Who is who in Syria’s first interim government after Assad's fall HTS and its government arm have installed a new interim prime minister and cabinet in Damascus. Who are they? Syria
Analysis With Gulen dead, Turkey sees chance to weaken group, improve US ties How Turkey will shape its strategy against Gulenists after the death of their leader, Ankara's arch nemesis? By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Son of Osama bin Laden deported, banned from France: What we know French authorities have deported Omar bin Laden, son of Osama bin Laden, and banned him from returning to the country. Saudi Arabia
Jordan's Islamist party gains in parliamentary elections Initial results showed the Islamic Action Front, Jordan's largest opposition party, having won 18 seats on the national party list and 14 seats on local lists and tribal regions. Jordan
Analysis How Israel’s far right is courting European populist, nationalist parties By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Conservative groups seek to shut down concerts in Iraq Iraqis fear that Islamic parties and armed religious groups are trying to impose their fundamentalist views on social and personal freedoms. Iraq
Turkey’s belly dancers can't shake government TV censors Gone are the days where belly dancers appeared on Turkish TVs as part of the country's New Year's Eve celebrations. Turkey
Najaf seminary prepares for post-Sistani Iraq The opening of Sheikh Baqir al-Irawani’s office in Najaf indicates that he may be preparing to be one of the successors to 92-year-old Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, head of the Shiite religious authority. Iraq
Egyptian liberals outraged by lawyer's blasphemy indictment The sentencing of lawyer and Islamic thinker Ahmed Abdo Maher to five years in prison over remarks defaming Islam has sparked controversy in Egypt, accentuating the divide between liberals and ultra-conservatives. Egypt
Hamas student group hosts military exhibition in Gaza The Islamic Bloc, Hamas' student wing, held an exhibition in the Gaza Strip to showcase Hamas' history and military prowess. Palestine
HTS makes rival jihadis in Syria's Idlib take Sharia courses, give up weapons Hayat Tahrir al-Sham managed to eliminate the jihadist Jundallah organization, forcing its operatives to hand over their weapons and take Sharia courses. By Khaled al-Khateb
Why are Turkish-allied formations collapsing in Syria? Factions pulling out of the recently formed Syrian Liberation Front raise questions about the future of Turkish-backed rebel groups. Syria
Activists call Tunisia's first female prime minister mere distraction Tunisia's president has appointed a female prime minister, a first in the Arab world, but he has been both cheered and accused of using her to deflect attention from his policies. North Africa
Tunisia's Ennahda party shaken by resignations, political crisis The Islamic Ennahda movement is facing a wave of resignations that are depriving it of its historical leadership and popular base after being the country’s ruling party since 2011. Tunisia
Grand Ayatollah Hakim's passing affects Iraqi Shiite politics Following the death of Grand Ayatollah Sayyed Mohammed Saeed al-Hakim, one of Iraq’s most senior and influential Muslim Shiite clerics, the family lost one of its sources of religious, social and political power. Iraq
Egypt seeks help from NGOs to advance social protection programs The Egyptian government is working with NGOs to advance social protection programs despite criticism that the state is seeking to control these associations and eliminate political Islam. Egypt
Is Brotherhood’s appeal for reconciliation with Cairo genuine? It seems the Egyptian state will not respond to the recent Muslim Brotherhood calls for reconciliation, despite pressure by the US administration to fix its human rights record. Egypt
