This form of welfare eats up more than a fifth of the state budget and reform has been demanded by the IMF. Cairo says the changes will help the poorest. Others are less sure

Qassem Soleimani spent years building a network of pro-Iranian proxies or state allies in Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq. Syria fell in December 2024. At the end of June, so did two others

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is Iran's dominant force militarily, politically, and economically, but there is growing pressure for its armed wing to merge with the Iranian armed forces

The real target of the explosions near President Macron's hotel was the idea of a new, open, trading Syria. The most effective response? To press on with the visit and move towards the future

Egypt is cracking down on informal gold prospectors as it seeks to maximise the economic potential of its mining sector and attract new investment

The Arab world has a vibrant and rich literary scene. Al Majalla picks out some choice titles in our fortnightly round-up of the latest Arabic books

Another 70 lawmakers have been picked by the president, creating a chamber of just over 200. Are these MPs pliable and subservient, or do they have teeth? That is now an important question for Syria

As war continues to erase the physical landscape of Gaza, the Palestinian artist turns to photography, testimony, and digital media to preserve the city's human fabric

The beautiful game cuts across class and conflict, changing relationships and communities. Al Majalla looks at its depiction in Arab literature

The US wants to revive talks on Ethiopia's Nile dam, but another strategic contest between Addis Ababa and Cairo has emerged in the Red Sea, which could complicate reconciliation efforts