Archives for December, 2022

A still from the Turkish film "Burning Days."

Culture

Turkey's government wants refund for movie following LGBTQ controversy

The move is widely seen as a fresh episode of the culture war the government has been waging against the country’s artistic scene over critical opinions and queer content.

A man walks past the World Bank building in Washington on April 21, 2022.

World Bank says debt increasing in Middle East countries

Egypt, Iran and Turkey’s debt rose significantly last year.

US investment Middle East

How the US invests in the Middle East

In our latest PRO Trend Report, we take a deep-dive into American investment in the region and opportunities to expand it.

The delegation from Ethiopia arrives at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on December 11, 2022, to attend the US-Africa Leaders Summit. - The summit will take place in Washington, DC, December 13-15. (Photo by OLIVER CONTRERAS/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

At Biden's first Africa summit, US plays catch-up to China

The three-day summit will bring together African leaders from across the continent, including several with problematic rights records.

Elizabeth Hagedorn

By Elizabeth Hagedorn

In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights

cafe

Arab influx to Iraqi Kurdistan helps revive economy but corrupts local culture, critics say

Iraqi Kurds are alarmed by the influx of Arabs into their region, fearing they will dilute their ethnic identity and corrupt their values. Yet the Arabs are critical to the region's economy, which increasingly caters to their needs.

US President Joe Biden (L) speaks with DR Congo President Felix Tshisekedi at the start of the G20 Summit at the convention center "La Nuvola" in the EUR district of Rome on October 30, 2021. (Photo by LUDOVIC MARIN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Africa seeks GCC-like economic trust at US summit

Since the United States' last summit of its kind in 2014, US foreign direct investment (FDI) in Africa dropped from $69 billion to $44.81 billion in 2021.

By Salim A. Essaid

The LED board shows a photo of Grant Wahl, an American sports journalist who passed away whilst reporting on the Argentina and Netherlands match, prior to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 quarter final match between England and France at Al Bayt Stadium on December 10, 2022 in Al Khor, Qatar. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Grant Wahl’s body reaches US as second journalist dies at World Cup in Qatar

Two journalists have died covering the World Cup in Doha, leading to controversy and speculation during the politically charged tournament.

The 2,000-year-old cemetery is located near the ruins of the Greek port city of Anthedon, now in the northern Gaza Strip

Gaza archaeologists find 'complete' Roman-era cemetery

Agence France-Presse

Palestinian mourners attend the funeral of 16-year-old Jana Zakarnaa, killed during an Israeli raid on Sunday night

Israel says its forces killed Palestinian girl in West Bank raid

Agence France-Presse

A handout photo of alleged Lockerbie bomber Abu Agila Mohammad Masud obtained from the Alexandria Sheriff's Office

Libyan accused of Lockerbie bombing charged in US court

Agence France-Presse

A man walks past a French-language daily newspaper stand displaying the final issue of Algerian French-language daily newspaper "Liberté" in Algeria's capital Algiers on April 14, 2022. (Photo by RYAD KRAMDI/AFP via Getty Images)

In press freedom index, Middle Eastern countries go from bad to worse

Press freedom and journalist safety remain “very bad” in the majority of the Middle East and North Africa nations, Reporters Without Borders' 2022 index shows.

The German Navy corvette FGS Erfurt (F262) patrols as part of the United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) off Lebanon's southern town of Naqura close to the border with Israel on October 27, 2022 (Photo by MAHMOUD ZAYYAT/AFP via Getty Images)

TotalEnergies proceeds with gas exploration plans in Lebanon

Lebanon has been eagerly working with the French energy giant since reaching a historic maritime border agreement with Israel in October.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attends a joint press conference with Cuban President in Ankara, on November 23, 2022. (Photo by Adem ALTAN / AFP) (Photo by ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Greece compares Turkey to North Korea in latest row with Erdogan

Erdogan’s remarks raise stakes in rivalry between fellow NATO members as threatening rhetoric escalates.

Kaili has been charged with corruption by Belgian prosecutors

EU democracy 'under attack' as parliament rocked by Qatar bribe claims

Agence France-Presse

Kaili is charged with participating in a criminal organisation, money laundering and corruption

Greek MEP Eva Kaili, ex-TV host accused of taking bribes

Agence France-Presse

A picture shows a view of the SEAEAGLE, a vessel which reportedly left Ukraine with a cargo of wheat, anchored in Port Sudan on the Red Sea coast, on September 9, 2022. (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)

UAE-Ukraine trade deal would shore up Middle East food security

The goal is to ultimately secure "all aspects of the international food production supply chain."