Iraq struggles to stop antiquities smuggling Iraq has managed to recover some smuggled antiquities, but illegal excavations and the theft of ancient artifacts continue. Iraq
Netanyahu-Obama meeting a show for home audiences Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will use his meeting with US President Barack Obama to drum up support at home, and Obama will have to watch his every move as the Republicans look to use any mistake against his candidate, Hillary Clinton. Israel
What’s really behind police raids on Israeli-Arab party? The Israeli Police are investigating Balad, an Israeli Arab party, for allegedly receiving illegal donations from Arab states. Israel
Why Iraq's Yazidis are upset over new film depicting IS massacres Women who suffered at the hand of the Islamic State are now being subjected to further humiliation, in the opinion of the Yazidi community, which is protesting a film on the topic that they say is inaccurate and misleading. Iraq
How will Israel respond to Assad’s warning? The missiles fired at Israeli fighter jets this week indicate that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad refuses to be held accountable for Syrian rebels’ stray mortar fire at Israel. Israel
Lebanon positions itself as hub for Syrian reconstruction Experts say that Lebanon has to prepare for Syria’s reconstruction once the war there ends or else it will be a missed opportunity to improve the Lebanese economy. Lebanon
Palestinians, Israelis harden positions ahead of UN summit Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas plans to shift from his traditional pragmatism and present hard-line positions in his speech at the upcoming UN General Assembly meeting. Palestine
What's on Rouhani's New York agenda? Under pressure over the underwhelming economic windfall in the wake of the nuclear deal, President Hassan Rouhani is expected to focus on ensuring that sanctions relief is better implemented during a trip to New York. Iran
'Settlement schmettlement': Turkish purges target Kurds Government crackdown targets include Kurds, military officers, educators and intellectuals, as well as supporters of Fethullah Gulen. Turkey
Why did Iraq's Shiite National Alliance choose new leader? After longtime disagreements, the Shiite National Alliance elects Ammar al-Hakim, the head of the Islamic Supreme Council, as president of the alliance, to revive and reorganize it. Iraq
Problems plague Egypt’s roads, rails Egypt's railroad safety is under discussion following recent train accidents. Egypt
Race tightens between Clinton, Trump With seven weeks left until the US presidential election, the race is essentially a statistical tie. United States
Egypt's divorced women demand their fair share of assets While divorced women in Egypt face significant financial difficulties, some have argued that proposed changes to laws violate Islamic law. Egypt
US election 2016: So Hillary Clinton has a cough. Who cares? Here's what happened on the campaign trail the week of Sept. 12. United States
Turkey’s senior citizens get their first university Akdeniz University has launched Turkey’s first academic program for senior citizens as the problem of an ageing population looms large for the country in the coming decades. Turkey
How are Aleppo's residents dealing with truce? Although aid convoys have yet to enter Aleppo as part of the latest US-Russia brokered cease-fire, Syrians are still satisfied with the relative calm following the truce’s implementation. Syria
