All Middle East
First LookAs anti-ISIS campaign grinds on, Mosul's businesses start rebuildingLocal business owners roll up their sleeves and start the hard work of bringing life back to the city.
Hezbollah's defiant signal to Israel, Lebanon, and the UNOn a press tour of Lebanon's sensitive southern border, the Iran-backed militia Hezbollah performs a seemingly choreographed breach of the UN resolution that helped end its last war with Israel.
For Turkey's Erdo臒an, new powers present fresh challengesThe aftermath of Erdo臒an's narrow referendum victory 鈥� marked by protests, arrests, and divisive rhetoric 鈥� is revealing the magnitude of his coming challenges, not least of which is unifying the Turkish people.
First LookIraq's Kurds restore ancient sites, envision a tourist-friendly futureWhile Islamic State sends out suicide bombers and snipers in Mosul to the east, the Kurdish authorities in Erbil are already looking ahead to the day when they can pull in more visitors.
First LookAhmadinejad disqualified from Iranian presidential electionThe Guardian Council approved six candidates for next month's election, including incumbent president Hassan Rouhani, but not the controversial former president who held office from 2005 to 2013.
First LookWith nuclear deal holding, Iran and China sign reactor redesign contractThe fate of the Arak reactor聽was one of the toughest sticking points in the long nuclear negotiations that led to the 2015 agreement.
First LookTurkey referendum vote skewed, says European CommissionThe Commission has received news of Turkish president聽Tayyip Erdogan's victory with skepticism, calling on an investigation into the voting process.
In Oman, a train-of-succession mystery: Who follows Qaboos?The childless Sultan Qaboos, who used oil wealth to build the strategically placed nation into an important Gulf Arab player, has put in place a secretive succession process in an attempt to ensure stability, if only for the short term.
First LookIraqi 海角大神s return to territory liberated from ISIS with hope, trepidation海角大神 families have begun to return to the city of聽Qaraqosh, which once held Iraq's largest 海角大神 population until the city was captured in 2014.
First LookISIS fighters, but no civilians, killed in Afghanistan bombingThe US dropped its largest non-nuclear bomb in Afghanistan Thursday, killing 36 Islamic State group fighters.聽
First LookOnce part of the opposition, more Syrian towns agree to government controlNearly 8,000 Syrians were evacuated from towns near Damascus and in northern rebel-besieged towns on Friday.聽
Is Turkey ready for an all-powerful president? Erdo臒an tries again.Apparently fearful that polls showing a 50-50 split in the electorate are masking unfavorable sentiment, President Erdo臒an and his AKP party are casting the Turks' choice in apocalyptic terms, with his opponents on the side of evil.
Copts attacked: Can Egypt resist ISIS incitement of sectarian strife?The ISIS bombing attacks against Coptic churches is testing a fault line in Egyptian society. The 海角大神 minority has faced Muslim mob violence before, but not a full-scale sectarian campaign.
First LookIn a surprise move, Ahmadinejad says he鈥檚 running for president again in IranThe decision comes against recommendations from the nation's聽Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.聽
First LookISIS weakens: most of the territory it took over in Iraq has been secured by Iraqi forcesThe Islamic State once controlled 40 percent of the country, but that percentage has whittled to about 7 percent after extensive military operations.聽
US strike sends message to Syria: what it didn't sayThe Tomahawk cruise missiles fired at a Syrian air base were a clear message to Assad from President Trump that the use of chemical weapons would not be tolerated. They did not signal support for regime change.
First LookIn wake of Syria airstrike, approval and criticism from US allies, rivalsThe United States' traditional allies, along with supporters of the Syrian opposition, welcomed the surprise airstrike on Syrian military facilities, while Russia and Iran condemned it.
First Look'Heinous' chemical attack kills dozens in Syria, US blames Assad, as aid workers scramble to helpTuesday's attack is being described as the worst chemical attack since a 2013 chemical assault left hundreds dead.
Lebanon鈥檚 dual approach to Syrian refugees: the personal and politicalEven as Prime Minister Hariri canvasses Europe for investment to rescue Lebanon's overburdened infrastructure, grass-roots efforts work to improve the quality of individual lives.
How 'anti-terror' information sharing soured German-Turkish relationsWhen Turkey shared with Berlin a list of 300 names and 200 organizations in Germany that Ankara was spying on, it sparked a strong response from Germany.
