Grenade attack on IRGC kills 2 in Iran’s Kurdistan province: What to know The deadly assault comes amid recurring tensions and clashes in Iran’s Kurdish-majority western region. Iran
In a first, ICC convicts Sudanese militia leader of Darfur war crimes Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman was found guilty of 27 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Darfur between 2003 and 2004. Sudan
Syria's parliamentary elections: First Jewish candidate in 58 years enters race Syria is holding its first parliamentary elections since the fall of the Assad regime, with a Jewish candidate running for the first time in decades in a vote conducted largely through indirect selection rather than a direct public ballot. Syria
Pentagon pushes to accelerate ISIS detainee repatriations from Syria Uncertainty about Syria’s long-term stability and the the US military’s future presence in the country have increased urgency among some Pentagon officials to further reduce the population of nearly 30,000 suspected ISIS-associated detainees in the camps. Syria
Son of Iran’s shah Pahlavi arrives in Israel on controversial visit Reza and Yasmine Pahlavi arrived in Tel Aviv on Monday in a visit that could further fuel tension between Iran and Israel Israel
Jordan, Israel spar over access to Christian holy sites in Jerusalem Israel blames Jordan for escalating tensions on Temple Mount, while Jordan accuses Israel of restricting Christians from Jerusalem's Holy Sepulcher Church. Israel
Rabbis ask Netanyahu to allow Passover sacrifice on Temple Mount during Ramadan Jerusalem police is vigilant, as Temple Mount activists are urging Jews to offer biblical Passover sacrifice at the holy site. Israel
Iraq marks somber Ramadan amid economic, political crises The holy month used to be a special time for Iraqis, filled with spiritual and social activities. But it has lost meaning due to the ongoing economic crisis and political conflict in the country. Iraq
UAE discovers Gulf's oldest known pearling town The town discovered on Siniyah Island showed clear evidence of its pearling industry from the sixth century AD. Legacy: Gulf
Israel eases Palestinian entry restrictions to Al-Aqsa ahead of Ramadan With the Muslim month of Ramadan and the Jewish Passover week holiday overlapping this year, the issue of visits to the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif compound gets more complicated than usual. Israel
Israelis Zoom to Utah in search of civil marriage Since civil marriage does not exist in Israel, mixed-faith couples and people who do not want a religious marriage are now opting for online weddings performed in the US state of Utah. Israel
Turkey's Hatay kanafeh delicacy granted EU special status Turkey’s earthquake-hit multicultural Hatay province receives recognition for its renowned Mesopotamian dessert. Turkey
'Iraq is not an Islamic country': Minorities protest Baghdad's alcohol ban as unconstitutional The Iraqi government's renewed effort to prohibit alcohol is not only worrisome for Christian and Yazidi minorities, but also raises constitutionality questions. Iraq
MidEast freedom rankings: Syria worst, Tunisia in decline, says Freedom House Syria remains to be the least and Israel the best performing country when it comes civil and political freedoms while the biggest one-year decline has been observed in Tunisia. Turkey
Anti-Kurdish racism stains soccer pitch in western Turkey The attacks raised the specter of inter-communal violence ahead of watershed elections that are due to be held on May 14 Turkey
Saudi TV series about Islamic history triggers Iraq’s sectarian divide The Saudi-based MBC media group’s announcement that it would broadcast a TV series about a controversial figure in Islamic history, Mu'awiya bin Abi Sufyan, has faced strong backlash from Shiites in Iraq and the region. Legacy: Gulf
