Rocket strikes Baghdad’s Green Zone A rocket has hit Baghdad's Green Zone near the US Embassy, ramping up US-Iranian tensions even further. Iraq
Tunisia’s largest trade union to monitor elections The Tunisian General Labor Union announced an agreement with Tunisia’s electoral commission to take part in the electoral process, which raised the ire of other political parties. Originals
Russia may have designs on Iran's trade with Syria Observers wonder whether Russia will cut into Iran's trade volume with Syria. Syria
Netanyahu’s dilemma: settlements versus immunity Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must deal with the problematic demand that he include reversing disengagement from the northern West Bank as part of a coalition agreement. Palestine
Award-winning book narrates migration in five letters Hoda Barakat's "The Night Post," which tells the story of five Arab migrants, won the International Prize for Arabic Fiction amid controversy. Lebanon
A century of Lebanese documents preserve shifting identities The exhibition “Identity Papers” uses old government documents and artworks to show how identity is created, informed and changed by official papers. Lebanon
Afrin musician teaches region's musical heritage to children Mostafa Bakr has opened a music school in downtown Afrin where he teaches children and adults to play the string instruments of the region, from buzuq to tanbur. Syria
Why Saudi Arabia is focused on tensions with Iran The Saudis have called an Arab summit for May 30 in Mecca to likely brand Iran as a terrorist state, with the apparent hope that the United States will strike Iran. Legacy: Gulf
House ratchets up pressure on Egypt The House’s annual foreign aid bill would place conditions on military aid. Egypt
Iran's burgeoning ‘resistance literature’: A new front? Despite an ongoing “paper crisis” that has engulfed both print media and publishers, “resistance literature” promoted by the Iranian political establishment is reaching new heights. Israel
Iran should take up Trump’s offer to talk If not directly, at first, then there might be a channel through trusted partners. Oman
Has Russia begun to play a role in Iraq? Russia seeks a presence in Iraq similar to its presence in Syria but through Russian companies and economic, industrial and commercial agreements signed between the two countries. Iraq
Turkey grapples with big trade deficit with China Amid Washington’s trade war on China, Ankara is also grumbling about a massive trade gap with Beijing, but a number of factors stand in Turkey's way to resolve the deficit. Turkey
Failed Yemeni talks shatter hopes of Yemenis' financial recovery Residents of Houthi-controlled Sanaa pinned their hopes on a recent meeting between Yemen’s warring sides to solve economic crises as the country’s Central Bank remains divided, but no solution was found and differences remain. Saudi Arabia
Idlib offensive tests strength of Russia-Turkey ties in Syria Russia is tiring of Ankara's balancing act between Washington and Moscow, and Turkey's less-than-successful actions in Syria. Syria
