All Middle East
First LookTurkey to keep Qatar military base despite Arab nations' demandsIn a historic dispute with Qatar, several Arab nations sent the nation a 13-point list including 'steep' diplomatic and political demands. Turkey has refused to comply with the ultimatums and intends to bolster its military presence in Qatar.
Ramadan? There's an app for that.Millions of Muslims worldwide now are using Ramadan apps to help them observe, and revise, centuries-old traditions: when to eat, when to fast, when and how to pray, and how to donate to charity.
First LookISIS destroys Mosul mosque, thought to be act of desperationMembers of the Islamic State group blew up the al-Nuri mosque in Mosul on Wednesday. From one perspective, the loss of the 800-year-old mosque is a historic and religious tragedy. On the other hand, the destruction of Mosul’s last IS stronghold could signal the group’s impending collapse.
Her recycling project faced long odds in Lebanon. Still, she persisted.In a country whose inability to collect its garbage has, at times, made headlines, a feisty octogenarian has been running a recycling project for more than two decades. Neighbors have noticed.
First LookSaudi line of succession decided by royal decreeSaudi king ends the lingering uncertainty over succession, promoting his son Mohammed bin Salman to crown prince and deputy prime minister.
What Turkey's crackdown on NGOs means for Syrian war reliefA surge in anti-Western sentiment that fed into President Erdoğan's campaign for broader powers is one factor behind the crackdown. Some NGOs have been closed and their workers expelled, though the need for war relief is undiminished.
First LookProtests in northern Morocco call for king's authority to ease tensionTens of thousands of Moroccans march through the capital in a movement called Hirak al Chaabi. Activists call for royal intervention, expressing anger at the government and the king's entourage.
- First LookProtests in northern Morocco call for king's authority to ease tension
Tens of thousands of Moroccans march through the capital in a movement called Hirak al Chaabi. Activists call for royal intervention, expressing anger at the government and the king's entourage.
First LookUN says 300 Raqqa civilians killed in US-led air strikes since MarchThe UN announced that 'excessive air strikes' to help Syria regain control over the city of Raqqa have caused 'staggering loss of civilian life.'
The ExplainerThe state of ISIS: shrinking territory, expanding reachISIS's ambition for an Islamic caliphate has suffered significant setbacks in Iraq and Syria, but analysts warn that a spate of attacks, from Britain to Iran to the Philippines, shows the jihadist group is hardly defeated.
First LookFive attackers fought for ISIS, says Iran Intelligence MinistryAn attack Wednesday on Iran's parliament and the tomb of its revolutionary leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah, killed 17 people and injured more than 40. Many across the country have suspicions Saudi Arabia had a hand in the siege.
First LookKuwait extends helping hand to Qatar in effort to ‘restore the normal relations’Kuwait’s emir is engaging Qatar’s emir in a series of talks intended to mediate a resolution to the disagreement that resulted in strict embargos on Qatar.
Terror in Tehran: Could attacks change Iran's ISIS strategy?The attacks on two potent symbols, parliament and a shrine to Ayatollah Khomeini, were shocking for Iranians. One result, says a Tehran analyst, will be to quiet the internal debate over the value of battling ISIS in Iraq and Syria.
First LookTurkish parliament pushing bill to approve troop deployment in QatarIn response to the greatest unrest in the Gulf region in decades, Turkey is fulfilling its two-year-old promise to reaffirm its military presence in Qatar.
First LookAnxiety in Arab-nation dispute rises with ISIS-claimed attacks in IranWednesday’s twin attacks in Tehran, Iran, for which the Islamic State has claimed responsibility, adds to widening political gap between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
At remote desert garrison in Syria, a US-Iran confrontation is brewingThe Tanf garrison used by the US coalition to train militias to fight ISIS sits on a highway Iran would like to control for its strategic advantage. Forces are gathering and shots have been fired as fundamental interests clash.
First LookUN High Commissioner urges termination of Israeli occupationOn the 50th anniversary of the Six Day War, the United Nations calls for a lasting solution that would benefit both Israelis and Palestinians.
First LookKuwait seeks Gulf crisis resolution as nearby Arab states sever ties with QatarQatar's neighbors accuse the state of engaging with extremist groups responsible for destabilizing the region. In an effort to begin building peace in the region, Kuwait is trying to navigate the biggest diplomatic crisis in the Persian Gulf since 1991.
With Ramadan miniseries, Arab TV takes on ISISBy dramatizing the hardships and brutality of life under ISIS, the producers of 'Black Crows' hope to sway viewers' opinions about the jihadists.
First LookArab nations cut ties to Qatar as unrest in the region growsFour Arab nations sever diplomatic ties over Qatar's support of Islamist groups. The nations vow to cut air and sea traffic, sending Qatari's stock market tumbling.
