NAWAF ALSABAH WRITES — The new Arab uprisings of 2018-2020 have demonstrated that instability in the Middle East can result from regional states’ domestic turmoil. A case in point: threats posed to the national security of the tiny Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries as a result of these recent Arab Spring…
Full Article The GCC: TINY STATES NEED BIG HELP FENDING OFF BIG ENEMIES
TIA CARR WRITES — On October 24, a humanitarian ceasefire was agreed to by Azerbaijan and Armenia, facilitated by the US State Department. Beginning at 8 AM the following day, Azeris and Armenians were legally obliged to lay down their weapons. Instead, a mere 45 minutes after the truce the…
Full Article ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN: A BORDER THAT BORDERS ON PERPETUAL WAR
SARAH ALTUWAIJRI WRITES — This past Saturday, October 20, hundreds took to the streets in Santa Clarita, marching to bring awareness to the plight of Armenians and to raise funds for military purchases, infrastructure and humanitarian aid. One of the protesters, Anna Sarvkian, a 19-year-old student stated, “Armenia is on…
Full Article ARMENIA VERSUS AZERBAIJAN: WHY, SUDDENLY, THE SOUND OF SILENCE INSTEAD OF A TWEET FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP?
SARA ALTUWAIJRI WRITES – Afghans are under attack in Iran. The war in Afghanistan left many without a home. Having no choice but to flee their country, they sought asylum in Iran, where about 2.5 million, documented and undocumented, live today. They have not found a new home. On May 1st,…
Full Article IRAN: BRUTALITY AGAINST AFGHANS
NAJLA ALWAQAYAN WRITES – This created a crisis. Since Qaboos had no children, he had no heir to whom he could pass on his wisdom or his throne. The constitution states that a successor is to be determined by the royal family of Oman within three days of his passing. If they…
Full Article THE MAN WHO RULED THE SULTANATE OF OMAN FOR 50 YEARS HAS NO HEIR
SENAY EMMANUEL WRITES — Last month, Arab leaders held an emergency summit in Mecca to address threats presented by Iran, following attacks on oil tankers off the coast of the United Arab Emirates. While Saudi Arabia described the attacks as “naked aggression,” Iran denied having anything to do with them.…
Full Article GULF GEOPOLITICS: WILL THE LACK OF UNITY ENTICE THE U.S. TO GO IT ALONE?
SARAH AL MUWAD WRITES– The world’s first operational robot policeman does not need a visa, insurance coverage or hours of training, and is ready to interact with residents and millions of tourists. This body of bolts and nuts, standing at 170 centimetres tall and weighing 100 kilograms, can determine a…
Full Article Dubai: A Global Tech Leader
SARAH Al-MUWAD WRITES– Is the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the fifth largest country in Asia, actually working towards female empowerment? And is this to advance the kingdom’s international reputation, which has recently taken a huge hit? The answer is yes. On February 23, history was made when the Kingdom of…
Full Article Saudi Arabia: What Can A Princess Fix?
ABDULMOHSAN ALMUTAIRI WRITES– What do football and a sociopolitical blockade in the Middle East have in common? Many of us would say, “not much.” Tensions between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar were apparent during the 2019 Asia Cup, held between January 5 and February 1, when the UAE…
Full Article QATAR: Asia Cup Reveals Just How Deep the Political Crisis runs in the Gulf
AN ASIA MEDIA INTERNATIONAL SPECIAL REPORT: BY LMU STUDENTS– Salem AlSabah, Mohammed AlSabah, Saud K AlRashed, Saud F AlRashed, Bader Bahman, Ali AlKhater, and Mohammed AlShehri. Managing Editors’ Note: One of the dominant news stories of this past year concerns the murder of Saudi Arabian journalist and Washington Post columnist…
Full Article LOOKING BACK AT JOURNALIST JAMAL KHASHOGGI’S BRUTAL END
DUBAI: On Sunday, October 6th, world-renowned designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana held their first ever runway show in the Middle East. Dubai was the Italian designers’ chosen stop on a three -year -world tour, and they did not disappoint. The customary extravagance of both the city and the artists…
Full Article DUBAI: Dolce & Gabbana Host First Ever Fashion Show In The Middle-East
ALEXIS CRUZ WRITES — The end of summer marks the start of the academic year, and I am ecstatic to go back to school. But this time, I will be in graduate school pursuing a Master’s degree in Public Policy at the USC Price School of Public Policy. I figured…
Full Article MOVING ON: Alexis Cruz Bids Farewell to Asia Media
ALEXIS CRUZ WRITES – More than 100 days of diplomatic crisis have taken their toll on Qatar. While fighting has yet to break out, proxy shots have most certainly been fired in the press and on the airwaves between Qatar and the quartet of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab…
Full Article QATAR: BATTLE OF THE PRESSES
ALEXIS CRUZ WRITES –Turns out, if there’s one place that U.S. President Donald Trump can count on for a warm welcome, it’s Saudi Arabia. As unlikely as that seemed at the height of last year’s presidential election, the Middle Eastern kingdom welcomed Trump with open arms on his recent visit.…
Full Article SAUDI ARABIA: SAUDI MEDIA FEEL THE LOVE FOR TRUMP
ALEXIS CRUZ WRITES – October in a U.S. election year often unveils some scandal. This year is no different, except the scandals have gotten weirder and this time Qatar is in on the mischief. According to emails leaked by Wikileaks, in 2012 Qatari representatives sought a 5-minute meeting with Bill…
Full Article QATAR: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Money