All Middle East
First LookIran's Rouhani visits Baghdad, calls for 'unity'Iranian President Hassan Rouhani made his first official visit to Iraq on Monday. Historically at odds, the two nations became strange bedfellows in the war against ISIS – a partnership Mr. Rouhani would like to expand now that the Trump administration has reimposed economic sanctions.
As politics around the world pull apart, can the center rally?Amid the polarization of the world today, some are increasingly calling for a return to the moderate middle. But centrism’s definition, popularity, and practicality all depend on where you are standing.
First LookAfter a generation of war, a slow return to normalcy in BaghdadBaghdad endured almost-daily bombings for 15 years after the 2003 U.S. invasion. But two years after the Islamic State's defeat, Iraqis are cautiously optimistic as street vendors return and concrete barriers have come down across the main commercial district.
Gaza youths shot at the border struggle to see the futureMany young Gazans who were motivated to protest against Israel at the border as a national act of heroism are now grappling with the enduring heavy cost of wounds they suffered facing live sniper fire.
As Turkey gears up for election, hostility at the vegetable tentA full larder means a happy voter? That’s one theory being used to entice Turks. But an American reporter visiting a produce market also encounters rancor, another part of the vote-getting pitch.
As Netanyahu rails against 'witch hunt,' some Israelis see end of an eraWhat does it mean for a democracy to have a leader indicted for corruption? That’s a question being asked in Israel, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a political survivor, heads to elections.
First LookUS closes consulate in Jerusalem, says no policy shiftThe move, which infuriated Palestinians when it was first announced in October last year, hands over the control of US diplomatic channels with the West Bank and Gaza to ambassador David Friedman, a longtime supporter for the West Bank settler movement.
New Arab military force to reckon with as 'Little Sparta' risesThe Middle East's leadership seems suddenly in flux: The Saudis have been humbled, and the US posture toned down. Can a tiny, wealthy emirate rebrand itself to fill the void and become a regional power?
First LookCorruption charges ensnare Netanyahu weeks before electionAfter two years of investigation, Israel's attorney general has recommended Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu be indicted on several corruption charges, a momentous move that will likely turn Israel's election into a referendum on the prime minister.
First LookGaza Strip struggles to address burgeoning opioid crisisYears of blockades, conflict, and mass unemployment have fueled an underground illicit drug industry that is now spilling out as an opioid crisis in Gaza Strip. Treatment facilities say they lack the resources to properly help those wanting to be free of addictions.
First LookIran's foreign minister resigns as his nuclear deal verges on collapseIranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif resigned Monday in a surprise move that leaves President Hassan Rouhani without one of his main allies in pushing for further negotiations with the West. Analysts say a negotiation-seeking foreign minister is falling out of favor in Iran.
Amid US talks with Taliban, Afghan women remain vigilantAs the US prepares to pull out of Afghanistan, many women are, unsurprisingly, worried they will face heightened risks and challenges. But our correspondent found a spirit of determined optimism too.
First LookIsraeli startups align with firms making lab-grown 'clean meat'Lab-grown meat is considered a solution to feeding the world's ever-growing population. After its early decades of meat rationing, Israel is quickly becoming a leader of the synthetic food frontier.
First LookFleeing Syria defeat, ISIS fighters slip into IraqSyrian coalition forces have stamped out the Islamic State, but hundreds of fighters are streaming across the border into Iraq, further destabilizing the country’s fragile security with attacks and extortion rackets that threaten to undo Iraq's “victory” over ISIS in late 2017.
First LookTurkey's Erdogan woos voters with cheaper vegetables ahead of electionsThe cost of goods in Turkey has jumped by about a third since President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's policies caused the national currency to slump. Now, the government has set up stalls to sell cheaper vegetables, targeting Mr. Erdogan's traditional low-income voter base.
First LookIraqi rapper gives voice to anger, disillusionment in BasraThe Iraqi city of Basra, which erupted in demonstrations last summer over failing services and unsafe drinking water, has found an artistic outlet in rapper Ahmed Chayeb. He says his generation is fed up with the politicians and religious authorities who have let Basra fall apart.
No smoking: How one city is cutting the hookah hazeCities, over larger government entities, have increasingly been drivers of change. When Jordan’s smokers seemed unmoved by national laws, Amman joined a global cities alliance to help reduce public smoking.
US-Taliban talks: Is Afghanistan ready for real peace?Finding a path to peace involves taking risks and building trust. In Afghanistan, the US seems eager to end its longest war, and Afghans yearn for peace. Still, issues of trust and risk-taking loom large.
First LookIn Hebron, Palestinians patrol after foreign monitors leaveThe West Bank's largest city is a frequent flashpoint between Israeli settlers and Palestinians. Now Palestinian activists have launched their own patrols to document alleged settler violence in Hebron after Israel expelled international observers.
First LookWar museum in Baghdad underlines militia's growing cloutA new museum in Iraq's capital honors the mainly Shiite militiamen who died fighting the Islamic State. The Iran-backed militias gained prominence after helping the government in the war. Some worry that this spells trouble for a country with a history of bloody sectarian strife.
