Middle East

U.S. secretary of state and Israeli foreign minister talk stalled Iran nuclear deal

5:14pm October 13, 2021

by Michele Kelemen

With the Israeli foreign minister in Washington to meet Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the focus is on how to approach talks with Iran over reviving the 2015 nuclear deal.

Many Iraqi voters are disillusioned, and the low election turnout makes that clear

4:48pm October 11, 2021

by Ruth Sherlock

As the results of the Iraq election are compiled, its clear that turnout was much lower than expected, with many Iraqis disillusioned about the prospects for political reform.

Avshalom Davidesko, from the Israel's Antiquities Authority, examines a jar in a massive ancient winemaking complex dating back some 1,500 years in Yavne, south of Tel Aviv, Israel.

World News

Massive Byzantine-era winery discovered in Israel

1:06pm October 11, 2021

by Daniel Estrin

Winepresses, warehouses and kilns were uncovered by archaeologists who believe the winery once produced a fine white wine.

Early results in Iraq show record low election turnout

7:27am October 11, 2021

Most Iraqis don't expect Sunday's parliamentary elections will bring much change to a leaderships blamed for corruption and mismanagement, but some voters still thought it was important to be counted.

Health & Safety

News brief: vaccinations, Iraq election, China-Taiwan tensions

6:41am October 11, 2021

It's expected to be a big week for COVID-19 vaccines and boosters. Ballots are being counted in Iraq's parliamentary elections. China and Taiwan used a weekend occasion to heat up their rhetoric.

Queue Listen Now

A picture taken on November 4, 2019, shows a circuit breaker of an electric generator supplying homes with electricity in the Lebanese capital Beirut's southern suburbs.

World News

Lebanon's central electricity grid shuts down as fuel shortages continue

6:56pm October 09, 2021

by Sharon Pruitt-Young

The stoppage of two major power plants leaves generators as the country's only power source, endangering hospital patients and the water supply. Officials expect the outages to last for several days.

Iraqi reform activists risk their lives to protest

5:17pm October 09, 2021

by Ruth Sherlock

Two activist friends talk about their efforts to protest for reform in Iraq — despite intimidation and attacks from powerful parties that will likely come out on top in Sunday's elections.

Supporters of Iraq's Al-Fateh Alliance at a rally in Baghdad on Thursday ahead of Sunday's parliamentary elections.

World News

The election in Iraq that anti-government protestors gave their lives calling for is this weekend — but it might not lead to the changes people want.