Is Saudi Arabia 'ready to turn page' on Iran? A shifting regional landscape may force a reset in Riyadh and Tehran; armed groups backed by the United States and Turkey battle outside Aleppo. Saudi Arabia
Why Turkey’s honey production is going sour Turkey’s honey production is the second largest in the world after China, but the sector is buzzing with allegations of fake honey. An upcoming international bee congress may be an opportunity to explain the matter. Turkey
Iraqi officials’ dual nationality allows for escape abroad The Iraqi Constitution forbids high-ranking officials from holding a second nationality, but many do so anyway, allowing those accused of corruption to flee the country on foreign passports. Iraq
US looks to Russia to avoid run-ins with Syrian troops in Deir ez-Zor The Pentagon is considering expanding its de-confliction agreements with Moscow as Bashar al-Assad’s forces and US-backed rebels both turn their attention to eastern Syria. Iraq
Iranian shareholders face rocky road ahead While the Tehran Stock Exchange has recently reversed its downward trend, fundamental interest rate and exchange rate reform are necessary to maintain the upward momentum. Iran
Netanyahu associate proposes bill granting PM immunity The problem with Knesset member David Amsalem's proposed legislation to prevent the interrogation of a sitting prime minister is the timing, its personal component and the fact that it could benefit Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's campaign. Israel
Will Abbas be forced to choose war against Israel? Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is starting to understand that the current situation cannot go on for much longer and soon he will have to choose between peace and war. Palestine
Palestinian refugees to return to Damascus camp after four years in the dark While the return of civilians to Damascus’ Sbeineh refugee camp has already begun, the road to full recovery for these camps remains long. Syria
Key Senate panel votes to slash Palestinian aid over ‘martyr’ payments The Senate Appropriations Committee wrapped the Taylor Force Act into its annual foreign aid spending bill, greatly improving its chances of becoming law. Palestine
Iranian Sunni leader voices concerns to Khamenei Iran’s most prominent Sunni leader thanked Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for publicly addressing his concerns about discrimination. Iran
Iranian Foreign Ministry set for sweeping change Having spent most of his first term negotiating the nuclear deal, Iran’s foreign minister is now set to implement sweeping structural changes in the Foreign Ministry. Iran
Shock, confusion in Egypt over US aid cut The Trump administration has cut hundreds of millions in military and economic assistance to Egypt, which has been criticized for its human rights record under President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Egypt
Celebrity incest scandal yanks abuse out from under Turkish rug A scandal over a celebrity’s incestuous relationship has forced Turkey to discuss its dark secrets about widespread abuse. Turkey
Despite tension, Syrian refugees find sympathy in Lebanese villages While Lebanon’s impoverished border towns are generally more concerned with pre-existing hardships than those brought by Syrian refugees, some xenophobia has crept into these areas. Lebanon
Israel's construction sector deadly for Arab workers Lawyer Hadas Tagari is collecting and publishing data on the troubling number of deaths in Israel's construction sector, mainly among Arab laborers, to bring attention to the problem. Palestine
Churches reject attempts to weaken Christian presence in Jerusalem As the Israeli-Palestinian peace process is stalled and the Israeli right-wing government is working to expand settlements, Jerusalem-based churches find themselves once again in the spotlight with talks about them selling lands to Israel. Palestine
