Iranians outraged by Instagram dancer's forced confession In solidarity with arrested Instagram dancer Maedeh Hojabri, Iranians have begun to post their own videos dancing online. Iran
Why many Iraqi Kurds keep tradition of cockfighting alive Cockfighting in Iraq still provides many men with a nightly escape despite the efforts of animal welfare activists to ban blood sports. Iraq
Iraqi Kurdistan's Movement for Change faces rebellion from within The Gorran movement is facing accusations of nepotism, as the two sons of the movement’s founder have gained ownership of its financial assets. Iraq
Syrian truce relieves pressure on Jordan's border Jordan pressured Syrian rebels to cede control of the southern province of Daraa and the strategic Nassib border crossing to Syria. Jordan
Egypt to build $11 billion petrochemical complex As Egypt invests in refining crude oil at home, domestic fuel prices continue to rise. Egypt
Can dry hotels boost Tunisia's ailing tourism sector? In 2014, Tunisia had only one alcohol-free hotel. Now, as their number rises, the government is less than pleased. Tunisia
Egyptian banks to forgive interest on certain loans The Central Bank of Egypt is willing to overlook the interest on some customers' loans to recover principal that otherwise might not be repaid. Egypt
UNESCO recognizes ancient Stone Age temple in Turkey Southeastern Turkey's epic ruins of Gobeklitepe, possibly the world's first temple, has finally made it to UNESCO'S World Heritage List. Turkey
Can Russia deliver on Trump’s hope of ousting Iran from Syria? In the run-up to the Putin-Trump summit, Russia weighs a possible deal with the United States on Syria, but can it deliver on Washington's vision of an Iran-free Syria? Syria
Rouhani goes on offense against critics, shady interests and ‘culture of opacity’ Iranian president presses ahead with anti-corruption agenda in response to political dissent and widening protests. United States
Iranian women's movement pushes for more rights, at its own pace Faced with calls for radical change from abroad, Iran's activists for women’s rights keep pushing their own agenda at home at their own pace. Iran
What's behind nationalist gains in Turkey’s Kurdish regions? As many struggle to explain the rise in the nationalist vote in Turkey’s Kurdish-majority southeast, some observers see the impact of police and military reinforcements in the region and the influence of the security establishment. Turkey
Drought forces Iraq to abandon cultivation of crops Due to the acute shortage of irrigation water, Iraq is reducing the cultivation of large areas of land and preventing the cultivation of strategic crops that are a source of livelihood for farmers, such as rice and corn. Iraq
Why Saudi Arabia's powerful crown prince still needs his father The influential, yet polarizing, Mohammed bin Salman still relies on his father King Salman's legitimacy and credentials as the country faces challenges at home and abroad. Saudi Arabia
International pressure sways Israel on village demolition The case of the Bedouin Palestinian village of Khan al-Ahmar shows that sometimes, international pressure is the only way to confront Israeli injustices in the West Bank. Palestine
