US staffs up to pursue intensified Iran final deal talks The P5+1 and Iran have staffed up their nuclear negotiating teams and will maintain almost "constant" contact with one another in a push for a comprehensive nuclear agreement before the interim deal expires on July 20. By Laura Rozen
Najaf seminaries maintain traditional teaching methods Unlike some religious schools in Iran and Lebanon, the seminaries in Najaf have maintained traditional teaching methods that allow students flexibility in choosing their course of study. By Haytham Mouzahem
Iraqi campaign failing in struggle against illiteracy The Iraqi government and UNESCO launched an ambitious campaign to fight illiteracy in the country, but it has not been fully implemented. By Amal Sakr
Brahimi warns Syria elections could end talks Brahimi expressed concern that elections in Syria would cause the opposition to abandon talks with Bashar al-Assad's Government. By Laura Rozen
ISIS suicide attacks target Syrian Kurdish capital The Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) is increasing its terror campaign against Kurds in northern Syria. By Wladimir van Wilgenburg (Syria Pulse)
Israeli hospital cares for Syrian children A visit to an Israeli hospital close to the Lebanese and Syrian borders where Syrian children, some badly wounded and traumatized by the war, are treated by Israeli physicians. By Inna Lazareva
Two more sentenced for tweets under UAE's cybercrime law The prison sentences of two Emirati men are the latest chapter in the UAE's crackdown on social media. By Matt J. Duffy
Rouhani calls for media to focus on corruption Despite calling on the press to help fight corruption, the Iranian government still needs a major initiative to eliminate the mismanagement that characterized the Ahmadinejad era. By Bijan Khajehpour In Vienna, reporting on Iranian politics
What is Sistani's position on the Iraqi elections? Iraq’s top Shiite religious authority is not endorsing any political party in the upcoming elections and urges voters not to vote for corruption and past failure. By Ali Mamouri
Saudi officials shut down display at book fair At this year's Riyadh International Book Fair, greatly anticipated by Saudi writers and intellectuals, a display by a new press run by Saudis out of Beirut was ransacked and shut down. By Madawi Al-Rasheed
Dahlan, Abbas feud pushes Fatah to brink of crisis Fatah supporters of Mohammed Dahlan in the West Bank are bracing for a crackdown by President Mahmoud Abbas. By Adnan Abu Amer
Senate bill seeks to preserve Russian help on Iran, Syria The US is moving ahead with new sanctions on Russia, despite needing the Kremlin’s cooperation on a host of Middle East issues. By Julian Pecquet
Massive crowds bid farewell to Berkin Elvan Berkin Elvan, who on June 16 was hit in the head by a tear gas canister, died on March 11, becoming the symbol of people seeking justice. By Tulin Daloglu
Erdogan's silence shows absence of moral compass Why has Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan not yet expressed contrition or condolence for the death of Berkin Elvan? By Amberin Zaman In London, reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Israeli parents protest sexy Purim costumes for kids Israeli parents' complaints against the growing phenomenon of sexy Purim carnival costumes for children have driven manufacturers to change the language of their newspaper ads. By Yuval Avivi
UN urges Russia, US to resume Syria peace talks UN secretary General Ban Ki-Moon urged the US and Russia to work to get the Syrian opposition and Assad's regime back to the peace table and invested in finding a political solution. By Laura Rozen