Riada Asimovic Akyol on why she writes Al-Monitor contributor Riada Asimovic Akyol shares her thoughts on journalism. Culture & Society
Amberin Zaman on why she writes Al-Monitor columnist Amberin Zaman shares her thoughts on journalism. Syria
Rafsanjani: Iran’s hard-liners 'in harmony with Netanyahu' Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani has said that Iran's hard-liners are in line with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in opposing a nuclear deal with the West, drawing the ire of one of Iran's most conservative newspapers. Iran
Will Bibi's speech to Congress help his campaign? The Likud Party hopes that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech before the US Congress will stop the past few days' trend in polls of losing votes, just in time for Election Day. Israel
Iraqi provinces take ex-Baathists to court Iraq's de-Baathification law has been a matter of controversy since its adoption in 2003, as some argue that the firm measures against former Baathists led to terrorism. Iraq
Iranian banks on shaky ground Toxic loans coupled with crippling sanctions have led Iranian banks to be running out of capital, pushing deposit-taking banks to offer higher rates than monetary officials insist on. Iran
Bibi's 'House of Cards' moment Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has maneuvered himself into a win-win position: If an Iranian agreement isn’t reached, he'll celebrate all the way to the ballot box; if not, he can say that at least he tried to avert the catastrophe. Israel
Iran's female editors rise to the top despite challenges Despite a growth of female journalists in Iranian media, they still face various barriers and limits. Iran
Former Turkish first lady urges progress through education Al-Monitor's exclusive interview with Turkey's former first lady, Hayrunnisa Gul. Turkey
IS eager to confront US ground forces in Iraq Islamic State propaganda makes clear its desire to draw the United States into deploying combat troops, setting up a potentially direct confrontation. Iraq
What a Houthi-controlled Yemen means for women Female activists in Yemen say that their situation under the Houthis’ control of the country is much worse than before the 2011 protest, when women were able to achieve significant gains. Yemen
Retiring officials trigger security concerns in Lebanon In light of the presidential vacuum, Lebanese political forces have established a new mechanism for making decisions in Cabinet, a formula that will be tested when a number of key security officials retire in 2015. Lebanon
Hamas accused of interfering in Jordan MB The Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood is accusing Hamas of establishing a secret organization within the kingdom, which the movement denied. Jordan
Meet Estayqazat, Syria’s online feminist movement Estayqazat, a Syrian feminist movement, seeks to empower women to accept and freely talk about their sexuality, which is a taboo subject in Syria's patriarchal society. Syria
Focused on Iran, Bibi ignores Israel's economic crisis Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke eloquently to Congress about Iran and the reception he received was warm, but now he has to win the support of an Israeli electorate struggling financially and increasingly alienated from him. Israel
The female 'rock stars' of terror Women such as Saja al-Dulaimi and Joumana Hmayed are often used for smuggling messages, money and arms by extremist groups in addition to suicide bombing operations. Lebanon
