Iran's environment VP to Al-Monitor: 'We lost eight years' In a telephone interview with Al-Monitor, Masoumeh Ebtekar, the head of Iran's Environmental Protection Organization, said that many of the plans to address Tehran's pollution were not implemented under the previous administration. Iran
Security Council targets spoilers in Yemen The UN Security Council has adopted a resolution that could sanction "spoilers" in the Yemen political transition while providing President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi with more power than ever before. Yemen
Syria envoy Robert Ford retires, Rubenstein to be named successor After 30 years as a career foreign service officer US Syria envoy Robert Ford will Retire and is expected to be replaced by US diplomat Daniel Rubenstein. Originals
Al-Monitor recognized by IPI as 'Free Media Pioneer' The International Press Institute has awarded the annual Free Media Pioneer Award to Al-Monitor as “a model for independent coverage of the region through its news, features, analysis and commentary at a time of political upheaval.” Palestine