Category:

Society

Finding moments of childhood in Gaza, one bubble at a time

by Alessandra Bajec June 5, 2026

A project focused on bubble play for children aims to bring some happiness to those living through Israel’s genocide The Global Sumud Flotilla, which was attacked by Israeli forces on 18 May as it …

June 5, 2026 143 views

Ultra-Processed Foods Are Reshaping Women’s Health in the Middle East

by Alessandra Bajec February 25, 2026

From metabolic health to hormones, clinicians say the region’s shift towards packaged convenience is showing up first in women’s bodies. Over the past decade, diets across the Middle East – particularly in the Gulf …

February 25, 2026 141 views

The Gulf’s Genome Revolution Is Underway

by Alessandra Bajec February 12, 2026

The UAE and Qatar are developing national genome programmes to improve disease prevention, enable early diagnosis, and deliver personalised treatment plans Over the past decade, genome sequencing has become faster, cheaper and …

February 12, 2026 150 views

Iranian Artists Keep the Spirit of “Woman, Life, Freedom” Alive

by Alessandra Bajec February 3, 2026

“Raised fists, flowing scarves and bold female figures,” Rouzbehani says. “All these elements reflect the movement’s core spirit: autonomy, resistance and hope.” The 2022 “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests erupted in Iran following the shocking …

February 3, 2026 153 views

Yellow lines and green zones: The de facto partition of Gaza

by Alessandra Bajec December 29, 2025

Fears are mounting that Gaza’s new patchwork of different zones, separated by a Yellow Line, could harden into a permanent partition of the territory Last week, the UN Security Council endorsed President Donald …

December 29, 2025 1.5K views

Iran’s deportation crackdown sees mass exodus of Afghans

by Alessandra Bajec July 14, 2025

In one of the largest expulsions in modern history, four million Afghans face deportation as Iran launches a mass security crackdown after its war with Israel. Over half a million Afghans have returned from …

July 14, 2025 1.6K views

In a Turkish border city swelled by Syrians, many prepare to leave

by Alessandra Bajec June 24, 2025

A six-month window for refugees in Turkey to visit Syria before returning is set to close on July 1. In Kilis, many are preparing to leave, others remain uncertain. KILIS — On …

June 24, 2025 1.4K views

From Ruins to Renaissance: Syrian Artists Reclaim Freedom After Assad

by Alessandra Bajec April 1, 2025

Following more than five decades of repression under the Assad regime, these artists are seizing the moment of cultural revival. Shireen Atassi, building a new life with her family in Dubai, felt a strong …

April 1, 2025 1.6K views

The vital role of civil society in building a post-Assad Syria

by Alessandra Bajec February 5, 2025

After Assad’s fall, Syrian civil society is reorganising for an inclusive political transition and to claim a role in rebuilding the nation. Before its collapse, Bashar Al-Assad’s autocratic regime left Syria in …

February 5, 2025 1.6K views

How the ceasefire will reveal the true scale of Gaza’s death toll

by Alessandra Bajec January 22, 2025

The ceasefire in Gaza will reveal the horrifying human cost of Israel’s war as bodies are found under the rubble and the missing are accounted for. After months of failed negotiations to …

January 22, 2025 1.8K views