All Middle East
First LookHow one Afghan province persisted in opening high school for girlsUnder the Taliban, most high school girls in Afghanistan have not yet been allowed back to classrooms following pandemic closures. But in the western province of Herat, parents, students, and teachers have pushed forward and are holding classes anyway.
First Look'Nuclear blackmail'? Restrictions in Iran deal remain unclear.After a five-month hiatus, talks in Vienna have resumed to determine what parts of the 2015 Iran deal can be salvaged.聽In 2018, former President Donald Trump withdrew from the deal in which Iran agreed to limit its nuclear activities in exchange for lifted sanctions.聽
Libya elections: Can internal conflict move from bullets to ballots?Should accountability for misdeeds be sacrificed on behalf of national unity? That鈥檚 a question Libya is grappling with in an election with few rules.
First LookAfghan Shiites turn to Taliban for protection as ISIS threat loomsMany minority Shiites in Afghanistan aren鈥檛 convinced by the Taliban鈥檚 promises to聽protect them. But given the threat posed by the Islamic State, Taliban protection may be the closest thing to security.聽
First LookRevival of a dynasty? Another Qaddafi seeks to lead Libya.Seif al-Islam, a son of聽late Libyan dictator聽Muammar Qaddafi, announced his candidacy for聽the country's presidential election next month.
Climate crisis as change agent? For Israel and Jordan, a warmer peace.Israel-Jordan ties are thawing, and the climate crisis 鈥� and its focus on water and renewable energy 鈥� is giving the countries something to talk about.
First LookAssassination attempt on Iraqi prime minister failsSeven of Iraq Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi's security guards were wounded in Sunday's attack at his home by at least two armed drones. The prime minister appeared only slightly injured.聽
Donors鈥� dilemma: How to help hungry Afghans ... not the TalibanA winter of hardship looming for Afghans poses a dilemma for aid donors leery of indirectly helping the Taliban. Some are seeking creative solutions.
First LookIran-backed faction threatens post-election turmoil in IraqUnsubstantiated claims of voter fraud聽in Iraq鈥檚 most recent election have sown uncertainty and heightened divisions between political groups in the country. Finals results for the election, hailed by the U.S. and U.N. as the smoothest in years, have not been released.
How coup in Sudan challenges Biden鈥檚 desire to support democracyThe U.S. is invested in helping Sudan toward democracy. But the coup poses a challenge: How far should the Biden administration go to reach that goal?
First Look'Where is our gas?' Iran's gas stations hit by cyberattack.A cyberattack paralyzed all gas stations in Iran on Tuesday, leading to long lines and higher prices on Wednesday. Officials say the intent was 鈥渄isorder and disruption鈥� as the second anniversary of a crackdown on protests over rising gasoline prices approaches.
What happens when a state fails? Lebanon鈥檚 study in survival.Amid government dysfunction, Lebanon has become unrecognizable to its own people. To provide for their most basic needs, they must rely on each other.
鈥榃hy did we fight?鈥� Challenge of governing is wearing down Taliban.Victory on the battlefield is one thing. Governing millions of people with vision is another. In Afghanistan, the stress on the Taliban is showing.
From Israel鈥檚 wildly diverse government, a surprise: (So far) it worksCan political factions overcome national gridlock? An unlikely Israeli coalition has been a surprising story of cooperation and consensus.
As Lebanese seek 鈥榓ccountability,鈥� Beirut battle serves as a warningTwo years into the campaign for accountability in Lebanon, a Beirut gun battle was a not-subtle reminder of how entrenched powers resist change.
First LookIslamic State attacks test Taliban's control in AfghanistanThe Taliban have promised to keep the extremist Islamic State in check, but recent deadly attacks are raising questions about the new Afghan government鈥檚 ability to maintain peace.聽The Taliban have rejected the idea of cooperation with the U.S. against IS.聽
How Afghan midwives are challenging Taliban strictures on womenAfghan midwives present a conundrum for the Taliban: educated women performing lifesaving work that the Taliban will not allow a male doctor to do.
As Tunisia鈥檚 democracy wobbles, an unexpected gain: first woman premierThe symbolic victory seen in the naming of a woman as Tunisia鈥檚 prime minister comes amid a deepening battle over the nation鈥檚 democratic character.
Jordanians get a taste of history in their daily breadJordan鈥檚 鈥渨heat is a blessing鈥� initiative is reviving cultivation of a hearty ancient grain. At stake are food security and a fading pastoral culture.
First LookIranians 'pinching pennies' as inflation spikes. Is US to blame?Long stunted by U.S. sanctions, Iran鈥檚 economy is now being hit by another strain: rapid inflation at its highest since 1994. Food prices have increased by almost 60%, making basic groceries unaffordable and pushing many families into poverty.
