All Middle East
First LookTurkey's Alevi minority threatened by dam-building plansTurkey is ramping up its dam construction despite opposition from locals. Some dams are being聽built on sacred Alevi ground,聽jeopardizing their cultural heritage and聽damaging the natural environment.聽
First LookEthiopian mega-dam causes stir in Egypt-Ethiopia relationsThe filling of Ethiopia's Grand Renaissance Dam using water from the Nile River threatens Egypt's agriculture industry even as it promises to boost Ethiopia's hydropower industry. The dam calls into question who has the right to the waters of the Nile.
How Egypt鈥檚 stubborn poverty threatens strongman Sisi鈥檚 gripThe majority of Egyptians have agreed to 'tighten their belts' to give Sisi time for his painful, IMF-mandated economic reforms. But without a turnaround, their patience could soon run out. There are already signs of voter apathy.
For still-stateless Palestinians, cultural life serves as a building blockEven as hopes for negotiating a聽future Palestinian state seem聽more remote than ever,聽there is an attempt here to build cultural institutions that聽inspire people to respond to their history and identity through art and exhibitions.
First LookSaudi Arabia to screen 'Black Panther' to mark first theater openings in decadesThe screening of 'Black Panther' is part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's attempts to transform his ultraconservative kingdom into a modern, global player. AMC plans to open up to 40 cinemas across the country over the next five years.
FocusTunisia's democracy: Freedom is disappointingly messy, but there's hopeSeven years after the Arab Spring, the revolution is being seen as the easy part. Freedoms and democracy are failing to heal old wounds, as old social and economic grievances and corruption persist. But Tunisians are also learning to disagree civilly, and to make themselves heard.
As civilian toll climbs in Gaza, focus on Hamas dampens compassion in IsraelThousands of unarmed Palestinians who have marched to the Gaza-Israel border the past two Fridays have faced deadly fire as they call attention to their plight. But Israelis, seeing the hand of Hamas in the protests, remain primarily focused on their own security.
How a tough UN resolution is making push for Yemen peace talks harderThe UN's new Yemen envoy says all sides desire a political solution. But Resolution 2216, which demands Houthi rebels disarm and withdraw, is being invoked to create an 'impossible precondition' for talks.
First LookAfter Netanyahu's stunning reversal, African migrants in Israel remain in limboIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceling the deal with the United Nations cast the fate of Israel's 35,000 African migrants into uncertainty. The migrants聽must now wait for the next decree by Israel's government to know their fate.
First LookAssyrians in Syria celebrate traditions despite dangersThe Assyrian community, an ethnic minority in the Middle East, gathered to observe their New Year holiday and foster community pride. The group, whose numbers in the region are dwindling, have frequently been a target of the Islamic State.聽
Yemen crisis: Does Saudi largess square with military campaign?The Saudis have presented the UN with nearly a third of the $3 billion it is seeking for Yemen humanitarian aid in 2018. But critics say the kingdom is more concerned with its image, and that it's more important for the Saudi-led coalition to halt its military campaign.
First LookIsrael reaches deal with UN to resettle African migrantsMore than 16,000 African migrants living in Israel will be sent to various Western countries over the next five years through a landmark agreement between Israel and the United Nations.聽
The ICRC's precious gift to Afghan families: contact with jailed loved-onesIn a war that has barely eased since US troops first arrived in 2001, the ICRC-arranged contact with detainees 鈥� families are allowed four 20-minute calls each year, and two face-to-face visits 鈥� are a brief ray of light in a world of incarceration and uncertainty.
For Yemenis, Arab world's refugees-come-lately, Jordan offers little reliefIn cash-strapped Jordan, one of the top host countries for refugees in the world, the ongoing war in Syria consumes the vast majority of relief agencies鈥� resources, leaving little for the recent arrivals from Yemen.
Eastern Ghouta exodus: As rebel area falls, many take leap into 'unknown'After more than a month of Syrian and Russian bombardment that has claimed 1,700 lives, the residents of eastern Ghouta have three stark choices: evacuate north with rebel fighters to Idlib province; fall under government control in camps near Damascus; or stay in the last opposition island of Douma, waiting for inevitable defeat.
Turkey's 'holy war' in Syria puts a more religious nationalism on displayRebranding Turkish nationalism with Islamic themes has helped President Erdo臒an mobilize support for the Afrin military operation and his style of leadership. The rhetoric also has deepened anti-Western sentiment.
First LookJewish man runs as candidate for Ennahdha, Tunisia's Muslim partyWhile some critics view the decision as a calculated tactic by Ennahdha to regain power and restore its reputation among Western allies, others see it as an example of Tunisia's long-standing tradition of tolerance.
In tense south Lebanon, UN force proves it helps to just talkThere are no illusions that UNIFIL peacekeepers, who marked the force's 40th anniversary this week, can prevent an Israel-Hezbollah war from breaking out. But by regularly convening Israeli and Lebanese officers, dangerous miscalculations can be averted.
First LookSeven years after Arab Spring, democracy wavers in Middle EastNext week's presidential elections in Egypt will field only one serious contender, a fact that has some concerned about a return to authoritarianism. Egypt's case raises questions about many Middle Eastern countries who have a complex relationship with democracy.
First LookAfghan teenager finds independence through beekeepingThree years ago, Afghan teenager Frozan began a beekeeping business. Now, with 20 hives and a buzzing business, she hopes her classmates and other women in Afghanistan will 'trust themselves and make a move' to fulfill their own entrepreneurial hopes.
