Lobbying 2015: US won't let Syria drag down Lebanon Lebanon’s central bank and its private financial firms are spending big money to prevent US pressure from unraveling one of the only sectors that still functions in the politically gridlocked nation. Lebanon
Lobbying 2015: Chaos in Libya confounds Congress Libya’s lobbying campaign can seem almost as chaotic as the country itself. Libya
Iranian hard-liners take aim at culture minister Already holding two "yellow cards" from parliament, Iran's culture minister may be on the verge of impeachment as conservatives ramp up criticism. Iran
Conservatives increase pressure on Rouhani Nuclear deal or no deal, Iranian conservatives who have anxiously been losing ground now face further isolation by President Hassan Rouhani's reforms and will redouble their political efforts. Iran
Turkish media digs deeper into gold mogul corruption scandal New media reports on Reza Zarrab, an Iranian-born Turkish businessman accused in Turkey’s infamous December 2013 corruption probe, could have serious repercussions for Ankara and Tehran. Turkey
Are Turkish courts delaying trials of IS militants? Although the latest wave of detentions of Islamic State militants and sympathizers have pleased the Turkish public, lawyer Ali Cil questions the handling of the Turkish judiciary in the Nigde case so far. Turkey
Lobbying 2015: Turkey resents America’s love story with the Kurds The United States and Turkey are finding ways to work together in Syria and Iraq despite Washington’s growing concerns with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s authoritarian streak. Syria
Lobbying 2015: Iraq turns to US to keep country together Iraq launched a massive lobbying push two years ago to convince the US not to let the country fall apart. With the Islamic State finally on the defensive, are Kurdish dreams of independence the next target? Iraq
Gaza money traders profit from dollar-shekel exchange rate manipulations Gazans are calling for tighter monitoring by the authorities over money traders, who they believe are manipulating dollar-shekel exchange rates to their advantage. Palestine
Pink taxis seek to put brakes on harassment of women One Egyptian is bringing the "pink taxi" initiative to his country, a project to offer women safer and more comfortable public transportation. Egypt
Will nuke deal open door to Iranian military assistance to Lebanon? The Iranian nuclear agreement has removed a major obstacle to Tehran's offer of military assistance to Lebanon, but government dysfunction in Beirut remains a stumbling block. Lebanon
Few dengbejs remain to sing Kurdish stories In the old city of Diyarbakir, a dengbej house was established for the few remaining Kurdish storytellers to gather and try to keep their tradition alive, although younger generations are resorting to pop culture to convey the people’s suffering. Syria
Suffering in silence, Sudanese refugees now migrating from Egypt Egypt’s Sudanese refugee community looks to the Mediterranean as a way out of the intimidation and corruption they face in Egypt. Egypt
Ein Karem: One village, three religions Jews, Christians and Muslims have all made Jerusalem's Ein Karem neighborhood their home over the centuries. Israel
Is Islamic State threatening Jerusalem’s Christians? Although raising initial concerns among Jerusalem's Palestinian Christian community, an alleged threat by the Islamic State fell largely on defiant ears. Palestine
As terror attacks continue, Iraqi government prioritizes nightclub raids The ongoing attacks against nightclubs and liquor stores in Baghdad suggest an alliance between religious currents and the Iraqi government. Iraq
