Salih: Iraq can be a 'bridge to the economies of the region' Iraqi president charts new direction for Iraqi foreign policy based on "interrelated interests" at Sulaimani Forum; Iraq-Jordan trade deal should help address Jordan’s unemployment crisis; Rouhani arrives in Iraq to boost trade; US shifted arms from Iraq to Syria in second half of 2018. By Week in Review
Plan to charge allies for US troop presence carries risks for Americans in North Africa US President Donald Trump’s reported plan to charge allies for US military bases could make it harder to protect diplomats and embassies throughout Africa. By Jack Detsch
Rouhani goes to Iraq to boost trade, assert authority at home President Hassan Rouhani’s landmark visit to Iraq is not just about expanding trade to deflect US pressure on the Iranian economy, but also to boost his administration’s standing in Tehran. By Mohammad Ali Shabani
Egypt celebrates its own Women's Day As Egyptian women celebrate the 100-year anniversary of their participation in the first march during the 1919 revolution, the National Council for Women sheds light on their achievements. By N.A. Hussein
Iraqi officials stress need to boost Arab ties while balancing relations with Iran Iraqi officials and their Arab counterparts at the 2019 Sulaimaniyah Forum called for turning toward other Arab states while balancing relations with Tehran. By Ali Mamouri
Is Ankara’s religious education drive stumbling? Despite Ankara’s unrelenting drive to expand religious education, enrollment in religious schools has remained below the government’s targets. By Sibel Hurtas
Turkey’s WomanTV offers new voice on women’s issues A new TV station is taking on femicide, glass ceilings and violence, as well as sharing success stories of women in Turkey. By Nazlan Ertan In Izmir, reporting on culture
Did Iran ever stop funding Hamas? Iran has reportedly resumed its aid to the Palestinian Hamas movement, after years of estrangement over regional issues. By Ahmad Abu Amer
Women break their silence at Lebanon's monodrama festival The Lebanon International Women Monodrama Festival, which opens on International Women's Day, provides a platform for female voices to be heard without interruption or suppression. By Sam Brennan
Gaza aid cannot wait while Israel holds elections On the backdrop of the growing crisis in the Gaza Strip, Israel, Qatar and Egypt are discussing the idea of humanitarian aid supplies financed by Qatar. By Shlomi Eldar
Is Israel headed for national unity government? According to current polls, neither Likud nor Blue and White alliance would be able to assemble a governing coalition after elections, raising a number of even more unlikely scenarios for doing so. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Why is two-state solution absent from Blue and White party charter? The charter of the new Blue and White party veers to the right, thus offering Zionist left-wing Labor and Meretz parties an opportunity to reattract voters who support the two-state solution. By Mazal Mualem In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics
Egypt’s first sovereign wealth fund to tap unused assets Egypt recently announced the establishment of a sovereign wealth fund aimed at managing the state’s unused assets to promote development and investment projects. By Ahmed Elleithy
What was Hamas’ Haniyeh doing in Egypt for 25 days? Although Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh’s long visit to Egypt achieved positive results, including the release of four Hamas members abducted in 2015, many pending issues remain unresolved. By Adnan Abu Amer
How did Lavrov do on his Gulf tour? During his tour of the Gulf, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov treaded carefully around politics, opting to speak publicly about a safer topic, economics. By Marianna Belenkaya
Turkish economy faces grim outlook for 2019 THE OECD forecasts that the Turkish economy, after contracting this year, should grow again next year; Erdogan goes after former presidential candidate Meral Aksener. By Jasper Mortimer