Politics
Iran is one of the countries hardest-hit by COVID-19 in the Middle East. Iran’s regional neighbours, including its supposed competitors and adversaries in the Gulf, have quickly stepped up to provide aid to Iran. Is an end to the regional rivalry between Iran and its neighbours in sight?
Here’s an update on the coronavirus situation in the Middle East, with everything you need to know about which Middle Eastern countries have been affected, how governments have responded, and what the crisis could mean for the future of the region.
Yemen: The poorest country in the Middle East; The corner of the Arabian Peninsula widely ignored as the oil monarchies of the Gulf rose to riches and global prominence; And now, embroiled in a deadly civil war protracted by the interference of external powers, further destabilising an already war-torn region. Yemeni politics can be highly confusing for outsiders. These 10 books will help you understand this complex country and the ongoing conflict.
We were deeply saddened yesterday to learn of the passing of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said, the Head of State and visionary leader of the Sultanate of Oman. After almost 50 years as Sultan, Qaboos leaves behind a legacy of economic and social development, regional peace-making, and an Omani culture with kindness and tolerance at its heart. Oman’s new Sultan Haitham bin Tariq was sworn into power in Muscat on Saturday. Here are five things you need to know about the new Sultan of Oman…
Protests erupted in Lebanon last Thursday in response to a government announcement of austerity measures, including a tax on WhatsApp calls. While the WhatsApp tax has made headlines worldwide and is being widely reported as the cause of the uprising, public anger actually runs much deeper, and the current demonstrations are in fact the eruption of years of frustration with a corrupt and ineffective political elite. These protests – which have brought people together across class, regional and sectarian divides – could mark a new era in Lebanese, and perhaps regional politics.
Halah Al Hamrani is a Saudi martial arts instructor and owner of the FLAG (Fight Like…
It’s hard to imagine a society that prohibits the participation and viewing of sports based…
Palestine is not your typical travel destination, by a long shot. Sure, it is rich in history and culture, has delicious cuisine, is religiously diverse, and contains multiple cosmopolitan city centres full of friendly and open people… but it’s also a zone of conflict, which leads many folks to cross it right off the travel bucket list. Here are five reasons why you should visit Palestine:
Bassem Youssef, a heart surgeon living with his wife and baby daughter in Cairo, was…