Is this beginning of the end for Idlib's jihadi groups? Hayat Tahrir al-Sham is facing several setbacks in Idlib including internal discord as foreign powers plan a military offensive against them. Syria
Paris, Moscow agendas in Mideast are different but compatible France and Russia are polishing their diplomacy in the Middle East, and perhaps toward each other. Syria
Palestinian leader rejects compromise on 'martyr' stipends Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas zeroed in on the two-state solution in his speech to the UN General Assembly, giving no quarter to talk about compromising on the support provided to families of martyrs. Palestine
Aoun sees role for Hezbollah until threats to Lebanon cease Speaking to Al-Monitor ahead of his address to the UN General Assembly in New York, Lebanese President Michel Aoun spoke about the refugee crisis facing his country, Hezbollah's role amid the ongoing regional crisis and Beirut's expanding ties with Moscow. Lebanon
Tehran's Sunnis still waiting for their own mosque The campaign pushing for Iranian authorities to allow the construction of a purpose-built Sunni mosque in Tehran is gaining steam. Iran
Iranians welcome Rouhani’s response to Trump at UN Most Iranians, with the exception of some hard-liners, praised President Hassan Rouhani for his speech at the UN General Assembly. United States
Turkey’s shopping mall boom going bust Turkey’s shopping mall boom has been hit by economic problems stemming from the lira's decline against the dollar and poor planning. Turkey
Students, parents left in dark as Turkey scraps school entrance exam The Turkish government has suddenly moved to abolish a grueling standardized high school entrance exam without offering any plan to replace it. Turkey
Sectarianism in Iraq peaks ahead of Kurdistan referendum With the Kurdistan independence referendum just days away, politicians and the general public are fanning sectarian tension on both sides of the vote. Iraq
Saudis tout humanitarian record in Yemen amid Washington backlash Saudi Arabia’s top aid official is in the United States to convince lawmakers and the US aid agency that it has Yemenis’ best interests at heart. Saudi Arabia
Turkey’s ‘resistance media’ refuses to buckle A Turkish oppositional news site seeks recognition in the Guinness Book of World Records after 61 bans and as many reopenings. Turkey
Rouhani on Trump UN speech: 'Ignorant, absurd and hateful' Iranians reacted harshly to US President Donald Trump’s speech at the United Nations against Tehran and the JCPOA. United States
Where can ex-Erdoganists go? Dismissed from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s inner circles, the options for so-called X-Men are limited and unpleasant. Turkey
Turkish schools told to cut evolution, make room for Quran In nominally secular Turkey, the K-12 public curriculum has been updated to omit evolution and expand religious instruction. Turkey
A trip through Iran's Sunni heartland A journey into Iran's northwest cities of Bukan, Mahabad and Saqqez indicates that while Iranian Sunnis face discrimination, it is rooted in politics, not religion. Iran
New Israeli closure at Al-Aqsa escalates tensions Israeli-Jordanian ties are likely to deteriorate following an Israeli court decision to close the Bab al-Rahma building inside Al-Aqsa Mosque and to try the Islamic Religious Endowments as a terrorist organization. Palestine
