PLO factions irked by Abbas’ unilateral decisions Although the decision to join the International Criminal Court has been welcomed by all in the PLO, several factions are irritated that President Mahmoud Abbas was not consulting the PLO on such major decisions. Palestine
Is the AKP shielding former ministers from corruption charges? A Turkish parliamentary inquiry commission has decided not to put former government ministers on trial for corruption. Turkey
Iran closes private TV channels for 'inciting sectarianism' In the name of battling sectarianism, Iran has closed the offices of several private Shiite news stations. Iran
Netanyahu's campaign focuses on IS threat The strong suit of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is his image on security issues, which is why he has chosen to focus the Likud's election campaign on the Islamic State threat and not on the economic crisis. Israel
Falling oil prices both blessing, curse for Egypt As the price of oil continues to decline, Egypt stands to both gain and lose: It will save in petroleum subsidies while the job market for Egyptian oil workers in the Gulf, a significant source of remittances, will decline. Egypt
Russia and the Kurds Russia balances its relationships with various Kurdish groups with its support for the states the Kurds live under. Iraq
Will next Saudi king seize opportunity for change? The successor to King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz needs to make real political reforms, whether pressured by citizens or not. Saudi Arabia
Iraqis dream of jinn Belief in superstition, magic and, more specifically, jinn — supernatural creatures in Islamic mythology — has pervaded Iraqi society across socioeconomic classes. Iraq
In tough times, Egyptian theater troupe pushes boundaries The Egyptian theater group Outa Hamra works with local disadvantaged communities to develop theater as a medium for expression and social change in the country. Egypt
Turkish women receive mixed messages on work-life balance Officials from Turkey's Justice and Development Party have made a habit of issuing controversial social edicts to women that don't apply to their wives and daughters. Turkey
Gaza Salafist leader: 'We are following Islamic State ideology' Only a small number of Salafists from Gaza have traveled to Syria and died fighting for the Islamic State. Palestine
As Iraqis cope with past injustices, so should Israelis Iraqis are looking courageously into their past, examining the attacks against the Jewish community in the 1950s that forced it to flee the country, and Israelis should do the same by acknowledging the Palestinians' suffering. Palestine
Hezbollah starts 2015 facing setbacks Hezbollah is set to face what could be an eventful year, after it has had a number of significant setbacks over the last few weeks. Lebanon
Bombs, shells mark Aleppo’s new year There were no signs of New Year's Eve celebrations in Aleppo’s rebel-held areas, as locals expressed their desire for the war to end. Syria
Cairo imposes new restrictions on travelers Egyptian authorities have implemented new measures to restrict the entry of foreigners and to prevent Egyptians from traveling to politically unfriendly countries like Qatar and Turkey. Qatar
Islamic State book burnings target minorities The Islamic State has imposed strict conditions for books entering Iraq by land, confiscating all those related to Christianity and slowly destroying cultural pluralism in Iraqi society. Iraq
