Brain drain saps Turkey's defense industry Turkey is holding a mammoth defense industry fair, looking to boost its exports and counter a saturated domestic market, but the sector is suffering from a serious lack of manpower. Turkey
Why some Iraqis want the PMU to be dissolved The Popular Mobilization Units rushed to aid Iran in the wake of punishing floods, leaving many Iraqis to believe that the PMU overlooks Iraqi suffering. Iraq
Iraq's pigeon breeders get ahead in international game Iraq's pigeon breeders, once disdained, are making a name for themselves in international competitions, as well as profiting off the sales of birds in auctions. Iraq
How the Green Line became a red line in Israeli education Significant number of voters in the 2019 elections were taught in school that the State of Israel extends from the Mediterranean to the Jordan River and that anyone challenging this view is denying the truth. Palestine
Israel tries rescuing PA from collapse, after instigating crisis to begin with Israel must now face the economic crises of the Palestinian Authority, which was generated by the decision of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cut Palestinian tax revenues over stipends to families of assailants. Palestine
Did Netanyahu cut deal with Assad? Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists that the release of two Syrian prisoners was merely a goodwill gesture and not a part of a deal with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Israel
Christians in northeastern Syria seek to revive Easter spirit following IS ouster After the fall of IS, Easter celebrations were held in only in some northeastern Syrian areas. Syria
New name, same old problems: Syria talks kick off in Kazakh capital The name of the venue for the Syria peace talks may have changed from Astana to Nursultan, but the challenges the participants faced were familiar ones. Jordan
Russia consolidating its position in Iraq amid anti-Iran sanctions Russian and Iraqi officials convened in Baghdad for another bilateral commission session to discuss energy and security cooperation amid US anti-Iran sanctions. Iraq
Iran floods further add to public mistrust of government organizations In addition to causing extensive damage and loss of life, the recent flooding in Iran has also made it more difficult for some Iranians to trust government organizations when it comes to aid and relief efforts. Iran
Algeria officials show growing signs of desperation as protests push on Protests continue in Algeria, where the regime hopes its selective culling of the political elite will appease the demonstrators. Algeria
Why did the Turkish judiciary take lynching attempt so lightly? An attack on the CHP's main opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu attracted strikingly diverse reactions. Some saw it as a protest of his political stance. Others thought it was a premeditated attempt at a lynching. Turkey
Political Islamists brace to lose financial favors after Istanbul shift After major gains in local elections last month, including a landmark victory in Istanbul, Turkey’s main opposition vows to turn off the funding spigots for Islamic entities, which have long underpinned the ruling party’s electoral machine. Turkey
Iraq's Basra province seeks upgrade to federal region Basra governorate hopes the third time will be a charm as it once again seeks to become an Iraqi federal region. Iraq
Zarif says 'negotiating table is there' Speaking to journalists at the Iranian mission to the UN, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif revealed details about correspondence with the Donald Trump administration over a potential prisoner exchange. United States
Syria drawdown raises security risks for US troops The Donald Trump administration’s drawdown in Syria threatens to disrupt a fragile balance where US troops trade military power for Kurdish protection. Syria
