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
European court rules against French conviction of BDS activists The European Court of Human Rights ruled that boycotts are protected forms of protest, saying France erred in convicting activists of incitement to discrimination for asking people stop buying Israeli products. Palestine
Anti-Saudi blocs in Iraqi parliament want to sue Iraqi political forces said they intend to enact a law to sue Saudi Arabia and have Riyadh compensate for the damage caused by suicide attacks carried out by Saudis in Iraq, which would embarrass the Mustafa al-Kadhimi government that is making a new start in Iraqi-Saudi economic relations. Iraq
Iran arrests man over ‘honor killing’ of 14-year-old daughter According to local media, 14-year-old Romina Ashrafi was beheaded in her sleep. Iran
Sexual abuse suspect fit to stand trial in Australia, says Israeli court After six years of discussions and contradictory psychiatric opinions, the Jerusalem District Court ruled that Malka Leifer, a suspect in Australian sexual assault cases, is mentally fit to stand trial. Israel
Benny Gantz trapped over Netanyahu’s trial Defense Minister Benny Gantz and his Blue and White party did not realize in time that the trial of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would also hurt them. Israel
Netanyahu conducting his trial outside courthouse Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu intends to play for time and drag the trial against him for many months and perhaps even years. Israel
Two men arrested in US for allegedly helping Carlos Ghosn flee Japan The former Nissan executive fled Japan for his native Lebanon while on bail following being charged with financial crimes. Lebanon
Saudi courts ordered to stop flogging for ‘tazir’ crimes Judges in the kingdom can no longer prescribe flogging as a punishment for lesser crimes. Originals
Netanyahu asks to be excused from showing up at corruption trial Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose new government was sworn in Sunday, is trying to avoid having to appear before the court at the start of his corruption trial Sunday. Israel
Israeli man found guilty of murder in 2015 arson attack on Palestinian family Amiram Ben-Uliel's actions sparked outrage among both Palestinians and Israelis, but his lawyers questioned the conditions under which he confessed to the crime. Palestine
Syrians held in Turkish prison 'in breach of international law,' advocates say Scores of Syrians detained after Turkey's Operation Peace Spring began in October have been accused of links to the Kurdistan Workers Party and moved to a prison in Sanliurfa, Turkey. Syria
Sisi grants army more powers under state of emergency Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi approved new amendments to the emergency law, granting the army the right to arrest and prosecute civilians in clear violation of the constitution and the law, according to human rights activists. Egypt
