All Middle East
Amid war, ancient art is timely reminder of ‘dignity’For Afghanistan, rediscovering ancient art promises more than just reconnecting with the past, but finding the pride to persevere in the present.
ISIS after Baghdadi? Why experts urge sustained vigilance.With the death of Baghdadi, ISIS has now lost both its leader and the territory behind its narrative. But it still has a story to tell.
First LookAbu Bakr al-Baghdadi: The rise and fall of an Islamic terroristAbu Bakr al-Baghdadi, a brutal terrorist, built and lost a "caliphate" that spanned Iraq and Syria. He died Saturday when he detonated a suicide vest.
In Lebanon’s protests, a radical surge toward unityLebanon’s sectarian formula kept a fragile balance, and the peace, for years. But demands for economic reforms are crossing barriers.
Russia gloats as US leaves Syria – but frets about keeping the peaceRussia has insisted that the U.S. needed to play a role in brokering peace in Syria. But with the cease-fire deal, it’s now all up to the Kremlin.
The Moroccan market where women ruleWomen at a bustling Moroccan rug market found they maximize their profits by cutting out the middlemen. Most men, actually.
For Syrian Kurds, lost dreams and a betrayal that stingsOutgunned by Turkey and feeling betrayed by President Trump, where do Syria’s Kurds go from here?
First LookWhy U.S. troops in Syria are going to Iraq, not homeThe Pentagon chief says all U.S. troops leaving Syria will go to western Iraq and they will continue operations against the Islamic State from there.
Why Trump’s withdrawal from Syria has Israel on edgePresident Trump’s withdrawal from Syria has refocused Israelis on what they want most from the U.S. – for it to remain active in the region.
In Turkey, killing ‘terrorists’ in Syria sold as worth the costAs Turkey tries to ride out an economic crisis, the incursion into Syria to fight Kurdish “terrorists” is already facing unanticipated costs.
Professor vs. media mogul: Populism plays in Tunisia, tooIn Tunisia’s presidential runoff, the issues are political reform and battling corrupt elites. It’s anti-establishment populism, without xenophobia.
In Iraq’s protests, a popular cry to reform a broken political systemA weeklong display of rage over persistent unemployment and corruption in Iraq left at least 165 people dead and more than 6,000 wounded.
First LookWhat Turkey wants after U.S. leaves Syrian borderTurkey says it wants Syrian Kurds – U.S. allies – out of the Syrian border area. The U.S. no longer stands in the way. What's the local impact?
First LookU.S. troops abandon northern Syria as Turkey preps for invasionMajor U.S. policy shift: Syrian Kurdish fighters accuse Washington of failing to abide by its commitments to its key allies in the fight against ISIS.
First LookIraqi government desperate to quell street protestsIraq's prime minister announced a 17-point plan Saturday to appease the protesters, including paying out unemployment benefits. Will it work?
Dictator: deposed. Democracy: check. But what about jobs?The Tunisian freedom fighters who delivered democracy cannot rest on their laurels in the current elections. The people want jobs, too.
Taste of Tunisia: Cafe culture is democratic, and upliftingCafes are Tunisia’s “great equalizer” – both a crossroads and a haven where all, even the unemployed, can afford a seat and a cup of coffee.
First LookMore Iranians buy homes in Turkey as a 'plan B' under sanctionsIt's now easier to get a Turkish passport when buying a home in the country. This increasingly draws Iranian buyers who want to avoid U.S. sanctions.
As a generation of Syrian refugees comes of age, what future awaits?What happens when primary and secondary school are the focus of aid for refugees, but not college? Syrian students search for ways to keep learning.
First LookYemen rebels free 290 detainees, reviving hopes for talksHouthi rebels released several hundred prisoners Monday. The country has been in civil war since 2014 when the rebels overran the capital.
