Congress adds new irritant in US-Turkey relations with pro-Cyprus push Members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee want to lift the arms sale ban on the disputed island. By Bryant Harris In Washington, reporting on Congress
Fall of Iran’s former ally in Sudan sparks online reactions Iranian journalists and social media users closely watch events in Sudan, as the former ally transitions to a new era. By Al-Monitor Staff
Zarif reshuffles key envoys in push for active diplomacy In an effort seemingly meant to step up diplomacy, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has reshuffled key ambassadors, signaling plans for a more active engagement with the world. By Saeid Jafari
How the Kurdish factor had a boomerang effect in Erdogan's election defeat Turkey’s main pro-Kurdish party played a key role in Erdogan’s defeats in big cities in the local polls, managing to get its voters to back mayoral candidates from the main opposition bloc while sitting out the races. By Kadri Gürsel
Police raid homes in Istanbul as AKP demands new vote As the Justice and Development Party calls for an election rerun in Istanbul, police have been raiding dozens of homes in one of the city's districts on the hunt for more than 20,000 voters the ruling party claims the main opposition falsely registered or unlawfully removed from the lists. By Amberin Zaman In London, reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Some elderly Turks face silent, slow killers: Abuse and neglect By 2050, 20% of Turkey's population will be over the age of 65, but social taboos prevent people from publicly addressing elder abuse and the specific needs of the elderly. By Pinar Tremblay
From Aleppo to alpha male: Beirut dance fest takes on the world Founded 15 years ago, the Beirut International Platform of Dance strives to make contemporary dance a staple of Lebanon’s artistic culture while pushing the boundaries of the art form to speak to the issues of the day. By Sam Brennan
Tunisian president says he won't run again — sort of Speculation shrouds Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi's declaration that he will not run for a second term and his call to unfreeze the Nidaa Tounes party membership of Prime Minister Youssef Chahed. By Amel al-Hilali
Protests drag on as Algerians demand real change Protests in Algeria continue even with an interim president in place and fresh elections set for July, and the country’s economy may soon suffer. By Simon Speakman Cordall
Iraqis leading efforts to enrich Arabic Wikipedia Young Iraqis, along with regional partners, lead the efforts to promote knowledge and enlightenment in the Arab World. By Gilgamesh Nabeel
Palestinians reclaim their land through outdoor sports In an attempt to reclaim Palestinian land, several groups are organizing hiking trips in the West Bank, with most of the trails located in Area C under Israeli military control. By Megan Giovannetti
Israel fans flames separating Palestinians in Gaza, West Bank Recent statements by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are feeding suspicions between Hamas and Fatah and widening the divisions between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. By Adnan Abu Amer
Award-winning Palestinian author's 'White Horse' gallops onto stage "Time of White Horses," a 2007 novel by award-winning Palestinian writer Ibrahim Nasrallah, makes its way onto the stage in both Palestine and the United States. By Ahmad Melhem In Ramallah, reporting on politics
Blue and White ignored Israeli Arab vote at own peril The Blue and White list shunned the Arab electorate, lost their vote and as a result will now have to sit in the opposition. By Shlomi Eldar
Israel’s Gantz must offer real alternative to Netanyahu If he wants to become a real leader and create a real alternative to the next government formed by reelected Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Blue and White leader Benny Gantz must fight for the peace camp and tell Israelis' Arab neighbors they have a partner. By Akiva Eldar
Does Russia seek return of independent South Yemen? Russia is tacitly stepping up its efforts to engage with the UAE in Yemen and reach out to the Southern Transitional Council, which favors the reestablishment of an independent South Yemen. By Kirill Semenov