Middle East Experience

Turkey intensified its crackdown on anti-government protests on Friday, arresting the lawyer of the jailed Istanbul mayor and targeting more journalists, as the country faces its biggest wave of unrest in more than a decade.Nine days after the arrest and subsequent jailing of Istanbul's popular opposition mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, demonstrators were again out on the streets on Thursday night, despite a growing sense of fear.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: More arrests as Turkey escalates crackdown over protests

With the jailing of Istanbul's mayor on corruption charges, Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan has got rid of his most powerful opponent. Now his sights are set on the main opposition CHP, analysts say."When the big fishes are exposed, they won't dare to look their own families in the eye, let alone the nation," the president warned this week, hinting at a fresh legal action targeting the Republican People's Party (CHP).
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Erdogan turns sights on opposition CHP with his main rival in jail

Over half of northern Gaza appears to be under evacuation orders.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Israel flouting international law with forced evacuations in Gaza, UN says

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Qalibaf: "If the Americans attack the sanctity of Iran, the entire region will blow up like a spark in an ammunition dump."
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Middle East will 'blow up like a spark': Iran speaker warns Trump against attack

Sossana is one of eight women from around the world to receive the award, which recognizes exceptional women who advocate for peace, justice, and human rights.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Ex-hostage Amit Soussana to receive US State Dept.'s Int'l Woman of Courage award

The danger of changing Israel’s character has increased. The country is still a vibrant democracy, but will it remain so?
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Israel's not a dictatorship, but it's headed toward becoming one

Trump reiterated his desire to take over Greenland as recently as Wednesday, saying the US needs the strategically located island for security.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: US VP Vance lands in Greenland as new government calls for unity

Tehran's response to Trump's letter has been conveyed via Oman, raising hopes among Iranian moderates that a deal could be around the corner, despite earlier incendiary rhetoric from both sides.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: From defiance to dialogue: How close are Iran and Trump to breakthrough on nuclear program?

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences apologized Friday for failing to defend an Oscar-winning Palestinian filmmaker who said he was attacked by Israeli settlers.The group, which hosts and awards the Oscars each year, wrote to members after movie stars including Joaquin Phoenix, Penelope Cruz and Richard Gere had slammed its initially muted response to the incident.The Academy "condemns violence of this kind anywhere in the world" and its leaders "abhor the suppression of free speech under any circumstances," said the letter, seen by AFP.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Academy apologizes after stars say it 'failed to defend' Palestinian filmmaker

Marwa fled Taliban rule in Afghanistan because she wanted to study, work, wear jeans and go to the park without a male chaperone. Now she is under lock and key in Costa Rica, along with hundreds of other migrants expelled by the United States to third countries in Central America.Costa Rica is one of three Central American countries, along with Panama and Guatemala, that have agreed to receive migrants from other countries and to detain them until they are sent to their home nations or other host countries.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: 'Jail or death': migrants expelled by Trump fear for their fate