Turkey delays dam plans, granting Iraq brief reprieve Ankara puts off filling its Ilisu Dam for the second time to temporarily ease Iraqis' fear that their water shortage will worsen. Iraq
Disputes over election results flare after Baghdad ballot fire Following the arson attack on the ballot storage center in Baghdad, the government faces no easy choices, as some demand a rerun of the election and some others warn of a civil war if that happens. Iraq
Iranian nationalism grows amid rising US pressure The US administration and its regional allies' policies toward the Islamic Republic appear to be fueling a rise in nationalist sentiment in Iran. Syria
Israeli minister offers creative approach to easing Gaza siege Undeterred by objections in the governing coalition, Transportation and Intelligence Affairs Minister Yisrael Katz continues to push his plan to construct an island off Gaza to provide it access to the outside world. Palestine
Syria's not waiting for peace to rebuild, and Iran wants to help There's a lot of talk about reconstructing Syria, but at the moment, Iran seems to be the only country actively working toward that end. Syria
US recognition of Jerusalem backfires on Israel Argentina's cancellation of a soccer match over the match’s relocation to Jerusalem is a clear sign that most of the world considers large parts of Jerusalem to be occupied land. Palestine
US loses leverage to stop Yemen operation Congress is calling on the Pentagon to try to prevent a UAE-backed attack against Yemen’s largest Houthi-held port, but analysts said it’s unclear whether the United States has much leverage. Saudi Arabia
Can Egyptian families be persuaded that less is more? Egypt's recent family planning policies are educating couples on the number of children to have, debunking the idea that having many children means a source of income now and later in life. Egypt
Iran could become collateral damage of OPEC decision If OPEC decides this month to increase oil output, it will probably be the result of a simple economic decision and not any desire by Riyadh and Moscow to cater to the United States. Saudi Arabia
Turkish airstrikes hit Iraq as Erdogan calls for draining 'terror swamp' Turkey's president is boasting of new anti-terror operations in northern Iraq, but no reports have emerged of a ground offensive and the consensus is that Erdogan’s latest chest-pounding is more about winning votes than fighting Kurdish militants. Syria
Iran highlights ‘multilateralism,’ warns North Korea in Shanghai summit Iran highlights the role of multilateralism at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, while a Foreign Ministry official warns North Korea to "be careful" when it comes to a deal with the US. Iran
Is Ankara trying to change demographics in Turkey's Kurdish regions? The Turkish government’s decision to grant citizenship to Meskhetian Turks deported during the Soviet era pleases the Meskhetians, but raises the question of whether it constitutes intentional demographic change in Turkey’s Kurdish regions. Turkey
How foreign investors force Ankara to toe the line With nearly $700 billion in various assets in Turkey, foreign investors represent a crucial factor of pressure on Ankara's economic policies. Turkey
Palestinian social security institution rolls out its services The board of directors of the Palestinian Social Security Institution announced that the agency has been launched and has a three-step plan to gradually carry out its duties based on the provisions of the Social Security Law. Palestine
Did hard-liners dupe Reformists in struggle for Iran's parliament? While the Reformists again failed to win the speakership in the Iranian parliament, their maneuvering displayed a willingness, for better or for worse, to forge a partnership with the hard-liners. Iran
Sadr welcomes return of Iraqi Jews Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr has spoken out in favor of allowing Iraqi Jews to return home after decades in exile. Iraq
