Turkey balks at coal phaseout amid growing energy woes Turkey’s pledge to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2053 has come into question after a major climate meeting ended without a coal phaseout plan. Turkey
Israel preps for wave of immigrants from Ukraine A senior cabinet minister says a pending nuclear agreement with Iran is "terrible news" and "Israel will be the one paying the ultimate price." Israel
Gaza’s largest library shakes off dust of war, reopens doors With tons of different new books, new life has been breathed into the Samir Mansour Library, one of the largest libraries and publishing houses in Gaza, after it was destroyed during the Israeli war last year. Palestine
On the Middle East with Amberin Zaman A US, NATO No Fly Zone in Ukraine means war with Russia, says RAND’s Sam Charap
Biden nominees for ambassadors to Iraq, Yemen appear before Senate Steven Fagin, nominee for ambassador to Yemen, faced questions about whether to designate the Houthi movement as a terrorist organization, while Alina Romanowski, nominee for ambassador to Iraq, said she will work with the nation's elected officials. U.S.
CBS hacked after reporter says Ukraine ‘relatively civilized’ compared to Iraq Western media comparisons of the war in Ukraine to the Middle East have been widely criticized. Iraq
Egyptian Parliament considers mandatory psych exams before marriage A number of Egyptian MPs have submitted a bill obliging couples to undergo psychological examination before marriage due to increased incidents of family crimes that have rocked Egypt recently. Culture
IAEA chief to visit Tehran as nuclear talks near finish line Despite what was reported as complicated, last-minute conditions set by the Iranian side, informal statements by Russian and European negotiators indicated that the talks in Vienna were reaching a conclusion. Iran
Former Iranian president Ahmadinejad praises Ukraine’s ‘resistance,’ rebukes Islamic Republic’s support for Russia Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has criticized the Iranian government on several occasions since leaving office. Iran
Biden urged to put strings on Tunisia aid amid democratic backslide A letter from some 50 activists, academics and former diplomats calls for the Biden administration to condition certain assistance to Tunisia on steps toward democratic governance. Tunisia
Oil prices, Saudi Aramco shares soar as Ukraine fighting continues Saudi Arabia, Russia and other major oil producers have so far declined to increase production despite pleas from the United States. Saudi Arabia
Israeli ultra-Orthodox emissaries stick with Jewish communities in Ukraine Israeli Chabad emissaries in Ukraine and neighboring countries feel responsible for the safety and well-being of their Jewish communities. Israel