Iraqi Kurds vote to elect new parliament Iraqi Kurdistan held its parliamentary elections one year after its failed bid for independence, but low voter turnout and claims of voter fraud are tainting the results. Iraq
Lebanon’s next chapter: A new social contract Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil blames “foreign countries” for “disrespect of elections” in his country. Saudi Arabia
Erdogan in Germany: A controversial but successful visit Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Germany has been an achievement as he managed to return to Turkey without committing himself to improve the human rights and democracy record of his country while getting what he wanted. Turkey
Zarif: US 'obsession' with Iran is backfiring everywhere In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif discussed several topics from this week's UN General Assembly session. United States
UN warns of famine after Yemen talks sputter In an interview with Al-Monitor, the top UN aid official in Yemen warned that 10 million more people are at risk of starving if fighting in the war-torn country doesn’t stop. Saudi Arabia
Will Shiite militias become Iraq’s Basij? The Popular Mobilization Units are expanding their presence in the strategic city of Basra by forming a Voluntary Reserves force, similar to the Iranian Basij forces. Iraq
Head of PMU faction talks Iraqi politics, US relations The head of Asaib Ahl al-Haq, Qais al-Khazali, spoke to Al-Monitor about the Iraqi organization's history with the United States and current political positions. Iraq
Abbas’ UN speech draws deeper wedge between Palestinians Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip were deeply divided over President Mahmoud Abbas’ address to the UN General Assembly meeting, as Hamas and Fatah exchange attacks in the media while arrest campaigns on both sides continue. Palestine
Palestinian factions weigh options after Abbas’ threats As Palestinian factions hold numerous meetings to discuss ways to counter President Mahmoud Abbas’ threats against Hamas in Gaza, people there grow increasingly worried. Palestine
Diyanet flexes its muscles to back Erdogan’s soft power in Syria In Syria, Diyanet assumed a role beyond religious diplomacy in coordinating various aid, vocational and religious education agencies, all to win the hearts and minds of the locals. Syria
Dramatic demographic changes loom for Turkey, experts warn Turkey’s demographic fabric is expected to change dramatically in the coming decades, driven by a combination of factors, including the influx of migrants with high birth rates and Turkey’s own economic and political woes. Turkey
Netanyahu masters another show-and-tell at the UNGA Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu showed in a speech at the UN General Assembly meeting that he continues to lead a multiple-front campaign against Iran, and with intense squabbling among the leadership in Tehran, Israeli leaders sense that victory is near and possible. Israel
Saudi association to provide aid, training to Syrian town The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center partners with Istanbul-based Ihsan to open a youth support center in al-Atarib, west of Aleppo Saudi Arabia
Iran's metal bands inch toward acceptance Metal musicians in Iran have achieved several breakthroughs in the past three years, but they still have a long and uncertain way to go. Iran
What’s behind Netanyahu’s absence from UNESCO conference? The announcement of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejecting the invitation to a UNESCO conference sends a clear message: Israel will indeed quit the agency by the end of 2018. Israel
