Iranians protest killing of stray dogs After a video surfaced online showing the killing of stray dogs using cruel methods, Iranians held protests across various cities. Iran
Jordan's Salafists switch allegiance to IS As militant alliances continue to shift, Jordan's strategic stance on Salafist groups has become ever more complex. Iraq
Istanbul Film Festival rejects PKK documentary The Turkish Ministry of Culture is facing strong protests from the film industry over its censorship of Kurdish themes. Turkey
KRG looks to enhance protection of women, children Kurdish activists and government agencies have submitted draft laws to amend the law on domestic violence but critics question whether it will be enforced. Iraq
Kahlon to focus on socio-economics, not diplomacy Having won 10 Knesset seats, Kulanu head Moshe Kahlon plans to focus on social justice issues and will not push the Netanyahu government toward renewing negotiations with the Palestinians. Israel
Libya looks to Russia for arms Disillusioned with the West, the Libya government is exploring opportunities in Russia and says it is willing to accept limited participation by Islamists that agree to play by the rules. Gulf
Palestine’s empty breadbasket The Jordan Valley, once considered Palestine’s most fertile area, has been taken over by Israeli settlers who have barred Palestinians from using the land. Palestine
Restitution of Armenian property remains unresolved Some Turkish scholars have documented that the expropriation of Armenian property was a systematic and integral part of the genocide that began in 1915. Turkey
MIT gun truck bust lands Turkish gendarmes in prison Turkish gendarmes arrested and prosecuted for stopping and searching trucks — which were chartered by Turkish intelligence — feel they are unfairly prosecuted for obeying orders. Turkey
Tainted Russian wheat resurfaces in Egypt The dangerously low-quality wheat imported from Russia that plagued Egypt during the Mubarak era has returned to the country, which recently identified 25,000 tons destined for Egyptian bread. Egypt
Why does Netanyahu really want to sabotage the Iran deal? Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's attempt to introduce non-nuclear-related demands in the negotiations with Iran is being dismissed as lacking credibility. Palestine
What's Rafsanjani's political future? Rafsanjani's comments about the situation in Iran's prisons resulted in unprecedented criticisms and may have cemented his political isolation. Iran
Iran's housing bubble Housing prices in Iran have significantly dropped since mid-2013, most notably in Tehran, where pollution and traffic cause families to move to the suburbs and countryside, while young urbanites seek smaller housing units. Iran
Saudi Arabia’s deepening isolation in Yemen Saudi Arabia faces a quagmire in Yemen; a US-Iran “catalogue of cooperation” after a nuclear deal; Iranian activists skeptical on human rights progress; Israel unnerved by Russian decision on missile sale to Iran; the Good Friday massacre in Aleppo; is Erdogan shifting from sectarianism? Saudi Arabia
House probes Iran deal A look at the Middle East issues Congress will be addressing the week of April 20. Iran
Nasrallah to Saudi Arabia: Enough is enough In a recent address to his supporters Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah voiced his disapproval of Saudi Arabia's regional policies, blaming the kingdom for inciting destruction across the region. Saudi Arabia
