Over 400 detained in Istanbul’s May Day protest as Turkey restricts transit The demonstrations, which marked the first major opposition rally since mass protests roiled the country last month over the Istanbul mayor’s arrest, were met with tight restrictions. Turkey
Pope Francis, voice for Middle East peace and first to visit Gulf, dies at 88 Pope Francis died on Monday after serving as pontiff for 11 years, advocating for human rights and inclusion in the Middle East and beyond. By Rosaleen Carroll In Washington, DC, US, reporting on the Middle East
Oscar-winning Palestinian director freed from Israeli detention after night in custody Hamdan Ballal, a co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary "No Other Land," was assaulted by Israeli settlers and later detained by Israeli forces in the West Bank as the Israeli army continues its raids in the Palestinian territory. Palestine
Hearing delayed after Lebanese doctor with US visa deported: What to know A Lebanese citizen is the latest in a string of detentions, visa revocations and deportations conducted by the Trump administration. United States
Analysis Can Hamas defy Trump's ultimatum as Gaza ceasefire teeters? By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Calls across political spectrum to probe Israel Police Pegasus spyware misuse Knesset members from across the political spectrum are calling for an official probe over publications that police had used the spyware Pegasus to hack phones of citizens without prior court order. Israel
Child labor assumes fatal proportions in Egypt The latest drowning of eight working children in the Nile Delta is opening deep wounds in Egypt and renewing debate about child labor. Egypt
BBC Turkish staff strike over pay Workers at the BBC's Istanbul bureau are taking action after the corporation denied a salary increase in line with inflation. Turkey
El Salvador journalists reportedly targeted by Pegasus spyware A cyber watchdog report found the phones of at least 35 journalists and activists in the Latin American country were infected with the controversial Pegasus spyware. Israel
Northern Syria health care plagued by issues as UN extends cross-border aid A US-based group of doctors conducted a detailed assessment of the region’s health sector in both Kurdish and rebel territory. Syria
UN experts urge Iran to halt execution of juvenile offender Hossein Shahbazi was 17 when he was arrested for fatally stabbing a classmate and was sentenced to death in a trial that reportedly relied on torture-tainted confessions. Iran
Son of top PLO official released after two years in Egyptian prison Egyptian-Palestinian activist Ramy Shaath, an advocate for the Israel BDS movement, was released after Shaath agreed to renounce his Egyptian citizenship. Palestine
Egyptian rights group suspends operations after 'hostile' targeting of staff The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information said the decision to close its doors came after "many strenuous attempts to continue to operate, despite the difficult conditions.” Egypt
Rights group accuse UAE of 'retaliating' against jailed activist Ahmed Mansoor Human Rights Watch and the Gulf Center for Human Rights said Ahmed Mansoor was moved to a more isolated cell after the publication of a letter he wrote from prison. News Brief
Syrian activists tell stories of displacement over lost decade Displacement and exile have become a common narrative for Syrians since 2011. Syria
Turkish court approves release of two jailed Bogazici students Berke Gok and Perit Ozen were among 14 students arrested in October 2021 for protesting the government-appointed rector at Istanbul’s Bogazici University. Turkey
Ethiopia detaining Tigrayans deported from Saudi Arabia, rights group says Human Rights Watch urged Ethiopia to release the arbitrarily detained Tigrayans and called on Saudi Arabia to stop its deportations. Saudi Arabia
