Mcallen

Rouhani's election victory in Iran was dramatic, but how deep did it go?

Dancing in the streets to the powerful beats from car sound systems – on virtually the one day every four years that such spontaneous public parties are tolerated – Iranians joyously celebrated the reelection of their hero, President Hassan Rouhani. Mr. Rouhani has promised greater freedoms and vowed to reconnect Iran to the world, and as voters celebrated, they chanted for the release of opposition leaders. Recommended: How much do you know about Iran?

How a forlorn playground became one of America’s most innovative public spaces

Day after day in this heavily Latino and African-American neighborhood, she’d come to this sorry spot ridden with hypodermic needles and gin bottles, its swings shredded by pit bulls trained to improve their jaw strength by hanging from the seats. “I’d be thinking, ‘What’s that white lady think she’s going to do in this neighborhood?” Ms. Cerda, who is Native American, recalls. Ms. Maher, whose rubber gardening boots complement the yellow rubber bands fastened around the pigtails she still wears in her mid-50s, is an urban visionary – a playground-whisperer who stubbornly believes that the most beautiful and enlightened public spaces, especially playgrounds, not only belong in the most disadvantaged communities but also can be designed, built, managed, and programmed by the people who live there.

Adam Schiff: Why Congress needs to go forward with own Russia investigations

In one way, the appointment of Robert Mueller as special counsel in the Russia investigation could greatly hamper parallel investigations in Congress. Witnesses may well resist appearing before congressional committees for fear of incriminating themselves, knowing that Mr. Mueller, the former FBI director appointed by the Department of Justice, is on the hunt for criminal wrongdoing.

Manchester’s lesson about fragile states

One connection between Salman Abedi, the suicide bomber in Manchester, England, and most of his victims was their youthful fragility. According to British authorities, he was recently in Libya, home to a branch of Islamic State (ISIS). Much of the world’s struggle against terrorism involves either protecting or preventing fragility – and not only in people.