All Middle East
First LookA colorful bus brings books and joy to Afghan childrenA library on wheels, the blue bus of Kabul is giving children in war-torn Afghanistan the opportunity to read. The initiative is a step toward reducing the country's 62 percent illiteracy rate.
Russia-Lebanon deal? What the resurgent power sees in Syria's tiny neighbor.Lebanon, saddled with debt and a long list of political woes, has yet to reply to Russia's offer of $1 billion worth of arms on favorable terms. The deal, say analysts and diplomats, is designed to erode US influence and represents a shift in Russian thinking as the war in Syria enters a more complex multinational phase.
Is West winning in Afghanistan? Tide of displaced people suggests not.Relief agencies are scrambling to provide help as the dominant narrative of Afghan social and political progress, pushed for years by US and Western governments, fades into memory with the Taliban's territorial gains.
First LookAttack on Palestinian prime minister calls reconciliation into questionOn Tuesday, a convoy carrying Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Salem was struck by an explosive device in northern Gaza. The blast has cast a shadow over negotiations between the Hamas militant group in Gaza and the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank.
FocusWhat Ghouta tells us about the world's ability to protect civiliansNot long ago the humanitarian concept of 'Responsibility to Protect' had currency. But as one expert notes, 'the main champions of international humanitarian law are no longer the main arbiters of conflicts.' In Syria, that reality is playing out harshly in eastern Ghouta.
First LookSaudi Arabia's women test newfound freedom behind the wheelA number of reforms aimed at improving Saudi Arabia's image abroad has granted women the opportunity to enter sports stadiums and to drive, but before they officially take the road in June they have to learn how to steer and brake.
How Tunisia's resilient Sufis have withstood hard-line Islamist attackPuritanical Salafist Muslims have attacked Sufi shrines and communities across the Arab world in a campaign to spread their influence. But in Tunisia, where national history and identity are intimately intertwined with Sufism, the Salafis have been thwarted.
Why Syrians in besieged eastern Ghouta refuse to leaveIf raw fear of ongoing violence is one factor preventing civilians from approaching the designated exit corridor, an even greater hurdle is a lack of trust – of the Assad regime and its Russian backers.
To survive scandals, Netanyahu relies on mantra: no one else can lead IsraelNetanyahu vows to stay in office even if, as police recommend, he is indicted. His critics say that would be damaging to Israel's democracy. But for his supporters, the long-serving premier has delivered security and prosperity, so what harm is a little corruption?
As world watches relentless barrage, cowering Syrians feel hopeless, abandonedDespite a UN Security Council resolution demanding a cease-fire, Syria and its allies have continued to pound the rebel enclave of eastern Ghouta outside Damascus. Civilians cower in the basements, with little hope of reconciliation or peace, or any expectation of outside help.
Cover StoryCan schools help rid the world of sexual harassers and abusers?From Iceland and Israel to Mexico and South Korea, schools around the world increasingly see rooting out sexism as their domain, before it takes hold and expresses itself in workplace abuse or domestic violence. Part 8 of Reaching for Equity: a global series on gender and power.
First LookSaudi Arabia places a woman in top government positionA ruling from King Salman of Saudi Arabia has opened military leadership positions to a younger generation and placed a woman in a senior government position. King Salman's actions indicate growing support for gender equality in the conservative country.
From fisherman to smuggler: How ocean pollution fuels Tunisian migrationPollution, unemployment, and a sense of desperation are driving previously law-abiding fishermen in Tunisia to consider selling their boats to smugglers.
In Tunis suburb, a revolutionary demand: jobs, not freedomsIn neighborhoods like Douar Hicher, outside Tunis, the very same conditions that led to Tunisia’s Arab-World-changing revolution persist: unemployment, marginalization, urban migration, and police harassment.
How post-ISIS scramble for advantage in Syria raises risk of wider warWhile outside powers that played large roles in the Syrian war show little desire for an enlarged conflict, their fierce rivalry in the war's 'most dangerous phase' poses an escalation threat, as recent violence demonstrated.
In Gaza, amid warnings of an explosion, a sense of abandonmentIn overcrowded Gaza, jobs, food, water, and electricity are in short supply, with warnings that a collapse is imminent. The parties that seemingly would want to make a difference – Hamas, Fatah, Israel, and Egypt – haven't.
First LookIsraeli police recommend Netanyahu be indicted on bribery and breach of trustThe recommendations now go to the attorney general, who will review the material before deciding whether to file charges. But the prime minister could soon find himself facing calls to step aside.
Afghanistan: In midwinter attacks, a brutal Pakistani reply to TrumpThe military-grade explosives used in recent Taliban and ISIS attacks in Afghanistan point to a state sponsor, likely Pakistan, analysts say, adding that Pakistan has a range of options in how it replies to recent US pressure.
Why mixed-gender combat units are on the rise in IsraelDespite resistance from rabbis and former commanders, the number of women in combat roles in the Israeli army is increasing sharply. Demands for equality are just one reason: The army finds the move useful.
First LookYemen's ancient monuments at risk as war rages onIn an effort to save some of Yemen's holiest and most historical ancient sites, UNESCO has shared the coordinates of 50 sites with militaries involved in the fighting. Although targeted hits have decreased, the sites are still vulnerable to the violence.
