Is Trump holding a Russian card in the Middle East? Trump visit launches new US-Saudi partnership, but the endgame in the Middle East still depends on Moscow and Tehran. Saudi Arabia
On election day, Iranians divided over future of country Polls close after Iranians turn out in large numbers to cast their votes in the 2017 presidential election. Iran
How two clerics topped agenda of Erdogan-Trump meeting Turkey's Protestant community fears that Ankara could use an imprisoned American pastor as a bargaining chip to press for the extradition of Pennsylvania-based Turkish preacher Fethullah Gulen. Turkey
Why Erdogan's US visit will only create more problems for Turkey The expectation that Erdogan and Trump will get along because they share dominant personality traits backfired, as Erdogan concluded the shortest international meeting in his 15-year political history. Turkey
Will Egypt jail rogue clerics? The draft law criminalizing public fatwas without a license in Egypt has started a discussion, with some arguing that it could lead to a further rise in radicalism and terrorism. Egypt
Turkey’s struggling wine sector gets Levantine touch Along Turkey’s chic Aegean coast, the dream of owning a vineyard could easily turn into a nightmare as tourism declines and legal restrictions rise. Turkey
Iraq's Christians demand reconstruction of religious sites Iraqi Christians demand the reconstruction of the Mar Mattai and Mar Behnam monasteries in the Ninevah Plains. Iraq
Iraqi Kurdistan rife with unlicensed guns, gun violence Though the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq is slowly waning, gun violence still riddles Iraq's Kurdistan Region where firearms are readily available and licensing is easily bypassed. Iraq
Jerusalem dress fails to impress The "Jerusalem of Gold" dress that Culture Minister Miri Regev wore to the Cannes Festival represents yet another populist provocation by right-wing Israeli politicians seeking to inflame nationalistic sentiments. Israel
Gay rights group persists, with pride, in Beirut Beirut Pride week is held in Lebanon to raise awareness about the rights of the LGBTQ community. Culture & Society
Morocco cracks down on fighters returning from IS The Moroccan authorities are deploying all efforts to curb the phenomenon of former Islamic State fighters returning to their home country by arresting them. Iraq
Gaza's new strawberry farmers make progress in their field With the help of the Food and Agriculture Organization, the municipality of Um al-Nasser in the northern Gaza Strip launched a project to distribute lands to residents and train them to plant and export crops. Palestine
What’s so special about this park in the West Bank? In a small village in the West Bank, the first-of-its-kind sustainable environmental park will open its doors to the local community. Palestine
Why many Palestinians didn't take to the polls in local elections As Hamas and other main factions boycotted the local elections held in the West Bank, Palestinians cast their votes in low numbers reflecting their mistrust in the political forces. Palestine
Jerusalem artist determined to keep puppets on stage Jerusalemite artist Abdel Salam Abdo pulls the strings in the Arab world to ensure that puppet shows are not a dying art. Palestine
Who expects more of Trump visit, Israelis or Palestinians? During Donald Trump’s visit, Israel wants him to realize wide right-wing objection to the two-state solution, while Palestinians expect that Trump would agree to launch shuttle diplomacy toward negotiations. Palestine
