Standstill persists in Lebanon Lebanon has been without a president for over a year now, and the current international pressure to hold elections is not going over well with the country's term-extending parliament. Lebanon
Iraq tries to help shake stigma of orphans The Iraqi government and society must do more to end "honor killings" of women who give birth out of wedlock and to provide care and compassion for the children left behind. Iraq
Israeli journalist archives lives of Palestinian citizens Jewish Israeli photojournalist Miki Kratsman has been posting photos of Palestinians he took while covering the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for over 30 years, and asking about what happened to them. Palestine
Is this the next movie to be banned by Egypt? Al-Azhar says it opposes the Iranian movie “Muhammad: The Messenger of God” because of representations of the prophet, but some suspect political motives behind its reaction. Egypt
Pressure shifts to Iran to implement nuclear deal No sanctions to be lifted until Iran puts in place unprecedented nuclear safeguards; White House spokesman calls out critics of Syria policy; Aleppo region a "living hell"; siege of Madaya continues. Syria
Will Rouhani end jamming of satellite TV signals? In Iran, controversy continues over the hotly debated issue of the jamming of signals from foreign-based satellite channels. Iran
US announces nuke deal implementation team Outgoing ambassador to Poland Stephen Mull, a former senior adviser to William Burns, will lead the team coordinating the Iran nuclear deal implementation. US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Jarrett Blanc will serve as deputy coordinator. Iran
Why Iran, Saudi Arabia keep locking horns on Syria The window of opportunity for regional dialogue provided by the Iran nuclear deal appears wasted as Tehran and Riyadh stick to their positions. Saudi Arabia
Is AKP heading for a split? With his strong grip on the ruling Justice and Development Party, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has made decisions that could cause a split in the ranks after the Nov. 1 election. Turkey
Kurds demand answers after battles in Cizre Controversy simmers over what exactly happened in Cizre as the town emerges devastated from a weeklong curfew, imposed with the stated aim of uprooting Kurdish militants entrenched in residential areas. Syria
Al-Aqsa incursions strain Jordan-Israel ties With Israel's daily incursions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, Jordan's King Abdullah may have no choice but to press for diplomatic sanctions, threatening 20 years of peace between the two countries. Israel
Is this Israeli banking's next 'iron lady'? Bank Leumi CEO Rakefet Russak-Aminoach was named one of Fortune Magazine's powerful women of 2015, though in Israel she is perceived as insensitive to social justice issues. Israel
'Ghost apartments' haunt Jerusalem Foreigners from around the globe are buying luxury apartments in Jerusalem to spend the holidays there, and the effect on the local housing market is hard to deny. Israel
What's behind PA's call to welcome Syrian refugees? The Palestinian Authority says it is ready to welcome Palestinian and Syrian refugees displaced from Syria, despite the current unlikeliness of such a measure amid restrictions imposed by Israel. Palestine
Who are Temple Mount's Mourabitoun? In an Al-Monitor interview, a female Muslim activist discusses her organization's perspective on defending the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound against what it views as encroaching Jewish pilgrims and activists. Palestine
Villages abandoned as Syrians flee northern Aleppo The northern countryside of Aleppo has been emptied as thousands fled to surrounding areas following the intensification of the Islamic State attacks in August. Syria
