Culture Alert: Art mingles with diplomacy, feminism and sport

The Middle East's cultural scene at the start of 2018 is almost as lively as its political landscape, as art flirts with feminism, diplomacy and sport.

Egypt

Lebanon's mothers see glint of hope in custody ruling

A Shiite mother in Lebanon was recently granted temporary custody of her two children in what human rights advocates say could indicate a long overdue, small step forward in personal status laws.

Lebanon

Iraq's bursting plastic surgery world dangerously unregulated

More Iraqis than ever are seeking out cosmetic surgery and other services, and many unlicensed facilities and providers are rushing to meet the demand.

Iraq

All official Syrian-Lebanon border crossings now open

The border area has been deemed secure enough for the Lebanese and Syrian governments to reopen the last of the five border crossings between the two countries.

Lebanon

Pentagon surges weapons into Middle East terror fight

The Pentagon is using a little-known fund to give a boost to counterterrorism operations throughout the Middle East.

Jordan

Istanbul summit exposes divisions within Arab world

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation summit exposed Arab differences and Arab-Islamic tensions, and the reactions to both the OIC summit and the Arab League meetings were similarly pessimistic.

Legacy: Gulf

Hezbollah, Iran, Hamas seek new strategy for resistance

Hamas is moving closer to Iran and Hezbollah, as the "axis of resistance" shifts priorities now that the Syrian war is winding down.

Palestine

Iran's envoy in Jordan: Support for Hezbollah maintains Arab security

In an interview with Al-Monitor, Iranian Ambassador to Jordan Mojtaba Ferdosipour discusses regional developments, including accusations against Iran of supporting terrorism in the Arab world.

Saudi Arabia

Northern Lebanon struggles to contain backlash against Syrians

The murder of a young Lebanese woman by her family's Syrian employee has set off reactions of violence and intimidation that have kept Syrian children out of school.

Lebanon

Has US given up on Middle East diplomacy?

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson calls on Saudis to "consider consequences" of actions; Is Lebanese President Michel Aoun making the right call on Hariri?

Saudi Arabia

Lebanon’s tech-savvy youths poised for bright future

Initiatives in Lebanon assist youths in exploring technology and science, which could give them a boost in the job market in the future.

Lebanon

The stench of garbage crisis returns to Lebanon

In a recent report, Human Rights Watch warns of the dire consequences of decades of open-air trash burning.

Lebanon