Saudi envoy welcomes GCC ties with Australia

MELBOURNE — Saudi Ambassador to Australia Nabil bin Mohammed Al Saleh welcomed the convening of Economy and Investment Forum between Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Arab States and Australia. Ambassador Nabil bin Mohammad... Read more »

Australian Special Forces ready for action in Iraq

Special for Tribune International By A Special Correspondent DUBAI – A 200+ team of Australia’s Special Forces are standing by in the United Arab Emirates to land in Iraq and take part... Read more »

Will Tunisia’s youth head to the ballots?

Many young activists are saying they are discouraged by politics ahead of legislative and executive elections. Tunis, Tunisia – With Tunisia’s legislative and presidential elections approaching on October 26 and November 23,... Read more »

Yemen’s president faces political stalemate

Yemenis are asking whether the president’s ‘divide-and-rule’ policy led to the ongoing standoff with Houthi rebels. Sanaa, Yemen – Yemeni President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi is facing one of the biggest crises of... Read more »

Iraq parliament to vote on new government

Political bargaining comes as two suicide bombers attack town north of Baghdad that has resisted Islamic State rebels. Members of the Iraqi parliament are set to vote on a new government, a... Read more »

Who are Israel’s Palestinian informants?

Israel relies on information provided by a network of Palestinian collaborators. But how does the system really work? Gaza City – The public execution of alleged Palestinian informants for Israel in the... Read more »

UAE jumps back into pearl diving

Local groups in the UAE are reviving the ancient tradition of pearl diving, once an economic pillar in the region. Dubai, United Arab Emirates – “Heritage is our foundation,” said Ali Saqr al-Suweidi,... Read more »

Gaza war strengthens Palestinian unity

Rival Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip have united in celebration of the end of the war, but will it last? Gaza City – Raef had never been to a demonstration before.... Read more »

US to pursue IS group to ‘gates of hell’

Vice president Joe Biden says US will “bring armed group to justice” after beheading of two American reporters in Iraq. Joseph  Biden, the US vice president, has said his country will follow the IS group “to... Read more »

Yemeni women fight for greater representation

Despite a precarious 30 percent quota for women in government, Yemeni activists say women’s rights have been sidelined. Sana’a, Yemen – After years of activism, Amal Basha’s demands for guarantees of greater representation for... Read more »

What’s behind the spike in Saudi beheadings?

In the opening weeks of August, Saudi Arabia carried out more than one execution per day, human rights groups say. Human rights groups say there has been an upsurge of executions in... Read more »

Iraq breaks Islamic State siege of Amerli

Government forces mainly composed of peshmerga fighters enter northern town where thousands of civilians were trapped. Government forces mainly composed of Kurdish Peshmerga fighters and armed volunteers have broken through the Islamic State... Read more »

Jordan King given further exclusive powers

Royal decree allowing King Abdullah to choose army and security chiefs raises fears in delay of democratisation efforts. Amman, Jordan – The Jordanian parliament’s recent decision to grant the monarchy the power... Read more »

Egypt’s prisons still rife with torture

Human rights groups say at least 25,000 people have been detained in the past year, while dozens have died in custody. Cairo, Egypt – Amr was arrested in March while having a cup... Read more »

Islamic State lays siege to Iraqi Turkmen

Residents of Amerli say they are running out of water and food supplies, as the UN warns of a ‘desperate’ situation. Kirkuk, Iraq – About to give birth, and with all roads in... Read more »

Yemen’s rival protesters speak out

Supporters of rival Houthi and Islah groups have marched in Sanaa, as fears of sectarian violence are rising. Sanaa, Yemen – After a week of mounting anti-government protests in Sanaa led by the... Read more »

Life returns to Gaza as truce holds

Both sides claim the indefinite truce as a “victory”, but Netanyahu faces criticism in Israel over the offensive. An open-ended ceasefire in the Gaza war was holding as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu... Read more »

Iraq crisis worsens Jordan’s economic woes

Fighting in Iraq has caused a dramatic drop in trade with neighbouring Jordan, as the shared border is ‘partially’ shut. Amman, Jordan – As violence escalates in Iraq, neighbouring Jordan is facing a... Read more »

Iraq bombings target Shia areas

At least 43 people killed in Baghdad and other cities, as new prime minister calls for unity. A wave of attacks targeting commercial areas in and outside Baghdad has killed a total of... Read more »

As prices soar, Gaza food crisis looms

As fresh produce and meat sells at inflated costs, many Palestinians in Gaza are surviving on emergency food rations. Gaza City – Ashraf al-Helou knows that whatever chickens he has in stock... Read more »

Abbas urges resumption of talks with Israel

Palestinian president backs Cairo-mediated talks to avoid more ‘casualties and sacrifices’ amid new airstrikes in Gaza. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has called for the urgent resumption of the Cairo-mediated talks between Israel and... Read more »

Who are the Houthis in Yemen?

Thousands of Houthi supporters have called for the fall of Yemen’s government. But what do the Houthis really want? Sanaa, Yemen – Thousands of supporters of Yemen’s Houthi movement protested in the streets... Read more »

Gaza children unable to go back to school

The new school year will be delayed indefinitely in Gaza, as more than 380,000 Palestinians remain displaced. Shujayea, Gaza City – Ahmed al-Arqan, 54, sits under the roof of what used to... Read more »

Where are Morocco’s revolutionary activists?

The February 20 movement helped spawn mass demonstrations that demanded democratisation in 2011. What happened? “Freedom for all political prisoners in the Maghreb” is the new calling card of Moroccan activists, many of... Read more »