Saudi Arabia hires star lawyer to fight anti-oil cartel bill Former Republican Solicitor General Ted Olson is being paid to push back against bipartisan legislation challenging OPEC’s dominance. Saudi Arabia
Pompeo guarantees fail to assuage Congress on Yemen war With bipartisan opposition to the Yemen war steadily growing, a Democratic wave in November could force the Donald Trump administration to end support for the Saudi coalition. Yemen
Can Erdogan intimidate Assad into backing off Idlib? Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has vowed not to "watch from the sidelines" amid news of increased arms supplies flowing from Turkey to Syrian opposition rebels. Syria
Pressure mounts on Iran's president to skip the UN General Assembly The Iranian president’s planned trip to New York to attend the UN General Assembly is sparking divisions among his political backers and opponents. United States
Jailed Palestinian writer pens story for children of prisoners Behind bars since the age of 25, 57-year-old Palestinian writer Walid Daqqa sends out a message of hope in a book for children of parents caught in prison or the wider occupied territories. Palestine
Iraqi planes land in Damascus following 7-year hiatus Iraq begins direct flights from Baghdad to Damascus after improvements in Syria's security, much to the delight of religious tourists. Iraq
Israel claims Hamas has women activists in Hebron Israeli security forces say they have evidence that Hamas has recruited women to a cell in Hebron, though political analysts believe it's very unlikely that Hamas would involve women in military actions in the West Bank. Palestine
Fatah brings Hamas-Israel truce talks back to square one After meeting recently with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Egypt has frozen the truce talks between Hamas and Israel and will focus its efforts on reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas. Palestine
Is Trump pushing Abbas to dismantle the Palestinian Authority? Senior Palestinian official Saeb Erekat claims the Trump administration has orchestrated an offensive campaign against the Palestinians. Palestine
East Jerusalem to get 75 new housing units for Jews Jewish settlers are celebrating the Jerusalem municipality’s decision to build 75 apartments reserved for Jews in the Palestinian neighborhood of Beit Hanina. Palestine
The last liberals of the Likud The public position that President Reuven Rivlin and Knesset member Benny Begin have taken against the Nationality Law and attacks on the Supreme Court have left them in the minority within the Likud Party. Israel
Can the Knesset rein in the Israel Police? A parliamentary committee of inquiry is necessary to get to the bottom of the affair involving Gal Hirsch, whose appointment to be police commissioner was scuttled by news of a police investigation into his activities, and the apparent practice of the police to compile incriminating intelligence on Israeli politicians and others. Israel
US-PLO row jeopardizes consular services for Palestinians Visas and other services may be collateral damage as the Donald Trump administration closes the Palestine Liberation Organization’s mission office in Washington. Palestine
Dollar bills buy Turkish singer big trouble Turkish pop star Mabel Matiz is the latest public figure under investigation after he had the misfortune to appear in a music video with one-dollar notes, which the government claims Gulenists use as a secret messaging system. Turkey
Iran government takes crucial step toward ending education discrimination The Iranian government is one step closer to eradicating discrimination against those deprived of higher education, but a cloud of uncertainty still hovers over the fate of Bahais. Iran
Church groups outraged as US denies critical support to Jerusalem hospitals US President Donald Trump's decision to redirect $25 million earmarked for Palestinians in East Jerusalem hospitals to "high-priority projects elsewhere" leaves seriously ill patients caught in the middle of "political blackmail." Palestine
