Culture Turkey egg donor scam allegedly sold clients on promise of blond babies An investigation triggered by a husband’s tip has led to at least 45 arrests in an alleged network that sold Turkish donor eggs to foreign clients seeking Scandinavian ancestry. Turkey
Who is Abdulrahman Alfozan, Saudi national charged in bugging OpenAI meetings? The Saudi national who was arrested for allegedly planting a covert listening device at OpenAI’s offices has extensive experience working at leading technology companies in the US and serves as a venture partner at a Saudi venture capital firm. Saudi Arabia
Explainer PKK pulls out of Metina in northern Iraq amid Turkey peace process The withdrawal comes as the peace process between Turkey and the militant group gains momentum alongside increasing security cooperation between Ankara and Baghdad. Turkey
Erdogan aide named suspect in Turkey financial scandal Former AKP deputy chairwoman Fatma Betul Sayan Kaya is facing allegations of being linked to a market manipulation scandal. Turkey
Israel’s Ashkenazi on diplomatic blitz against ICC ruling Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi is busy calling counterparts worldwide, to convince them to object the ICC ruling on judging Israel for alleged war crimes. Israel
Netanyahu’s fate to be determined by COVID-19, not corruption trial Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fears failure in dealing with Israel's coronavirus pandemic even more than his corruption trial. Israel
Netanyahu pushes for evidentiary stage to be postponed until after election The legal defense team of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tries postponing the evidentiary stage of his trial until after the March 23 election. Israel
Autopsy of slain Lebanese intellectual Lokman Slim shows no torture Slim's wife said an independent autopsy was necessary and is also calling for an international investigation, as opposed to leaving it up to the Lebanese government. Lebanon
Netanyahu pleads not guilty in corruption trial Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three separate corruption cases. Israel
Turkish police seize several tons of illegal alcohol High taxes on liquor have created a market for illicit liquor in Turkey and police are cracking down. Turkey
Thefts on rise in Idlib amid rising poverty Hardly a day goes by in Idlib areas without a civilian being robbed of a car, motorcycle or other property, triggering yet more fears and concerns for residents. Syria
Egyptian who ruled in favor of ceding key islands to Saudi Arabia voted parliament speaker Egypt’s parliament elected Hanafy Ali el-Gebaly as its new speaker, raising controversy as Gebaly chaired the Supreme Constitutional Court that validated an agreement under which Egypt agreed to transfer the strategic Tiran and Sanafir islands to Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia
Israel’s Netanyahu seeks another delay in corruption trial Lawyers for the prime minister say the latest coronavirus lockdown in Israel has left them unable to prepare for next week's hearing. Israel
Top Turkish court rejects appeal for release of philanthropist Kavala Turkey’s Constitutional Court has rejected an appeal for the release of philanthropist Osman Kavala, ruling his more than three-year imprisonment without conviction did not violate his rights in contradiction to rulings by the European Court of Human Rights. Turkey
Acquittal in assault of Christian woman casts pall over Christmas for Egypt's Coptic community The acquittal by a Minya court of three defendants who in May 2016 stripped an elderly Christian woman naked and dragged her through the streets of her village has provoked outrage among Christians and rights groups. Egypt
Israeli sex abuse suspect finally to be extradited to Australia Twelve years after she fled to Israel, Malka Leifer is to be extradited to Australia, to stand trial over heavy suspicions of sexual abuse against minors. Originals
