All Middle East
Beirut鈥檚 challenge: A wealth of volunteers and a deficit of trustAs the Lebanese people get about cleaning up and rebuilding Beirut, who can they count on to coordinate efforts and efficiently distribute aid?
First LookLebanon's PM follows Cabinet in stepping down after Beirut blastPrime minister Hassan Diab steps down as Lebanon's Cabinet dissolves amid public fury after an Aug. 4 explosion in Beirut. The Cabinet will assume a caretaker roll while a new government is formed. The blast killed at least 160 people, injured 6,000, and left 300,000 homeless.
First LookWorld pledges to help Lebanese, but not Beirut governmentNearly $300 million in humanitarian aid was pledged Sunday to Lebanon in the wake of Beirut explosion. But donors are wary of government corruption.聽
For Lebanese, government dysfunction has a new, tragic costFor Lebanese people tired of widespread corruption and dysfunctional government, the Beirut blast was a tragic affirmation of their grievances.
First LookWhat happened in Beirut? Evidence suggests fireworks accident.Analysts say popcorn sounds and spark patterns captured in videos of the seaport blast suggest a frenzy of fireworks detonated more than 2,700 tons of ammonium nitrate. Questions remain about the fire that ignited the fireworks and the storage conditions of the explosives.
First LookMysterious, massive explosion in Beirut flattens portA massive explosion went off at a port in Beirut on Tuesday, killing at least 50 people and injuring 2,700. The cause of the blast was not immediately known, but could be from highly explosive material that was confiscated from a ship some time ago and stored at the port.
In Israel, coronavirus brings out a new generation of protestersYounger Israelis seen as apathetic by their elders have suddenly taken to the streets to protest the government鈥檚 handling of the coronavirus.
First LookIn heat-struck Iraq, power shortages prompt protestsIraq's energy crisis is coming to a head as the country faces heat waves, lockdowns, and blackouts.聽Two protesters were killed by security forces in Baghdad last week while demonstrating against power cuts.
Hajj without the crowds: How pilgrims are perseveringThe hajj is perhaps the quintessential mass participation religious rite. Yet deprived of crowds by the coronavirus, the pilgrimage still has meaning.
Signs of hope for troubled Afghanistan peace talks?Peace has been a tough sell in Afghanistan. Yet cause for optimism can be found, including with one hardened Taliban fighter the Monitor has tracked.
Under cover of COVID, ISIS is seeking a comebackThe world鈥檚 focus on the coronavirus pandemic and neglect of the battle against extremism have created opportunities ISIS is poised to seize.
In Israel, first hijab-wearing lawmaker hopes to build bridgesIman Khatib Yassin, a devout Muslim woman newly elected to parliament in Israel, hopes to give religious women of all faiths a voice.
Can Iraq rein in Shiite militias? What one killing tells us.With good governance and balancing sectarian interests at stake, the killing of an analyst highlights Iraq鈥檚 struggles with Iran-backed militias.
鈥楤reak the silence鈥�: In Tunisia, rappers keep revolution aliveTunisian rappers have moved on from toppling a dictator to exploring how music empowers the marginalized. Rap has become the language of the people.
War in Libya? Why two US allies are on a collision course.President Trump鈥檚 foreign policy favors local players resolving regional conflicts. But to avoid war in Libya, is a solution just a phone call away?
Why Iranians, rattled by suicides, point a finger at leadersIn Iran, something is driving an increase in the number of suicides. The rise in despair is seen as an indictment of the political establishment.
First LookIran hints a cyber attack caused fire at nuclear facilityA fire at聽Iran's underground Natanz nuclear facility could slow the development of centrifuges used to enrich uranium. A聽cyber attack by Israel or the US?
Pandemic pricing: Are Mideast markets losing the art of the deal?In the Mideast, haggling is a sport: If you鈥檙e agile enough, you win. During the pandemic, to stay safe, you can shop remotely. But what fun is that?
First LookIran journalist sentenced to death over 2017 protest workRuhollah聽Zam, an Iranian journalist whose online work helped inspire the 2017 economic protests, was sentenced to death on June 30. Mr. Zam was聽convicted of "corruption on Earth," a charge used in cases involving espionage or attempts to overthrow Iran's government.聽
Netanyahu鈥檚 annexation dilemma: Making history, but at what cost?Israel is already paying a price for talk of annexing West Bank lands, with warnings of worse to come, so what is driving Benjamin Netanyahu?
