Iranian women win big in fight over right to watch soccer games Iranian women were allowed into Azadi stadium to watch a soccer game alongside men for the first time since the 1979 revolution. Iran
Turkey tries to legitimize incursion in northern Iraq As Turkey advances inside Iraqi territory to eliminate members of the Kurdistan Workers Party, Baghdad has openly rejected the action, though the Kurdistan Regional Government remains curiously silent. Iraq
Meet the mysterious social media team behind Turkey's opposition candidate Turkey's most popular opposition candidate, Muharrem Ince, owes a good part of his success so far to his mysterious social media team, which granted Al-Monitor an interview. Turkey
What's behind Erdogan’s promise of free coffeehouses? The Turkish president’s election pledge for free coffeehouses has earned him much ridicule ahead of the June 24 polls, but some warn the project is no laughing matter. Turkey
Turkey invests in education in northern Syria Turkey's Harran University is scheduled to open a new campus in Syria, in the Euphrates Shield area, after signing an agreement with al-Bab's local council. Syria
Haifa Arabs find their voice in standing with Gaza Haifa is witnessing a burgeoning Palestinian youth movement driven by solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza. Israel
Iran preps for sanctions by expanding major port project Iran has long sought to develop the port of Chabahar, but its plans have recently expanded to building a major industrial center. Iran
Israel's finance minister listens carefully as citizens grumble over price of food The social protests that erupted in the summer of 2011 are still reverberating in Israel, and Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon's refusal to allow the price of milk to go up means he senses growing consumer anger. Israel
Why Jordan will be key to any Mideast peace deal Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must show that he is committed to maintaining the status quo at Jerusalem’s holy sites as he declared after meeting with Jordan’s King Abdullah II. Palestine
The congressional fight over F-35s for Turkey isn’t over Even as a US deal to sell 100 F-35s to Turkey moves forward with a rollout ceremony this week, lawmakers may deny the transfer of crucial technology needed to operate the jets. Turkey
Pro-Kurdish opposition party election workers held as Turkey vote approaches As Turkey's contentious elections near, the only opposition party with any chance of keeping full control out of the president's hands is being hit hard with raids and rampant detentions. Turkey
Why Turks keep billions 'under the pillow' Amid waning confidence in Turkey’s economic prospects, many Turks have come to shun the financial system and keep their savings at home. Turkey
As Astana trio meets in Geneva, questions loom over Syrian constitution The formation of the Syrian Constitutional Committee has been mired by disputes and delays, though this stalling could be beneficial to Moscow and the Syrian government. Syria
Iranian activists' call for talks with US met with bipartisan fire and fury A statement signed by 100 Iranian activists calling for direct talks with the United States has been shot down by conservatives and Reformists alike. United States
Will smaller plates help prevent Egypt's food waste? The Egyptian Food Bank has been cooperating with Egypt's hospitality industry to get surplus food to people in need, but this is only part of the huge problem of food waste. Egypt
As conditions shift in Syria, Kurds open to talks with Damascus Factors pushing Syrian Kurds to consider negotiating with the Syrian government include their loss of Afrin and the US-Turkey accord on Manbij. Syria
