Jerusalem wildfires rage for second day as environmental groups blame Netanyahu According to Israeli environmental groups, the government has repeatedly ignored calls to prepare for the threat of fires and to take more decisive action on climate change goals. Israel
Turkey convicts Swedish journalist of insulting Erdogan with terror trial next Joakim Medin will remain behind bars awaiting prosecution on terror-related charges that press freedom groups say aim to silence the free press. Turkey
Turkey detains 52 in second wave of arrests in Imamoglu probe The main opposition links the detention of more Istanbul municipality employees to the Canal Istanbul project. Turkey
France expels 12 Algerian diplomats in tit-for-tat escalation Paris decided to retaliate symmetrically after the expulsion on Monday of 12 of its diplomats from Algeria. Algeria
Analysis As Sudan's genocide case against UAE opens at ICJ, legal shield under fire By Jennifer Gnana In Dubai, reporting on Gulf energy policy and politics
Hard-line Iranian cleric slams Rouhani over preelection 'uproar' A partisan battle is raging between Iran's political elites in the runup to the country's parliamentary polls. Iran
Turkish government fears compensation claims for Armenian genocide A resolution passed by the US House of Representatives recognizing the 1915 Armenian genocide has stirred up Turkish concerns of Armenian demands for compensation. Turkey
Turkey resurrects deadly Article 301 against dissent Prosecutors have renewed their use of an infamous article of Turkish law to punish the "crime" of denigrating the Turkish nation. Turkey
Congress puts heat on Saudis for helping fugitives flee country Congress is cracking down on Saudi Arabia for allegedly helping its citizens escape the US criminal justice system. Saudi Arabia
Critics say Turkish government’s judicial reform package falls short Members of Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party introduced the first package of its Judicial Reform Strategy, but critics say the provisions fall short of the government's stated aims. Turkey
Is Sisi overstepping the judiciary? President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has appointed a new public prosecutor, without referring to the Supreme Judicial Council, as per constitutional amendments recently approved, which raised the anger of the country's judiciary. Egypt
Brotherhood detainees feel their leaders abandoned them A group of Muslim Brotherhood detainees have signed a letter from inside prison, asking the authorities to pardon them as they are ready to quit political work after feeling abandoned by the group’s leadership. Egypt
Will Jordanian prisoners in Israel complete sentences at home? Questions arise as to whether Israel will send Jordanian prisoners to complete their prison sentences in their country, in an attempt to avoid releasing them in a possible prisoner exchange. Palestine
Israeli society, ultra-Orthodox torn over gender separation The issue of gender separation is not only an area of disagreement between the ultra-Orthodox and secular society in Israel, it is also a raging debate within ultra-Orthodox society itself. Israel
Can Egypt's new marriage e-registry curb child marriage? Women's rights activists, marriage registrars and information technology experts have mixed reactions about a new electronic marriage registry service in Egypt. Egypt
Al-Azhar works to end blood feuds in Egypt Egypt's top religious institution Al-Azhar is stepping up efforts to stop traditionally long-lasting feuds via local councils and reaching out to the new generation to end the practice. Egypt
Lawyer couple use own wedding to advocate for civil marriage in Lebanon A high-profile civil marriage between two lawyers is pushing Lebanon's new interior minister to make a choice on civil unions in the country. Lebanon
