FRANCESCO FIMIANI WRITES — Why should Middle East analysts and anyone else interested in the region’s economy and geopolitics be concerned about the tiny nation of Lebanon? Because, in shambles as it is now, it provides yet another theatre for proxy war in the region. The country is facing its…
Full Article LEBANON: WORST ECONOMIC CRISIS OVER A CENTURY AND WHY WE SHOULD CARE
KIANA KARIMI WRITES — As hope for reform and freedom slowly inched forward, a new cloud of darkness arose over the Iranian public, and for good reason. The media will be under substantial scrutiny and attack soon. Apps such as Signal and Instagram are crucial to everyday modern society by…
Full Article IRAN: WHO NEEDS “BIG BROTHER” WHEN YOU HAVE THE NEWLY ELECTED PRESIDENT RAISI?
FRANCESCO FIMIANI WRITES — Recently, the Africa and Middle East Regional Forum on Conflict Prevention and the Protection of Human Rights of Minorities concluded its 2021 meeting. Hosted on a virtual platform by The Gambia, the goal of the two-day meeting was to provide “regional insights” to feed into the…
Full Article MIDDLE EAST: CAN CULTURAL DIVERSITY BE PROTECTED IN THE CRADLE OF HUMAN CIVILIZATION?
LAMA ALTAHER WRITES – On April 19, 2021, the brutal murder of Farah Hamza Akbar offered a watershed moment to grapple with the country’s discriminatory laws against women. A Kuwaiti woman was killed by a man against whom she had previously filed two cases for harassment which followed her family’s…
Full Article KUWAIT: WOMEN’S RIGHTS FACE AN UPHILL BATTLE
MELANIE MARGARYAN WRITES — Armenians have always rooted for their country and their people. Through several wars and devastating natural disasters, they have joined together with a passionate sense of national pride. This year, they have yet another reason to be proud. The Armenian national soccer team, currently in the…
Full Article SPORTS: ARMENIA HOPES TO MAKE HISTORY IN THE FIFA WORLD CUP
ABEER ABUNAYYAN WRITES FROM SAUDI ARABIA – Operating in an increasingly competitive industry, Netflix has been pursuing an aggressive growth strategy intended to increase and diversify its programming whilst gaining access to new, high-potential markets. Having consolidated its position in the United States, the company has spent the past few…
Full Article SAUDI ARABIA: HOW TELFAZ11’S PARTNERSHIP WITH NETFLIX IS GOING TO AFFECT THE SAUDI FILM INDUSTRY
MELANIE MARGARYAN WRITES — Asian countries take great pride in their cultures. One of the most prominent aspects of any Asian culture is food. Nations such as Japan, China, and India have authentic foods that are fairly familiar, but when it comes to Armenia, it’s difficult to come up with…
Full Article ARMENIA: NATIVE RECIPES ARE A WELL – KEPT SECRET ON THE GLOBAL SCENE
LIAM ROGERS WRITES — Afghanistan has been an unfriendly place for women. During the 1996-2001 Taliban rule, women were not allowed to attend school, work, leave their homes without men, or show skin in public. The 2018 Academy Award Nominee, The Breadwinner, featured a beautifully horrific presentation of this reality.…
Full Article AFGHANISTAN: WITH THE WITHDRAWAL OF AMERICAN TROOPS, ARE WOMEN LEFT BEHIND?
MELANIE MARGARYAN WRITES — If you don’t know much about Armenia, that’s not really surprising. Armenia is a tiny country in the Caucasus, where nothing interesting really happens. Well, besides war and really sad stuff. But let’s talk about something great that’s been happening for Armenians, for once: TikTok. If…
Full Article ARMENIA: TIKTOK BRINGS LIGHT INTO A CULTURE OF DARKNESS
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
NAWAF Al-SABAH WRITES — Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, the Emir of Kuwait, died September 29. Why should the world, not just Kuwaitis, care? The Sheikh left behind him a force for peace and stability as well as improved relationships with allies across the globe. For example, he helped…
Full Article MIDDLE EAST: WHY WE NEED A SHEIKH SABAH
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 – From localized disease to global pandemic, the rapid spread of COVID-19 has revealed how some governments are capable of protecting their citizens—and how some are not. China took this pandemic very seriously during its early stages and has, as a result, successfully contained it. On the…
Full Article CORONAVIRUS CHRONICLES: ‘I HAVE NEVER BEEN PROUDER TO BE A KUWAITI’
ERIC ANDERSON WRITES-The Olympic Council of Asia has a mission: to promote cultural awareness, equality, respect, and clean and fair play through the latest sports and trends. The Council controls all sports in Asia and is one of five continental associations recognized by the International Olympic Committee, headquartered in Kuwait. …
Full Article CHINA: FUN IN THE SUN AT SANYA 2020 OLYMPIC GAMES