Burning oil wells no match for soccer-loving Iraqis Soccer players from Team Asoosa, in Qayyarah, are rejoicing in reuniting and being able to again play the game they love after their town's liberation from the Islamic State. Iraq
Is an 'Arab NATO' in the works? Reports claim that the US administration is currently discussing the formation of a joint Arab force with Arab countries, an idea Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi had suggested before. Gulf
In Gaza, baseball season is in full swing Palestinian athlete Mahmoud Tafesh has formed the first baseball team in the Gaza Strip, and despite the absence of funding, equipment and baseball fields, the team is hoping to compete in the 2020 Olympic Games. Palestine
The chick flick that's shaken up Egypt A film about a woman in search of a sperm donor has shocked Egyptian society. Egypt
Can international force save Gaza? With the deterioration of living conditions in the Gaza Strip, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must seriously consider the idea of having an international force control Gaza’s land and sea borders. Palestine
How deep is Turkey's Sinjar entanglement? Soon after speaking with Turkey's president, Kurdistan Regional Government leader Massoud Barzani dispatched peshmerga forces to Sinjar, Iraq, which led to a clash between Kurdish forces. Iraq
Germany's Merkel strikes immigration deal on visit to Tunisia German Chancellor Angela Merkel has come under fire for Germany’s open-door migration policy, so striking a deal with Tunisia to bring back at least some irregular migrants was a necessary step for her to defuse some of the criticism. Egypt
Kurdish flag controversy continues, in Turkish court KRG President Massoud Barzani's most recent visit to Turkey left the public at odds over the hoisting of the KRG flag. Turkey
Meet Egypt's first blind soccer squad Egypt now has four blind soccer teams (the goalies are sighted) and plans to participate in the 2017 IBSA Blind Football African Cup in Cape Verde in October. Egypt
Turkey’s Erdogan accuses Germany of 'Nazism' amid row over rallies Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is upset that some municipalities in Germany denied the use of meeting spaces for rallies that aimed to muster support from Turks living in Europe in the upcoming referendum on presidential powers. Turkey
Turkey’s construction boom: A blessing or a curse? The Turkish construction sector’s contribution to the local economy has almost caught up with that of the manufacturing industry, but this is hardly a reason to celebrate. Turkey
Following Abbas visit, cautious calm prevails in Lebanon's Ain al-Hilweh camp Armed clashes flared up in Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas visited Lebanon, making the discussion of the security issue a top priority. Palestine
Gaza’s clothing sector makes a comeback The Gaza Strip's garment sector, once suffering from war and blockade, seems to be bouncing back. Palestine
How Germany accidentally gave Erdogan a boost ahead of key vote Are German authorities doing the right thing by not allowing Turkish politicians to hold rallies in Germany? Here is why they are not. Turkey
How Netanyahu got cold feet over historic peace initiative Zionist Camp leader Isaac Herzog believed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would go through with a historic diplomatic initiative, only to discover later that Netanyahu was never serious about it. Palestine
How are displaced Iraqis faring in Syria’s camps? Hundreds of Turkmen families from Tal Afar, in northwestern Iraq, have headed for the Syrian opposition areas in Aleppo’s countryside. Iraq