Latest Stories
Dec 27, 2015
US diplomacy shackled by security concerns
How forceful embassy security contributes to Washington’s helter-skelter policy in the Middle East.
Dec 11, 2015
The 21st-century gold rush where people work in 19th-century conditions
It’s a little before 7am on a bright, airless August morning, and already Abdullah Idriss Isaac has been hard at work for hours.
Swishing his aluminum pan back and forth through a waist-deep…
Nov 27, 2015
Egyptian Camel Traders and Butchers Are Facing Tough Times
For over a week now, Ahmed Awni has struggled to offload any of the “prime” cuts of camel haunch that dangle on bloodied hooks outside his Cairo butcher’s stall. He’s tried a few gimmicks—“Buy…
Nov 12, 2015
Possible Chambers in Pyramid Hold Hopes for Egypt's Tourism
Desperate to win back tourists, Egypt has ramped up efforts to solve the mysteries of the Great Pyramids of Giza.
Aug 31, 2015
Sudan’s Vaccination Card Black Market
In Sudan, a yellow fever vaccine costs $25. But for $8, you can get a phony certificate that says you’ve been vaccinated.
Aug 22, 2015
This small Turkish town grows a quarter of the world’s hazelnuts
ORDU, TURKEY—To lovers of hazelnuts, this small city on the Black Sea coast in far eastern Anatolia is nothing short of a garden of earthly delights.
Residents dispatch young children to schools…
Jul 28, 2015
Syrian refugees in Armenia 'stumble from one crisis to another'
YEREVAN, Armenia — Were it not for the snow-capped summit of Mount Ararat shimmering in the distance, or the closer rumble of spluttering Lada cars, casual visitors to the downtown Lahmajun restaurant…
Jul 18, 2015
Egypt’s New Drug Addiction
As the country’s travails drag on, more and more Egyptians are turning to tramadol to dull the pain of a stalled economy.
Jul 10, 2015
Confectionery Conspiracy? Nutella and the Hazelnut Shortage
2015 is shaping up to be a very forgettable year for Ferrero’s Nutella empire.