Tag: Middle East
There were positive signs heading into Iran's latest talks with the United States and other nations about its nuclear enrichment program. It seems to be willing to make some compromises in an effort to resolve what has been a years-long diplomatic stand-off. But will it be enough, in the right places, to actually forge a deal. Probably not this time, but maybe sooner, rather than later....
The middle class, in many ways, led the revolution in Egypt that toppled Hosni Mubarak. Now, as elections proceed and voting currently underway for president, some of the middle class aren't so sure about what changes their revolution have wrought....
Egypt's presidential elections are set for this week. The candidates all seem to be lining up to claim the mantle of preserver of the revolution and champion of Islam. But who will capture the populace and excite them enough to be elected remains to be seen....
Two terrorist strikes in Yemen on Monday bore the hallmarks of al-Qaeda. One targeted three U.S. service-members deployed in Yemen to train the Yemeni military, the other, more deadly attack targeted practice for a Yemeni military parade....
Istanbul is trying to show that it's becoming a more modern society and as part of that, some officials have decided they need to curtail certain practices. Among them is a ban on shouting in Istanbul's famous open-air market....
A number of Africans, especially from Eritrea, are coming to Israel in search of protection from persecution back home. But they're not finding a warm welcome, and now politicians there are talking about rounding them up and deporting them out of the country....
In towns around Damascus, citizens try to go on with their daily lives. But, they're on edge, constantly afraid of what approaching Syrian Army soldiers will do. Doctors have had their practices turned upside down and they security threatened if they dare to put their skills toward tending to wounded rebel fighters....
Jordan's born a large portion of the strain of refugees fleeing violence-torn Syria. As the fighting continues in its 14th month and beyond, the United Nations is trying to raise money to help pay the costs of caring for the refugees, but little funding has been forthcoming....
Syrian forces and rebels continue violent clashes and the U.N.-brokered cease fire seems little more than a paper promise. As the violence wears on, outside leaders seem paralyzed about what they can do to stop the violence that has killed at least 9,000 people....
As Syria tries to find its way forward in the 14th month of its civil war, outsiders are beginning to wonder if perhaps outsiders, like al-Qaeda, may have entered the struggle and are perpetrating the most violent acts in an effort to send the country further into chaos....
