All Middle East
- Turkey's Erdogan appears to be back in control, taking aim at new elections
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan appears to be betting that a new ballot could revive the fortunes of the Islamic-rooted party, which he founded and led for more than a decade – putting him back on course to reshape Turkey's democracy.
- Is Iran deal a threat to Israel? New signs military is at odds with Netanyahu.
An overview of Israel's strategic doctrine authored by its military chief of staff, and the first ever made public, barely mentions Iran or its nuclear program.
- For Kurdish youth in Turkey, autonomy is no longer enough
Youth in Diyarbakir, the Kurdish 'capital' in Turkey's southeast, have been celebrating triumphs on the battlefield and at the ballot box, even as a peace process with Turkey unravels.
- Palestinian shot after stabbing Israeli soldier
The Palestinian approached the Israeli troops and asked for a glass of water. He then stabbed an Israeli soldier, says the Israeli military.
- Over 60 killed as IS detonates truck bomb in Baghdad market
The Islamic militant group claimed responsibility on social media for the deadly explosion, which also injured more than 100 people.
- Deadly attacks in Syria as Iranian foreign minister visits
Wednesday's surge in violence underscored the improbability of efforts to bring about a truce anytime soon in a conflict that has killed more than 250,000 people.
- Iraqis hail anticorruption reforms, but legal and political hurdles remain
Passage of the political reforms aimed at reducing corruption, following a wave of public protests, produced euphoria over 'a new chapter for a new Iraq.'
- In Iraq's anticorruption reforms, a rejection of US-backed model
The US had demanded broader representation of Iraq's ethnic groups in top positions to enhance government legitimacy. But the expensive posts, seen as encouraging corruption, are being eliminated.
- Iraqi parliament approves government reform plan
The reforms dismantle parts of the top-heavy government created in the wake of the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled dictator Saddam Hussein.
- Islamic State recruiters a source of anguish in conservative Kurdish town
The suspects in two recent bombings in Turkey came from Adiyaman, where Islamic State recruiters had been active. Relatives of the suspects complain that police had failed to heed their warnings about the militants' tactics.
- US journalist could soon learn verdict in Iran spy case
The case against Jason Rezaian has been playing out as Iran negotiated with the US and other world powers to reach a landmark deal that gives the Islamic Republic relief from crippling sanctions in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program.
- Father of toddler killed in West Bank firebombing has died
The father of a Palestinian toddler killed in a firebomb attack blamed on Jewish extremists has died of wounds sustained in the same incident. Ali Dawabsheh, 18 months, perished in the flames, while his 4-year-old brother and parents were seriously hurt.
- Syrian talks with rebels stumble on 'sectarian cleansing' allegations
Syria and its ally Iran are negotiating with rebels over a population swap: Sunnis would leave a town sought for an evolving Assad regime enclave in return for the transfer of besieged Shiite communities.