Lacrosse is taking Israel by storm Israel's women's national lacrosse team, founded eight years ago, has already left its mark on international competitions by beating countries with long history of lacrosse. Israel
Deciphering cryptic safe-zone deal between Turkey, US Details are emerging of a safe-zone road map between the United States and Turkey in Syria. Syria
As US pressure increases on Iran-backed militias, they turn to Iran Iran-backed PMU factions are under intense pressure from the Iraqi government and the public, leading them to Iran. Iraq
Environmental problems provoke protests on all fronts in Turkey The Justice and Development Party government’s policy of ignoring environmental concerns cause tensions in Turkey. Turkey
Rebuking Trump, French FM defends Iran mediation efforts French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian directly rebukes Trump and insists France will continue "mediation efforts" with Iran "to avert a wider conflict." United States
Army failure to prepare training could impact North Africa efforts The Pentagon failed to properly prepare US Army troops in Africa to train foreign partner forces, a declassified inspector general investigation has found. North Africa
Why Egypt matters — maybe more than ever The US-Egyptian partnership deepens in Sinai, but human rights issues won’t go away. Palestine
How 2016 coup attempt led Turkey to buy Russian air defenses Turkey’s purchase of Russian air defense systems comes as part of Ankara’s efforts to obtain security and reassurance from Russia against the United States, which, it believes, was behind the 2016 coup attempt. Turkey
West Bank status quo shares eerie similarities with Kashmir India’s recent moves to repeal Kashmiri autonomy are a lot like Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s intent to annex parts of the West Bank. Palestine
Amendments to Iraqi provincial elections law spark controversy Large political blocs in the Iraqi parliament voted for a new law organizing provincial elections for 2020 that gives the blocs an advantage over smaller groupings. Iraq
UAE shifts course in Yemen By cutting back its forces in Yemen, the UAE seeks to evade the material, humanitarian and moral consequences of the war all the while counting on its local agents to implement the UAE agenda in the country. Saudi Arabia
Will Egypt launch its own official digital currency? As Facebook announced it might not launch its digital currency as previously announced, experts in Egypt are debating whether the country should regulate digital currency. Egypt
Oil, budgets, Kirkuk still nag Baghdad-Erbil relations Baghdad and Iraqi Kurdistan representatives have held a series of high-level meetings to try to resolve their longstanding issues, but so far without much apparent success. Iraq
Syrian schools continue to struggle with Kurdish curriculum School curriculum remains the prime concern of parents in Syrian Kurdistan areas under control of the autonomous administration. Syria
Will Dahlan party bust Fatah-Hamas duopoly? Dismissed Fatah leader Mohammed Dahlan is reportedly working to form a new Palestinian political party with backing from Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. United Arab Emirates
Fire, redevelopment controversy engulf 127-year-old Cairo market An Egyptian presidential decision to vacate and restore the Ataba market stirs traders’ fears of the government's desire to control the largest market in Cairo and turn it into an investment zone. Egypt
