Hamas sweeps student council elections in West Bank The victory of Hamas in the West Bank university elections seems to indicate that support there is waning for the Palestinian Authority and Fatah. Palestine
Kerry, Zarif meet at Iranian envoy's residence The US secretary of state visits an Iranian diplomatic property in New York in a historic move related to the Iranian nuclear negotiations. Iran
Defense bill recognizes Iraq's Kurdish, Sunni militias as a 'country' The draft House bill carves out 25% of anti-Islamic State funding for the peshmerga and Sunni tribes. Iraq
Hariri: Late Syrian security chief tried to speak out A statement by Lebanon's former Prime Minister Saad Hariri that Rustom Ghazaleh asked to go on television before his death suggests the former Syrian intelligence chief was about to break with the Syrian government. Lebanon
Rouhani: Police should not enforce Islam Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has been criticized by conservative clerics for saying the police should enforce the law rather than Islam. Iran
In Turkey's battle of the G-words, Gallipoli wins The damage of the 1915 centennial is already done to Turkey’s international standing and only time may heal it. Turkey
Bennett's plan B: Education Ministry Having garnered fewer votes than expected in the recent election, HaBayit HaYehudi leader Naftali Bennett has put out the word that he'll settle for the Education Ministry, instead of the Foreign Ministry — raising concerns about whether he can serve as “everyone’s” education minister. Israel
Turks protest prison term for woman who killed her rapist A Turkish woman who murdered and beheaded her rapist has been sentenced to life in prison, prompting activists to decry the Turkish justice system, which so often offers leniency to men and harshly punishes women for the same crimes. Turkey
Kurds pay respects to Armenians Most of the massacres during the Armenian genocide were carried out in today's southeastern Turkey, often by Kurdish militias, but today Kurds commemorate the genocide in Diyarbakir. Turkey
Fewer flags fly on Israel's Independence Day The Israeli left is divided over whether to display flags on Independence Day, with some feeling that this national symbol has been commandeered by the right and no longer stands for what they believe in. Israel
Israeli High Court upholds anti-boycott law By defending a law sanctioning calls for economic, cultural or academic boycotts involving Israel, the Israeli High Court endorsed extending Israeli law over the West Bank while also damaging freedom of speech. Palestine
Abductions in Syria cause widespread fear The Islamic State and the Kurdish People's Protection Units have been carrying out kidnappings in Syria, both seemingly working toward the same goal: terrorizing those who do not support them. Syria
Iraq's Gypsy communities face discrimination Iraq’s Gypsy communities must lead clandestine lives to avoid persecution by the wider society in Iraq, particularly at the hands of religious extremists and conservatives. Iraq
Protest law stops Cairo band from playing free shows in metro Egyptian transit officials have made it difficult for the student band Metro Tune to brighten train riders’ days with performances of popular folk songs. Egypt
Yemen air force falls into grip of Houthis The Houthi takeover of the Yemeni air force led to the Saudi military intervention in Yemen, while al-Qaeda is using the absence of local forces to advance in strategic regions in the country. Yemen
Divorced women in Gaza denied custody rights Divorcees in Gaza face social marginalization when they refuse to relinquish their children to fathers they deem unfit to raise them. Palestine
