Putin eyes visit to Baghdad amid growing Russian-Iraqi contacts Contacts between Moscow and Baghdad have increased lately and President Putin may visit Iraq early next year. Iraq
Iran's conservatives return to Telegram after failed ban After banning Telegram, Iran's conservatives are now returning to the messaging app to protect Iranians from "the poisoned propaganda of the enemy." Iran
Turkey, Russia, Iran convene in Astana for Syria talks The 11th Astana meeting between Moscow, Tehran and Ankara reportedly focused on maintaining the cease-fire in Idlib as flare-ups threaten to ignite the area. Syria
Iranians hail Europe's 'practical step' in safeguarding nuclear deal Iranians have cautiously welcomed reports that France and Germany are establishing a channel for trade with Iran and help salvage the nuclear deal. Iran
Turkey can't build prisons fast enough to house convict influx Turkey has incarcerated so many people on terror and drug-related charges that its prisoner population far exceeds its capacity and overcrowding has become a thorny issue. Turkey
How Soros turned from friend to foe for Erdogan The Open Society Foundation is pulling out from Turkey amid a vitriolic campaign demonizing its sponsor, George Soros, as a backer of forces that seek to unseat President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Turkey
Political vacuum in Palestine leaves fertile ground for radical groups The lack of progress in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is creating opportunities for extremist groups to re-emerge, such as Hizb ut-Tahrir, which calls for the return of the Islamic caliphate. Palestine
Why Ghouta refugees in Afrin refused to send their children to school The displaced from eastern Ghouta protested a decision by Afrin’s local council to ban schools set up by them, by refusing to send their children to mixed schools. Syria
Iran moves forward with railway link to Syria via Iraq Iran is building a 20-mile stretch of railway that will connect railways throughout Iraq to neighboring Syria. Iraq
Will new water-saving measures at Egypt's mosques help save water? The Egyptian ministries of religious endowments and water resources and irrigation are collaborating on a new project to install water-saving nozzles in mosques and churches in order to rationalize water consumption. Egypt
Hamas politicos make rounds internationally to gain backing Hamas' Change and Reform bloc, looking to drum up support for Palestinians and improve bilateral relations, is taking its cause on the road. Palestine
Why Iran is also a strategic asset for Israel A significant number of Arab and Muslim leaders in the Middle East and the world fear Iran. For them, Israel is the only real answer to the Iranian threat and the only country able to confront it. Saudi Arabia
El Al caves to ultra-Orthodox threats, retracts blame for flight fiasco Following an outrageous incident in which a flight was forced to land in Greece to avoid the Sabbath, Israel's national carrier El Al has backed down from identifying ultra-Orthodox passengers as the cause of the commotion for fear of a boycott. Israel
Lebanese groups work to protect striped hyenas Misconceptions have led to fear of the striped hyena, the national animal of Lebanon, and the shy creature is often illegally hunted despite the key role it plays in the country's ecosystem. Lebanon
Trump administration launches last-ditch effort to halt anti-Saudi bills The Donald Trump administration is briefing the Senate on Riyadh’s murder of Jamal Khashoggi in a last-ditch bid to kill a resolution intended to end US support for the Saudi coalition in Yemen. Saudi Arabia
Turkey's ruling party cuts deal with nationalist MHP on mayoral races Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party has agreed to coordinate with its nationalist rival in the upcoming municipal elections as a damning survey showed Turkey's best districts are run by the opposition. Turkey
