Egypt's Copts have no plans to arm youth groups Before the news was shown to be false, jumpy Egyptians were unnerved by a report about Christian youth groups receiving military training to protect their churches. Egypt
How Israel’s education minister inserts ideology into schools Israeli Education Minister Naftali Bennett is working diligently to insert nationalistic and right-wing ideology contents into the schools’ curricula. Israel
Iranians divided over new Senate sanctions Iranian officials and scholars disagree on whether the US Senate’s new sanctions bill against the Islamic Republic violates the nuclear deal. United States
Syrian music lives in the streets of Beirut Global Week for Syria in Lebanon brings together Syrian musicians, as well as refugee children who take to the streets to sing. Lebanon
Does the US have answer for Turkish threats against Syrian Kurds? Turkey also seeks sway in Salafi-controlled Idlib; Hamas inches closer to Iran, Hezbollah. Palestine
How Turkey fits into the Qatar puzzle Turkey's military presence in Qatar seems to be complicating an already complex situation for the coalition that recently cut ties with Doha. Gulf
Egypt’s ‘leg-ironers’ fear their craft is running out of steam Because of modern ironing methods and steam irons in many households, Upper Egypt's leg-ironers are worried that their profession may become extinct. Egypt
Turkey’s oldest indigenous culture fears extinction Syriac Christians fear land dispute in Turkey threatens ancient culture’s survival. Turkey
Iraq accelerates work on its virtual national museum The Virtual Museum of Iraq, which has been a work in progress since 2005, aims to bring Iraqi heritage and archaeological artifacts online by the end of 2018. Iraq
Iranian women get a foothold in volleyball games The ban on Iranian women allowed into stadiums to watch men play volleyball is slowly reversed. Iran
Netanyahu must choose between ultra-Orthodox and US Jews Jewish leaders from the United States and France made it clear to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: You must choose between a coalition alliance with the ultra-Orthodox or the strategic alliance of Israel with world Jewry. Israel
