Kurdish farmers hit by water crisis With neighboring Iran diverting rivers and building dams, the Kurdistan Region of Iraq is in the midst of an already severe water crisis that threatens to get even worse, thanks to national and regional governments failing to acknowledge the urgency of the problem. By Judit Neurink
Egypt taps investors to develop nature reserves Egypt’s Ministry of Environment is planning to open the country's underdeveloped nature reserves to investment projects to make the best use of their resources. By Hani Sameer
Egypt looks to foreign university campuses to boost education President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi recently approved a law allowing foreign universities to open branch campuses across Egypt as part of efforts to increase education levels in the country. By Muhammad Ghamrawy
Turkey shares municipal expertise with Syrian engineers The municipality of the Turkish city of Kilis held a training for Syrian engineers in Syria’s Euphrates Shield area to help develop municipal services. By Khaled al-Khateb
Hamas pursues truce with Israel, but not all factions approve Despite recent clashes between Hamas and Israel, the former seems to be taking steps toward a truce brokered by Egypt and the UN. By Rasha Abou Jalal In Gaza City, reporting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Syrians flock home from Turkey for Eid despite danger Syrian refugees living in Turkey are returning home by the thousands for Eid al-Adha, and the border crossing facilities are working overtime to facilitate the process. By Khaled al-Khateb
How deep is Dahlan involved in Israel-Hamas talks? According to some sources, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas rejects the Israel-Hamas truce deal over the involvement and mediation of his archenemy Mohammed Dahlan. By Shlomi Eldar
Humanitarian disaster looms over Idlib as raids escalate Rights and aid organizations in the Syrian province of Idlib are warning of the humanitarian disaster that could follow an imminent regime offensive on the last rebel-held territory. By Mohammed al-Khatieb
Residential complex to house 1,500 families in Euphrates Shield area With the support of Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency, the local council of al-Bab in the northeastern Aleppo countryside is building 1,500 residential units to accommodate families that have been displaced from eastern Ghouta. By Khaled al-Khateb
Trump, Democrats face off over Yemen war President Donald Trump is spurning Congress’ bipartisan bid to exert more control over the war in Yemen despite signing key oversight provisions into law. By Bryant Harris In Washington, reporting on Congress
British Museum returns Iraq's looted antiquities In a rare move, the British Museum returned eight antiquities, which had been looted from Iraq in 2003, to the country. The objects will be placed at the Iraq Museum. By Rebecca Bradshaw
Nationality Law leads some Druze to re-evaluate identity While Druze soldiers and generals in the Israel Defense Forces have taken the lead in protesting against the discriminatory aspects of the law defining Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people, many Israeli Druze are saying the controversial legislation came as no surprise. By Wilson Fache
Turkey kills PKK leader in Sinjar A Turkish airstrike has killed a senior leader of the Kurdistan Workers Party in Sinjar, to the dismay of the Iraqi Yazidis the group rescued. By Amberin Zaman In London, reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Four years after genocide, thousands of Yazidis languish in Turkey Displaced Yazidis who fled from IS' brutality to Turkey have been languishing in camps and tenements for years, hoping to reach the West. Their departure threatens the survival of one of the Middle East’s oldest religions. By Ayla Jean Yackley
Iran-US conflict leaves Abadi in a dilemma By rectifying his statement on supporting US sanctions against Iran, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi is balancing between the United States and Iran in Iraq to keep both sides as his supportive allies. By Ali Mamouri
Iran prosecutor warns ministers: no one is immune in anti-corruption probe Iran’s judiciary and the Rouhani administration appear to be heading for a clash over prosecutors' approach to an effort to tackle corruption. By Al-Monitor Staff