Turkmens see chance to expand influence in Kirkuk With Kurdish peshmerga gone, and Kirkuk back under Baghdad's authority, Turkmens in the province feel their time might have arrived. By Fehim Tastekin In Paris, reporting on Turkish politics
Child tragedies reignite death penalty calls in Turkey A string of cases in which missing children were found dead has reignited calls to reinstate the death penalty in Turkey, but some see political motives behind the outcry. By Mehmet Cetingulec
Khamenei: Iran must expand ties with East as well as West In a meeting with members of the Cabinet, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei emphasized the need for Iran to expand ties with both Eastern and Western nations. By Al-Monitor Staff
Netanyahu feeling the heat from Gaza Israelis on the right are fed up with incendiary balloons and kites launched from Gaza, forcing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's hand to unleash the IDF against Gaza for fear of paying an electoral price. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Museum honors goats' central role in Ankara history An exhibit in an Ankara museum explores Turkey's legendary mohair and the declining number of Angora goats that produce it. By Sibel Hurtas
Knesset hears data on Israel’s Arab-Jewish health gap A first-of-its-kind debate in the Knesset finally addressed long years of neglect of the Arab population's health by the Israeli authorities, but there's no reason to believe much will change. By Mazal Mualem In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics
Southern Sinai Peninsula seeks return of tourism Tourism in Egypt's South Sinai governorate was dealt a blow after authorities banned the use of SUVs and closed off many mountain trails throughout the peninsula because of security concerns. By George Mikhail
Tehran's newest cafe offers glimmer of hope for disabled Iranians Unemployment and isolation are some of the biggest problems facing Iran's disabled population, and a cafe run by a staff with autism and Down syndrome is just what its employees needed. By Maysam Bizaer
Pentagon eyes shrinking role in Syria as Trump and Putin negotiate deal Syrian rebels have presented the White House with military options to push back against Bashar al-Assad’s gains in the southwest, Al-Monitor has learned. By Jack Detsch
The art of the deal in Helsinki A win-win on Syria is there for the taking by leveraging Putin’s relationship with Iran. By Week in Review
Mideast risks escalation as Iran ponders response to US Rather than looking for a graceful exit from the region, Iran could escalate tensions in response to rising US pressure. By Makram Najmuddine
Khamenei adviser warns Moscow of 'empty promises' from US Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei sent his top adviser to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of the Russian leader's meeting with Trump, in hopes that Moscow will remain wary of US promises. By Maxim A. Suchkov
Is Israel's popular justice minister a threat to Netanyahu? Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu surely took note of the latest polls indicating Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked of HaBayit HaYehudi has become extremely popular within his own Likud Party. By Mazal Mualem In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics
IS remains a threat in Iraqi desert, tribal villages Popular Mobilization Units are conducting regular patrols in the Iraqi desert to prevent activity by Islamic State sleeper cells. By Shelly Kittleson
Oil installations hit by protests in southern Iraq The wave of protests in the southern province of Basra is escalating, even as the government promises to improve the status of the province in order to calm the street. By Ali Mamouri
Islamic Jihad says Israel’s tightened siege ‘a declaration of war’ Palestinian factions are condemning the recent Israeli decision to impose more sanctions on Gaza in retaliation against the launch of fire kites into southern Israel. By Hana Salah