There’s little doubt that Lebanonhad led the LGBTQ+ revolution in the Middle East. One just has to walk around Beirut’s Bourj Hammoud neighbourhood to see this in effect. And yet, homophobia continues to prevail. LGBTQ+ rights have been a fraught battl…
IMF begins Tunisia visit to help speed up $4b loan talks
International Monetary Fund (IMF) experts began a visit to Tunisia on Monday to help speed up talks surrounding a $4 billion loan programme. Tunisia is hoping to conclude the deal before the third quarter of 2022 to help support the country’s budget, T…
Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur wins Berlin Open final
Ons Jabeur won the Berlin Open on Sunday. In the moment, it didn’t matter to her at all. Jabeur was leading 6-3, 2-1 when Belinda Bencic signaled she couldn’t continue in the final after hurting her left ankle in a fall in the first set. Jabeur gave Be…
US Navy, Iran Guards in tense Strait of Hormuz encounter
A US Navy warship fired a warning flare to wave off an Iranian Revolutionary Guard speedboat coming straight at it during a tense encounter in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, officials said Tuesday. The incident on Monday involving the Guard and the Na…
Targeting BDS is about repressing all political dissent
In her May 2022 speech at the opening of Parliament, the Queen affirmed that the UK government will put forward “legislation [that] will prevent public bodies engaging in boycotts that undermine community cohesion.” Whilst not specifically singling out…
World Refugee Day: End double standards towards refugees
This World Refugee Day, we should all celebrate the throwing open of borders and homes to receive the millions of Ukrainians in the last months. But this generosity simply highlights the huge disparity and hypocrisy in the way we treat the rest of the …
Missing Omani fishermen found off Pakistan coast
Pakistan has returned two missing fishermen to Omani authorities after they were discovered alive more than one week following their announced disappearance off the Sea of Oman. Salem Al-Jaafari and Ali Al-Jaafari had been missing since 9 June but were…
Raqqa rations water amid major shortage in northeast Syria
The authorities in Raqqa province in northeastern Syria have issued an order that farmers ration water use as the area continues to suffer from a worsening water crisis. The Civil Council of Raqqa imposed new restrictions on grain farmers in a statemen…
Sudan’s economy sinks as post-coup leadership searches for support
An accelerated breakdown in services including water and electricity supplies has left Sudanese citizens counting the cost of political stalemate after a military takeover last October. The slide in living conditions comes after the coup triggered the …
Hamas warns Israel over continuing violations in West Bank
Hamas warned Israel against its continued violations against the Palestinians in Jenin city in the West Bank, stressing that it will not accept its offer of loosening the siege of the Gaza Strip as a form of blackmail. Speaking to The New Arab, an offi…