After Jordan, Emirates also furious with Netanyahu Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not only managed to get into a diplomatic row with Jordan, he also succeeded in angering the Emiratis. Israel
Iran operating new advanced centrifuges, nuclear watchdog finds According to an International Atomic Energy Agency report, Iran is now using IR-4 centrifuges to enrich uranium in violation of the nuclear accord. Iran
Lawsuit filed to close pro-Kurdish party after lawmaker stripped of parliamentary seat Omer Faruk Gergerlioglu, a pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party deputy known to focus on human rights abuses, was stripped of his parliament seat and a lawsuit was filed to close the party March 17. Turkey
Netanyahu courts Arab voters as 'Abu Yair' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has adopted a new strategy for the Arab public: cynically rebranding himself as "Abu Yair." Israel
Iraqi air force targets IS sites in Syria ahead of elections Despite earlier opposition to any Iraqi military intervention in Syria, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi ordered the air force to strike Islamic State sites in Syria for the second time this year. Iraq
Will Iraqi elections avoid traditional sectarian divides? While the May 12 elections include Shiite candidates running in predominantly Sunni areas and vice versa, Iraqis are divided over whether or not this represents a step toward overcoming sectarian divides. Iraq
Iran’s housing sector keeps building Iran’s housing sector is on track to escape its yearslong stagnancy, yet Iranian tenants are still squeezed by rising rents. Iran
Iranian media claim Syrian, not Iranian, rockets struck Golan Officials in Tehran have not yet responded to allegations that Iran was behind the attack on the Golan, while Iranian media are asserting that it was a Syrian strike. Israel
Will Abbas seek rival's arrest through Interpol? During the PNC meeting April 30, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas indicated that figures will be repatriated via Interpol, which pointed to the possibility that dismissed Fatah leader Mohammed Dahlan may be among them and raises questions as to whether the Palestinian Authority will succeed in prosecuting fugitives abroad. Palestine
Is Lebanon's new recycling project a bunch of garbage? Beirut authorities want to go green to deal with their municipality's ongoing garbage disposal problems, but mismanagement and cross-purposes are hampering the effort before it even gets off the ground. Lebanon
After success with Trump, Bibi has trouble swaying EU on Iran Despite his success swaying the US president, Europeans know that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is skewing the truth about the West Bank occupation just as he falsely accused the Iranians of violating the nuclear agreement. Palestine
Headscarves still rare sight in Egypt's Foreign Ministry Although a majority of Egyptian women wear the hijab, female applicants for staff positions at the Foreign Ministry feel chances are very slim for those who turn up for the qualification exams wearing the veil. Egypt
Egypt targets ‘fake weather’ amid flurry of false forecasts Given the multiple sources issuing weather reports and the confusion they cause among citizens, the Egyptian Meteorological Authority has drafted a bill punishing unauthorized weather forecasts. Egypt
Iran may use nuclear deal structure to try to isolate US Foreign Minister Zarif has said Iran may file a complaint against Trump’s sanctions violations with the JCPOA’s Joint Commission. United States
Interview Campaigns woo Kurdish voters as Turkish election nears In an interview with Al-Monitor, veteran Kurdish politician Zubeyir Aydar spoke about the fight for the Kurdish vote ahead of Turkey's snap elections. Zubeyir Aydar Former member of Turkey's parliament
Iranians may turn to ‘military president’ as nuclear deal collapses The collapse of the JCPOA could fan political winds in Iran, leading to the rise of a military president. United States
