PKK issue complicates Turkey’s role in fight against IS Turkey fears that its agreeing to be part of the US-led coalition against the Islamic State may adversely affect the Kurdish peace process. Iraq
Hamas eyes armed resistance from West Bank Hamas officials have expressed a desire to shift the armed confrontation with Israel to the West Bank, prompting a Palestinian Authority crackdown on Hamas. Palestine
Turkish workers face perilous conditions Turkey's workplace is the most dangerous in Europe, and critics blame the Justice and Development Party's brand of crony capitalism. Turkey
US-Iran cooperation on IS makes Israel uneasy Although Israel is increasingly uneasy about the possibility of US-Iran cooperation in fighting the Islamic State, Israeli security officials say the emergence of a regional Islamic caliphate would be a strategic disaster. Palestine
Lebanese Central Bank pushes start-up investments Lebanon's Central Bank is encouraging commercial banks to invest in small business start-ups to spur economic growth — but with limited success so far. Lebanon
Yet another 'coup attempt' in Turkey Turkish authorities are threatening life imprisonment for 35 Besiktas soccer fans on charges of trying to overthrow the government based on their participation in the Gezi Park protests. Turkey
Modern-day 'cultural Sinbad' spreads literature across Iraq Star Mohsen Ali is unique in his travels across Iraq's provinces to sell and promote books to a generation increasingly thirsty for literature. Iraq
Ayatollah Khamenei’s media team live-blogs his surgery The decision to publicize the Iranian supreme leader's prostate surgery appears to prevented the spread of rumors regarding the supreme leader's health. Iran
Christians in Homs province fear jihadist advance Christians in the strategic Wadi al-Nasara area are pinning their defense on the Syrian army’s ability to hold the Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra at bay. Syria
Egypt faces power cuts, potential drought Egypt discharges extra water from the Nile to help its power shortages, yet this policy might lead to a drought if it's not properly executed. Egypt
AQIM defectors raise fears of IS branch in North Africa A senior leader of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, leading some to speculate that an IS branch is in the making in North Africa. Algeria
Fatah source: no chance of reconciliation with Hamas In an interview, a Fatah source in Gaza said that Hamas arrested him and his colleagues during the fighting, and that the rift between Hamas and Fatah was about to explode. Palestine
How Egypt's protest law brought down the revolution An in-depth look at how Egypt's government is jailing the revolutionaries who helped bring the current regime to power. Egypt
New jihadist generation in Lebanon With the latest security clashes between Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra members and the Lebanese army, it seems that Salafism is shifting its priorities to Lebanon. Iraq
Will Abbas carry out threats if his peace plan is rejected? Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has repeatedly threatened to go to the International Criminal Court and end security cooperation with Israel if no progress is made on the peace process — but will he follow through? Palestine
Expropriation of land reveals Netanyahu's strategy The expropriation of West Bank land, contrary to his commitment at his 2009 Bar-Ilan speech, reveals the true strategy of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of dividing the Palestinians while stalling. Palestine
