海角大神

It鈥檚 true: We鈥檙e in a 鈥渟hortage economy.鈥� But as one analyst puts it, 鈥淭here鈥檚 a light at the end of the tunnel, if you have a pair of binoculars.鈥�

In Iran, the vanguard security force seems more focused on internal dissent than on external threats. At a time when the country has experienced repeated attacks on its nuclear program, the disconnect is striking.

Child payments are a cornerstone of Germany鈥檚 social support system, and garner little political opposition despite being costly. Here鈥檚 why Germans value the decades-old benefit.聽

Creativity to benefit the environment reigns in this week鈥檚 progress roundup. Check out promising innovations from Peru to Uganda.

The meaning we see in a family memento 鈥� especially one handed down by a grandmother 鈥� can shift over time, giving us insight into what we value and who we鈥檙e becoming.聽

A year after becoming Iraq鈥檚 prime minister, Mustafa al-Kadhimi has begun to apply lessons from his country鈥檚 history of wars and divisions to the rest of the Middle East. In recent weeks, he has become a pivotal mediator in breakthrough talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

As someone who once led a foundation dedicated to conflict resolution, Mr. Kadhimi wants to end the competition between the region鈥檚 two giants 鈥� a zero-sum competition often played out violently in Iraq鈥檚 internal conflicts.

The initial talks began in Baghdad a month ago, focused mainly on stopping a proxy war in Yemen. Progress on that front could lead to a wider detente. Any further dialogue between Iran and Saudi Arabia, which broke off ties five years ago, still needs a trusted go-between. That is where Mr. Kadhimi鈥檚 experience in trying to reconcile Iraq鈥檚 own differences could pay off in bringing peace to the neighborhood.

His selection as prime minister a year ago was a result of elected leaders in Baghdad responding to street protests aimed at ending the factional fighting that has hurt Iraq鈥檚 fragile democracy. Mr. Kadhimi鈥檚 background includes setting up the Iraq Memory Foundation, which chronicles the suffering of Iraqis under dictator Saddam Hussein. He also led the Humanitarian Dialogue Foundation, which worked to reconcile differences between Iraq鈥檚 majority Shiites and minority Sunnis.

As prime minister, his mediating skills have yet to solve Iraq鈥檚 deep divisions. Just holding fair elections later this year is proving to be big task.

聽Mr. Kadhimi does not have a political party of his own. But he and other leaders now realize Iraq must first end the contest between Iran and Saudi Arabia that spills over in Iraq. Their timing is right. Both Iran and Saudi Arabia are under domestic and international pressure to cool their antagonism and focus on their economies.

鈥淚raq is capable of playing the role of mediator in the region rather than being a source of instability,鈥� said Iraqi President Barham Salih in a recent talk. 鈥淭he Middle East has been condemned to a cycle of conflict and instability over the last few decades. ... It鈥檚 time to move beyond.鈥�

But first, a bridge of trust between Iran and Saudi Arabia must be built. The first stone has been put in place, thanks to an Iraqi leader who has learned from the suffering of his own people.