All Middle East
First LookHow a soccer star gave hope to his Egyptian hometownAn entire village will tune in to watch Mohamed Salah, a forward for the English club Liverpool, who in turn has invested in his Nile Delta village with an improved mosque, hospital, and school as Egypt struggles through economic hardships.
First LookTurkey's halal-friendly tourism draws crowdsDozens of hotels and resorts in Turkey are accommodating religious strictures on modesty to boost tourism. Many foreign guests are Muslims from European countries seeking a respite from right-wing and anti-immigrant sentiments.
First LookIn humanitarian gesture, Egypt keeps Rafah crossing open through RamadanThe Rafah Border crossing, which connects Egypt to the Gaza Strip, will remain open through the Muslim holy month, allowing the Red Crescent to bring much-needed aid shipments into Gaza.
First LookGulf Arab states support Palestinians, but also form subtle ties to IsraelCountries including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Qatar remain publicly aligned with Palestinian interests but have begun to engage with Israel on key diplomatic, cultural, or economic levels. The shift may be inspired, in part, by concerns of Iranian influence in Palestine.
Debate in Iran: Is nuclear deal worth keeping without US?The nuclear deal was sold to Iranians as offering a peace dividend and paving the way for greater openness. But the returns have been minimal, and how hard Tehran will work to keep the deal alive with Europeans and without the United States remains to be seen.
First LookArmenian prime minister's hometown sees hope in political turnoverFor the town of Idjevan, Armenia – the home of the country's resistance leader, Nikol Pashinian – the rise of a new prime minister has kickstarted a sense of optimism here that persistent poverty and unemployment may finally find a solution.
First LookUS embassy opens in Jerusalem as dozens killed in GazaPalestinians, angered by the move of the US embassy to contested Jerusalem, protested along the Gaza border. At least 41 Palestinians were killed in the deadliest day in Gaza since a 2014 cross-border war.
First LookTunisia's Jews and Muslims join to celebrate religious toleranceTunisia is home to one of North Africa's largest Jewish communities, and Jews have lived in Tunisia since Roman times. Each year, dozens of Muslims participate in Jewish religious ceremonies in the oldest synagogue in Africa to promote interreligious tolerance.
First Look'Most serious' military conflict between Iran, Israel breaks out in SyriaAfter Iranian rockets hit Israeli positions in the occupied Golan Heights, Israel unleashed a heavy bombardment on Iranian forces in Syria. While the conflict is unlikely to escalate further, experts say, it may lead to a redrawing of "red lines" between the two countries.
In Iraq, a ‘post-sectarian’ election, yet challenges to democracy lingerCandidates in Iraq's elections Saturday, aware of the perils of sectarianism, are focusing on bread-and-butter issues. But that doesn't mean they've earned voters' trust. There are still lessons to be learned about democracy: Voting drives legitimacy, and corruption undermines trust.
FocusIn Baghdad, Iraqis embrace return to normalcy, with eye on its fragilityThe differences are striking: Blast walls are coming down and streets are reopening as Baghdad sheds the visual reminders of war's long grip. But is it enough to just wish peace into existence? Iraqis are keeping an eye on ISIS, but the fatigue with fighting and yearning for normalcy are changing the face of the city.
In rural Jordan, pulling power from the wind to make change on the groundIn southern Jordan, our correspondent found a rural area that felt neglected by the government and had been the site of sustained protests not many years ago. Today it is the site of a commercial wind farm, an innovative marriage of emerging green power technology with a hopeful start to curing social inequities. Still, it wasn't the easiest sell.
First LookDespite challenges, Iraq's female candidates run for parliamentNearly 2,600 female candidates are vying for a seat in parliament ahead of the May 12 election. Many see the vote as an opportunity to counter the erosion of women's rights and push their issues to the fore in the traditionally male dominated society.
In Baghdad, a sense of home resurfaces a decade after ethnic cleansingThe Baghdad neighborhood of Al-Adel was the site of a campaign of ethnic cleansing against Shiites at the height of Iraq's sectarian strife. But in a testament to the universal pull of "home," Shiite former residents have been trickling back, surfacing fond memories of the old days and recalling how some Sunnis helped them. First in an occasional series on Finding 'Home.'
Israel at 70: A tale of two historiesThe creation of Israel marked a moment of rebirth for Jews, but is remembered as a catastrophe by Palestinians. To mark the anniversary, our correspondent accompanied a tour that gave dueling Israeli and Palestinian historical narratives. One hopeful message: Understanding is possible.
First LookViolent conflict ignites along Israeli border fence in GazaOn Friday, hundreds of Palestinian protestors attempted to tear down a fence along the Israel-Gaza border. In response, Israeli forces opened fire on the crowd, marking the most violent clash in a series of ongoing protests in the region.
Iraq’s Shiite militias try to convert military victory into political powerIn a calmer Iraq, political players are pushing for national unity, and Shiite militias who were key to defeating ISIS are swapping their fatigues for suits. But can they have broad appeal if their main claim to fame is military?
First LookTurkey's Alevi minority threatened by dam-building plansTurkey is ramping up its dam construction despite opposition from locals. Some dams are being built on sacred Alevi ground, jeopardizing their cultural heritage and damaging the natural environment.
First LookEthiopian mega-dam causes stir in Egypt-Ethiopia relationsThe filling of Ethiopia's Grand Renaissance Dam using water from the Nile River threatens Egypt's agriculture industry even as it promises to boost Ethiopia's hydropower industry. The dam calls into question who has the right to the waters of the Nile.
How Egypt’s stubborn poverty threatens strongman Sisi’s gripThe majority of Egyptians have agreed to 'tighten their belts' to give Sisi time for his painful, IMF-mandated economic reforms. But without a turnaround, their patience could soon run out. There are already signs of voter apathy.
