piecemeal progress toward a potential deal, the Iranian government says it has been offered direct talks with the United States in the course of the ongoing multilateral nuclear negotiations in Vienna. Iran
Istanbul residents get stuck in snow as politicians throw blame at each other The coldest weather in decades cripples life and transportation in Istanbul, with stranded passengers staging protests at Istanbul airport. Turkey
Israel prepares to receive Jews fleeing Ukraine As tensions between Washington and Moscow keep rising, Israel prepares contingency plans for Jewish immigrants from Ukraine. Israel
Bad news for Netanyahu as inquiry peers into submarine affair Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tried hard to prevent a commission of inquiry into the submarine scandal that has plagued him, but its time has come. Israel
As plea deal dissolves, Netanyahu vows to continue leading Likud With no plea bargain to help him in his graft trial, former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is fighting to keep control over his party. Israel
Qatar helps Philippines purchase Chinese COVID-19 vaccines Qatar has also provided coronavirus vaccine doses to Afghan refugees. News Brief
Wave of political detentions, pursuit of activists in West Bank The Palestinian Authority is continuing its crackdown against activist and opposition voices despite condemnation by rights groups. Palestine
