All Middle East
Patron of the past: The Jordanian duke who's preserving the soul of the LevantThe Duke of Mukhaibeh, Mamdouh Bisharat, has devoted his life to protecting Jordanian heritage. His lifework is a lesson in how honoring one鈥檚 history can pave the way for a prosperous future.
First LookRouhani says Iran in 'war situation' as US sanctions resumeIn Iran, fallout from US sanctions have been devastating: Its currency has plummeted, while the prices of everyday goods continue to soar. President Hassan Rouhani has reacted by escalating his rhetoric toward the US, warning that Iran is in a "war situation."
First LookSyria plans to replace rubble with luxury developmentsPlans for Marota City, an investment project in Damascus, features luxury high-rises and shopping centers. Many developments are under way in former rebel-held areas but critics of President Bashar Assad believe the rebuilding projects are politically motivated.聽
First LookTurkish prosecutor states Saudis killed journalist KhashoggiIstanbul's chief prosecutor asserts Saudi Arabia strangled and dismembered dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Calling for the extradition of 18 Saudi nationals, Turkey insists that the Kingdom is deflecting accountability.聽
Syria crisis: Will donor fatigue push refugees back too soon?Solving a problem on the order of the Syrian refugee crisis requires patience. It's taken years to find ways to support both the displaced families and their host countries, and rebuilding will take time.
First LookIsrael publicly cozies up to Arabian Gulf to balance Iran's growing influenceThe formerly discrete nature of Israel-Gulf relations has become increasingly public, from the United Arab Emirates to Oman. Countering Iranian influence and a stagnation in Israeli-Palestinian peace talks is emerging as a priority in the region.聽
First LookMosul, in the wake of war, embraces its cultural heritageAfter suffering under an Islamic State regime where no music and little culture was tolerated, Mosul, Iraq, is slowly regaining its artistic roots聽after its liberation by Iraqi-US forces in 2017. Today, a community of artists and activists is breathing life into the city's cultural exchange.
In Iran, US sanctions are being felt, with harsher measures to comeDo sanctions on countries hit the right targets? While humanitarian goods are exempt from US sanctions, one Iranian charity says it鈥檚 struggling to buy medicine because of restrictions on banks.
First LookMillions of Shiite Muslims make peaceful trek to Iraq's KarbalaMillions of people from all over the world are making the pilgrimage to the Iraqi city of Karbala. The pilgrimage, described as a "walk to heaven" by one traveler, is the first since Iraq's government declared victory over the Islamic State group in January.
First LookUS sanctions against Hezbollah and Iran hurt Shiite militiasThe renewal of US sanctions against Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon is starting to be felt across the so-called 'Axis of Resistance', especially as Tehran reels from deep economic woes.聽
First LookSyria frees Japanese journalist after three years captivityJumpei Yasuda was held hostage for 40 months by an Al Qaeda-affiliated group in Syria before finally being released on Oct. 24. His kidnapping underscores a worrying trend of journalists being taken captive in the Middle East.聽
For Iran's women's movement, progress is slow. But it's progress.Observer or participant? When assessing change, frame of reference matters. So it is with the progress of Iran's women's movement. As one woman told us: 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 change a patriarchal society overnight.鈥�
First LookHuman Rights Watch report highlights torture at the hands of PalestiniansA report released by the Human Rights Watch on Oct. 23 accuses both the Palestinian Authority and Hamas of suppressing dissent in the West Bank and Gaza respectively through arbitrary arrests and torture.聽
First LookIraq tries a new approach to filling cabinet positions: open to all via online platformPrime Minster-designate Adel Abdul-Mahdi opened an online portal allowing anyone to apply to run one of Iraq's 22 ministries. What his administration wasn't prepared for was receiving more than 15,000 applications in a matter of days.聽
How Syrian refugees strain 鈥� and strengthen 鈥� JordanWhat role does culture play in a nation's ability to handle a huge influx of refugees?聽Jordanians say their hospitality stems from their Bedouin roots and ancient desert customs. Part 2 of On the Move: the faces, places, and politics of migration.
First LookPalestinian activist, Ahed Tamimi, takes her cause abroadArrested for slapping an Israeli soldier in front of her West Bank home, the 17-year-old is meeting dignitaries and activists across the Middle East and Europe after serving an eight-month prison sentence, showing signs of a changing Palestinian activism that dismays Israeli officials.聽
First LookElection postponed in Kandahar after attack on security meetingAfghanistan's election has been postponed for a week in Kandahar province after an elite Afghan guard opened fire at the end of a meeting between Kandahar and US officials. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the assault that killed聽police chief Gen. Abdul Raziq and wounded three Americans.
First LookUpcoming Afghan elections test country's commitment to women's rightsSince the US invasion in 2001, one of the few areas of progress in Afghanistan has been the advancement of women. They face many challenges as elections near, including passing legislation against violence and changing cultural norms.聽
At stake in Khashoggi affair: control of the Arab world鈥檚 narrativeIf human rights and a free press are fundamental values in the West, what obligations does it have to ensure the Khashoggi affair does not squelch voices of dissent across the Arab world, as many fear?
First LookWater pollution threatens Mandaean religious practices in IraqMandaeans, a minority religious group following the teachings of John the Baptist, have worshipped at the banks of the Tigris River for hundreds of years. Today, industrial chemicals and untreated sewage make it difficult for the Mandaeans to practice religious rites.聽
