'Apartheid': Arab countries including UAE, Jordan decry new Israeli law A group of foreign ministers struck out at a new Israeli law requiring the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of terrorism in military courts. Palestine
Amid chatter of local uprisings, eyes turn to Iran's minorities: What to know Ethnic minorities in Iran, historically marginalized and repressed by Iran's central government, are gaining attention as potential political actors amid escalating US and Israeli strikes. Iran
'No meaningful protection': Israel’s new Gaza aid rules raise data, security risks The guidelines expand Israeli authority to deny NGO registration in the Palestinian territories and visas for foreign aid workers as Gaza continues to reel from two years of war. Palestine
UN points to 'genocidal path' in RSF assault on Sudan’s El-Fasher A UN fact-finding mission says the scale and coordination of atrocities in Darfur mark a shift in its assessment of the paramilitary group’s campaign. Sudan
Feature ISIS brides face uncertain future as Damascus clashes with Syria’s Kurds By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Protests across Iran as schoolgirl poisonings spread nationwide The chain of suspected poisoning attacks on girls' schools continued unabated, prompting furious Iranians to chant against authorities who are scrambling for answers. Iran
US slaps visa sanction on Syrian military officer over Tadamon massacre The State Department hit Amjad Yousef and his family with visa bans for his alleged involvement in the 2013 killing of 41 unarmed Syrian civilians. Syria
Culture Lebanon's LGBTQ community faces digital exploitation, blackmail Lebanon's LGBTQ community is being targeted through social media platforms and dating apps, and the perpetrators are acting with impunity. Lebanon
Analysis As Germany's relations sour with Iran, pressure grows on Berlin to do more Activists in Germany are doubtful whether the expulsion of two Iranian diplomats will thwart the death sentence of German-Iranian national Jamshid Sharmahd. By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
US bolsters human rights criteria for arms sales The arms transfer policy takes into account how US weapons sales could be used to commit rights abuses. Washington Pulse
Turkish youth dies in police custody as impunity soars in wake of Turkey's killer quakes Vigilantes and members of the Turkish gendarmerie are brutalizing some survivors in the provinces struck by the earthquakes in Syria and Turkey. Turkey
EU slaps fifth wave of sanctions on Iran, targeting 32 individuals The new list brings the total number of Iranian individuals under EU sanctions to 196 and the tally of sanctioned Iranian entities to 33. Iran
Honor killings in Iraq rekindle efforts to criminalize domestic violence There is once again outrage and calls for legal reforms in Iraq to protect women from being murdered at the hands of family members. Iraq
Barcelona ends twin city agreement with Tel Aviv, citing Israeli 'apartheid' Barcelona’s Mayor Ada Colau said that thousands of residents in her city signed a petition to sever ties with Tel Aviv so as to pressure Israel on Palestinian human rights. Israel
Blinken seeks detainee progress, but releases are Egypt’s ‘prerogative’ US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Al-Monitor he raised the cases of individual political prisoners during his two-day visit to Cairo, which included a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Egypt
Israel's president holds talks on Iran and Hamas hostages during EU visit In Brussels, Herzog was expected to raise the issue of two Israeli nationals — Avera Mengistu and Hisham Al-Sayed — captured by Hamas Israel
'We are in a very dangerous situation,' Kuwait's five sisters plead for help to stay in Turkey Five Kuwaiti sisters, including two minors, say they escaped domestic violence and sexual abuse, and are now beseeching Turkish authorities and civic groups for a safe life. Turkey
