All Middle East
As Turkey gears up for election, hostility at the vegetable tentA full larder means a happy voter? That鈥檚 one theory being used to entice Turks. But an American reporter visiting a produce market also encounters rancor, another part of the vote-getting pitch.
As Netanyahu rails against 'witch hunt,' some Israelis see end of an eraWhat does it mean for a democracy to have a leader indicted for corruption? That鈥檚 a question being asked in Israel, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a political survivor, heads to elections.
First LookUS closes consulate in Jerusalem, says no policy shiftThe move, which infuriated Palestinians when it was first announced in October last year, hands over the control of US diplomatic channels with the West Bank and Gaza to ambassador David Friedman, a longtime supporter for the West Bank settler movement.
New Arab military force to reckon with as 'Little Sparta' risesThe Middle East's leadership seems suddenly in flux: The Saudis have been humbled, and the US posture toned down. Can a tiny, wealthy emirate rebrand itself to fill the void and become a regional power?
First LookCorruption charges ensnare Netanyahu weeks before electionAfter two years of investigation, Israel's attorney general has recommended聽Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu be indicted on several corruption charges, a momentous move that will likely turn Israel's election into a referendum on the prime minister.
First LookGaza Strip struggles to address burgeoning opioid crisisYears of blockades, conflict, and mass unemployment have fueled an underground illicit drug industry that is now spilling out as an opioid crisis in Gaza Strip. Treatment facilities say they lack the resources to properly help those wanting to be free of addictions.聽
First LookIran's foreign minister resigns as his nuclear deal verges on collapseIranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif resigned Monday in a surprise move that leaves President Hassan Rouhani without one of his main allies in pushing for further negotiations with the West. Analysts say a negotiation-seeking foreign minister is falling out of favor in Iran.
Amid US talks with Taliban, Afghan women remain vigilantAs the US prepares to pull out of Afghanistan, many women are, unsurprisingly, worried they will face heightened risks and challenges. But our correspondent found a spirit of determined optimism too.
First LookIsraeli startups align with firms making lab-grown 'clean meat'Lab-grown meat is considered a solution to feeding the world's ever-growing population. After its early decades of meat rationing, Israel is quickly becoming a leader of the synthetic food frontier.
First LookFleeing Syria defeat, ISIS fighters slip into IraqSyrian coalition forces have stamped out the Islamic State, but hundreds of fighters are streaming across the border into Iraq, further destabilizing the country鈥檚 fragile security with attacks and extortion rackets that threaten to undo Iraq's 鈥渧ictory鈥� over ISIS in late 2017.
First LookTurkey's Erdogan woos voters with cheaper vegetables ahead of electionsThe cost of goods in Turkey has jumped by about a third since President聽Recep Tayyip Erdogan's policies caused the national currency to slump. Now, the government has set up stalls to sell cheaper vegetables, targeting Mr. Erdogan's traditional low-income voter base.
First LookIraqi rapper gives voice to anger, disillusionment in BasraThe Iraqi city of Basra, which erupted in demonstrations last summer over failing services and unsafe drinking water, has found an artistic outlet in rapper Ahmed Chayeb. He says his generation is fed up with the politicians and religious authorities who have let Basra fall apart.
No smoking: How one city is cutting the hookah hazeCities, over larger government entities, have increasingly been drivers of change. When Jordan鈥檚 smokers seemed unmoved by national laws, Amman joined a global cities alliance to help reduce public smoking.
US-Taliban talks: Is Afghanistan ready for real peace?Finding a path to peace involves taking risks and building trust. In Afghanistan, the US seems eager to end its longest war, and Afghans yearn for peace. Still, issues of trust and risk-taking loom large.
First LookIn Hebron, Palestinians patrol after foreign monitors leaveThe West Bank's largest city is a frequent flashpoint between Israeli settlers and Palestinians. Now聽Palestinian activists have launched their own patrols to document alleged settler violence in Hebron after Israel expelled international observers.
First LookWar museum in Baghdad underlines militia's growing cloutA new museum in Iraq's capital honors the mainly Shiite聽militiamen who died fighting the Islamic State. The Iran-backed militias gained prominence after helping the government in the war. Some worry that this spells trouble for a country with a聽history of bloody sectarian strife.
First LookRussia more assured about war with Afghan three decades onFriday marks the anniversary of Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan 30 years ago. Once聽hailed as a much sought-after end to a bloody quagmire, many Russians now see the decade-long war as successful and legitimate action against United States-backed militants.
The ExplainerIn Arab world, a new alliance is on the riseWhat impact does America's inward gaze have on international problem-solving? That's an issue we will return to regularly. Here, a look at how six US-friendly Arab nations are banding together.
First LookEven after being liberated from ISIS control, Iraqi 海角大神s fear for their safetyDespite the eradication of Islamic State militants from their small Iraqi town, many 海角大神 residents fear returning to Bartella, which is now run by Shiite militias who frequently bully and assault 海角大神s 鈥� a power grab that is playing out across Iraq.
As Iran鈥檚 revolution turns 40, a consensus: Things must changeCan the Islamic Revolution reform itself? What was once unlikely now seems inevitable as the regime weighs its failures and successes and pushes to reinvigorate flagging support among Iranians.
