The GCC aid package for Bahrain illustrates how massive capital flows underlie the contentious politics and strategic alliances within the Gulf and broader Middle East.
The El Gouna Film Festival is attempting to make a splash on the Arab cinema scene, but what will determine its success is the extent to which it can push envelopes—politically and aesthetically—with the films it backs.
The conversation on labels, despite its challenging and confronting nature, is crucial to a more nuanced understanding of the art from the Middle East and North Africa.
Turkey’s flourishing relationship with the Kurdistan Regional Government (K.R.G.) has been one bright spot in Ankara’s troubled foreign policy record in the last few years. Now Turkey is threatening economic sanctions and military action against the K.R.G. over Erbil’s decision to hold an independence vote.
Turkey has been seeking to expand its role in the conflict-ridden Afghanistan, as it makes a concerted effort to step up diplomatic, developmental, and military engagements in the country.