United Kingdom
I am a UK based foreign news reporter at MailOnline with a keen eye on Middle Eastern current affairs. Previous positions include freelancing in the region and as an Iraq-Iran reporter for Middle East Monitor.
BEIRUT, Lebanon - The highways of Beirut are known in the region as a plague on sanity. Dust-coated cars, busses shuttling back and forth and fragile-looking mopeds clash in a daily battle where the onus is on reaction rather than reflection.
Having no extra money to take a taxi or ride a bus has never stopped Samar from getting her child to the hospital - it was a matter of keeping her son alive. Walking under Gaza's blaring sun or having to contend with stormy weather was just what she had to do.
Walls of Beirut's buildings are still studded with bullet holes from the civil war Since October, protesters have stormed the streets demanding change Lebanon's hospitals will not cope if there is a larger coronavirus outbreak Rescuers searched for survivors in Beirut yesterday after a cataclysmic explosion at the port sowed devastation across entire neighbourhoods, killing more than 100 people, wounding thousands and plunging Lebanon deeper into crisis.
Beijing said all translated classic religious books should be 're-evaluated' The new editions must not contain any content that contradicts socialism Paragraphs deemed wrong by censors will be amended or re-translated Comes as China faces widespread criticism over its policy against Muslims China will rewrite the Bible and Quran to 'reflect socialist values' amid crackdown on the country's religious groups, a report has revealed.
Recent tourist said her friend was refused entry at mall in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia Businesses can set their own dress code according to Saudi Tourism Ministry Saudi source said older generations are resisting some of governments reforms Clerics are changing their sermons to not fall out of favour with the Crown Prince Some business owners in Saudi Arabia are refusing to follow out the Crown Prince's relaxation of laws, according to reports from visitors to the kingdom.
Dr Philip Cunliffe says foreign policy is being overrun by human rights concerns Using war-torn Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan as examples, he claims the West has broken the countries but is unable to rebuild them as functioning nations Slave markets and ethnic cleansing of the Yazidis in Iraq would never have happened without the human rights-propelled invasion of Iraq in 2003 Slave markets, perpetual war and ethnic cleansing are happening in the Greater Middle East due to an obsession with...
China expert Kerry Brown said that offending Beijing was 'never difficult' He added that it has become even easier under the rule of President Xi Jinping He urged academic staff to continue to discuss the country's human rights record, and their involvement in Hong Kong and Taiwan A leading expert has warned that British academics should not avoid sensitive issues about China like Hong Kong and Taiwan for fears that they will offend the country.
ISIS believes the death of Soleimani will allow them to regroup in Iraq once more The US-led coalition had been holding them back up until Iran's recent stand off Iraq's European and American allies have been pausing training operation since ISIS has claimed the death of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani was an act of 'divine intervention' and that it will benefit their jihadist cause.
Iraq has spent decades living under wars and sanctions, most recently defeating the terror group Daesh in 2017. While all eyes are on reconstruction and the return of the internally displaced to their homes, Iraq must not forget to treat its citizens who are in the throes of Serious Mental Illnesses (SMIs).
Since coming to office, US President Donald Trump has grabbed headlines for his loud declarations; that he called the Saudi king and demanded more "protection money", that he has demanded oil producing countries increase supplies and reduce costs, and most recently that Iran must buckle under the pressure of his sanctions and agree to new terms to end the blockade.