Middle East

Rachel Martin talks to New York Times Tehran correspondent Thomas Erdbrink about Iran's scramble to complete commercial deals with the West as the Obama presidency draws to an end.

Israel's right wing believes it's on the verge of big victories with Trump. Some in the Palestinian private sector are also optimistic. The picture is less clear for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The United Nations human rights agency says it has reports that hundreds of people attempting to leave rebel-held areas of Aleppo, Syria, have been prevented from doing so by rebel forces. It also says hundreds of men who left have gone missing after reaching regime-controlled areas and are believed to have been imprisoned or killed.