Persian Gulf

Two small fishing boats are shown in the near ground with large oil tankers off in the distance.

Iran bypasses Hormuz Strait to export crude oil

Energy

Iran Thursday began exporting crude oil for the first time in the Gulf of Oman, bypassing the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

President Donald Trump met with Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani

The Gulf sees Qatar as ‘an outlaw,’ but Trump needs everyone to get along

Global Politics
Iran's national flags are seen on a square in Tehran.

Iran says it has full control of Gulf, US Navy does not belong there

Global Politics
The team in the changing room before a big match. Left to right: Kenneth, David, Binumon, Purna, Umesh, Padam.

They are building Qatar’s World Cup stadiums — and dreaming of playing soccer.

Jobs
Sophia, a robot integrating the latest technologies and artificial intelligence developed by Hanson Robotics is pictured during a presentation at the "AI for Good" Global Summit at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Geneva, Switzerland Jun

Saudi Arabia has a new citizen: Sophia the robot. But what does that even mean?

Technology
The entrance of Trump International Hotel

Commentary: Americans should demand reforms that ensure government serves the people

Justice

Sarah Chayes, a senior associate in the Democracy and Rule of Law Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, says politicians from both sides of the aisle are not taking seriously enough their duty to ensure they’re not turning their government role into an opportunity to make a buck.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was Iran's president from 2005 to 2013.

Iran’s notorious Ahmadinejad is running for president again

Global Politics

Iran’s former hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad took the shock move on Wednesday of registering for next month’s presidential election, going against the advice of the supreme leader.

The fake KFC in West Tehran thought it had obtained approval from the country's Ministry of Industry, Trade and Mines.

Iranians tussle over a KFC outlet, but the clash is actually about so much more

Business

A fake Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise was shuttered in Tehran this week, but that doesn’t mean Iranians aren’t preparing to work with western companies.

Iranians wave the national flag during celebrations in  Tehran on July 14, 2015, after Iran's nuclear negotiating team struck a deal with world powers in Vienna.

Iranians are celebrating a nuclear deal, some with homemade vodka

Conflict

A nuclear deal with Iran is welcomed by many around the globe, including two brothers, one in Tehran and another in California

Marion Poizeau

In Iran, where the women school the men on surfing

Education

People were welcoming, but they were surprised, when a team of modestly dressed women surfers showed up in a remote corner of Iran. They had never seen surfing before. “Because we were only women in the water, they thought it was a sport for women,” says French director Marion Poizeau. “So the men asked us if they could also do it.”