All Middle East
Iraq's Sadr, lion of Shiite poor, quits politics. Boon for Maliki?Muqtada al-Sadr's militia was among the biggest threats to US troops early in the war, and his party has been a powerful Shiite force. His withdrawal from politics comes just months before elections.
Iran and world powers gear up for more nuclear talksIran will sit down with the US and other world powers tomorrow in Vienna to discuss curtailing its nuclear program in exchange for lifting sanctions. Progress is far from guaranteed.
Is Al Qaeda about to expand the 'field of jihad' to Lebanon?It hasn't happened yet, but support for Al Qaeda and similar movements is growing among Lebanon's Sunni community as the country's Shiite Hezbollah fights on behalf of Bashar al-Assad.
Rouhani's campaign of hope and change collides with Iran's realitySix months into his presidency, Hassan Rouhani is struggling to placate supporters who are disappointed with the slow pace of reforms.
FocusEuropean boycotts begin to bite, catching Israel's attentionFor years, boycott efforts in Europe seemed to be only symbolic gestures. But several major efforts announced in the past year, including one by the EU, are raising alarm.
Iraq strains under largest internal refugee crisis since height of warFighting between Iraqi security forces and militants in Anbar Province has sent hundreds of thousands of Iraqis fleeing, threatening areas where instability is already rising.
Tunnel closures send Gaza unemployment to highest levels since 2010Gaza's economy has been devastated by Egypt's crackdown on smuggling tunnels that provided 50 percent of the territory's commercial goods.
Egypt makes big economic push as leader-in-waiting Sisi courts RussiaRussian President Putin praised Field Marshal Sisi's leadership when he visited Moscow this week. But if the Egyptian economy isn't revived, its leaders may face another revolt.
Why Jerusalem renters are wary of the Messiah's arrivalMany Jerusalem rental contracts include the unusual stipulation that if and when the Messiah arrives, tenants must move out so the landlord can move in and enjoy the ensuing paradise.
Olympic challenge: Watching the Sochi Games from JerusalemNBC coverage doesn't reach me here and the only free broadcasting is on Ugandan iTunes.
Syria peace talks resume as fraught humanitarian cease-fire ends in HomsThe agreement to establish cease-fires to allow aid delivery was the sole accomplishment of the last round of Syria peace talks, but the first mission in Homs was marred by violence.聽
Among Iran's 'True Believers,' an enduring faith in martyrdomIranian hardliners see their devotion to martyrdom as the reason Iran has outlasted decades of pressure and covert war. But the ideology's resonance is waning among many Iranians.聽
Young Palestinian runners train hard for their right to movementDozens of Palestinians in bright sneakers gather weekly to train for the Bethlehem 'Right to Movement' marathon in April, running through a West Bank valley dotted with ancient olive trees.
Turkey passes strict Internet law as PM Erdogan battles corruption leaksThe law allows the government to block websites and demand user data from service providers. With mainstream media tightly controlled, Turks increasingly depend on the Internet for news.
Profit trumps principle on Syria weapons black marketA steady stream of weapons from Iran and Russia, as well as those seized from Syrian Army storehouses, is being sold in Lebanon, reversing the flow of the war's early days.
Suicide bomb outside Beirut leaves Hezbollah, Lebanese forces looking helplessToday's suicide bombing of a van headed toward Beirut is the second since Saturday to target Shiite areas of Lebanon and the fifth this year. Their neighborhoods have been paralyzed.- US Treasury labels prominent Yemeni politician a terroristIn an interview, Abdulwahab al-Homayqani, who has been accused of funneling money to Al Qaeda, insists he is innocent. The US faces hurdles prosecuting the popular politician as Yemenis rally around him.
Inside SodaStream factory, machines whir through boycott controversyIsraeli company SodaStream is the largest private employer of Palestinians in the West Bank. Although described as a "model for peace," many Palestinians say they're there only because they have few alternatives.聽
Palestinian workers back Scarlett Johansson's opposition to SodaStream boycottPalestinians workers at the SodaStream factory in an Israeli settlement in the West Bank say聽they would be the losers of a successful consumer boycott of the fizzy-drink maker.- 10 brands you'll have to give up if you're boycotting Israel Here are 10 brands in the crosshairs of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement.
