Iran, an oil-rich country of 83 million people, is the world's largest Shiite nation, an arch-enemy of Israel and rival of Sunni powerhouse Saudi Arabia.

Israel's fragile new government has shown little interest in addressing the decades-old conflict with the Palestinians, but it may not have a choice.

Jewish ultranationalists are already staging provocations aimed at splitting the coalition and bringing about a return to right-wing rule. In doing so, they risk escalating tensions with the Palestinians weeks after an 11-day Gaza war was halted by an informal cease-fire.

When Joe Biden entered the White House, he waited nearly a month to speak to Benjamin Netanyahu, fueling perceptions he was in no hurry to please the divisive Israeli leader.

Promising greater openness at home and outreach abroad when he was elected in 2013, Iran's outgoing moderate President Hassan Rouhani comfortably won a second term but leaves office as a deeply unpopular figure.

Rewaz Faiq is just one of two women serving as parliament speaker in the Middle East, where politics is a man's world, but the Iraqi Kurdish mother of two is unfazed.

Israel's new government, a fragile alliance spanning the political spectrum, is meant to endure until 2025 but it could be brought down quickly by divisive issues such as the Palestinian conflict, analysts said Monday.

Israel's longtime premier Benjamin Netanyahu has lost power after parliament approved a coalition government opposed to him, raising questions about the next steps in his ongoing corruption trial.

Iranians will vote for a new president on June 18, with seven candidates in the race.

Benjamin Netanyahu, who appeared closer than ever to leaving office Sunday as parliament geared up to vote on a coalition opposed to him, is Israel's longest-serving prime minister. 

Here are some key facts about Algeria, a North African nation of 44 million which Saturday is holding parliamentary elections amid a boycott by the Hirak anti-government protest movement.