The Arab Women Film Festival seeks to deconstruct misunderstandings about women in the Arab world and its diasporas, and provide a more nuanced view of the challenges faced by Arab women today.
Iraqis have taken to the streets recently to demand their government tackle the corruption endemic to its political system.
Reuters/Ahmed Saad
Is serious reform to stamp out political corruption in Iraq even possible given inevitable opposition from those with a vested interest in the status quo?
Australian aircraft are set to join in bombing activities over Syria.
AAP
Australia must have a realistic view of the end goal in increasing its efforts in the fight against Islamic State in Syria, and start planning to stabilise and rebuild any territory retaken.
Nothing to see here: the aftermath of a reported chlorine attack in Syria.
Reuters
The war in Iraq and Syria might well now be a chemical one – but it won’t make any difference to the world’s response.
Australia should not wait until bodies are washed up on foreign beaches before it is spurred to action on addressing refugee flows.
Reuters/Dimitris Michalakis
Australia should not reserve its help for those fleeing conflict in distant wars. Its first duty should be to those who face death and persecution in its own region.
A global approach would significantly increase the burden-sharing between the refugee-hosting countries near Syria and the rest of the developed world.
Reuters/Stoyan Nenov
Australia should keep out of the Syrian conflict. Instead, it should respect the rule of law and the peaceful resolution of disputes by promoting a diplomatic end.
Residents of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip watch a parade by the military wing of Hamas to mark the anniversary of the war with Israel.
AAP/Newzulu/Mhmed Ali
While symoblic, an increase in Australian firepower in the fight against Islamic State in Syria will not greatly affect the battlespace’s fundamental reality.
Palestinian workers on the West Bank.
Reuters/Ammar Awad
Two years ago, on August 14, more than 800 protesters against a coup were massacred in Cairo. A court recently upheld the death sentence for Egypt’s ousted elected leader.
Not all of Iran’s frozen foreign assets are likely to thaw anytime soon.
Frozen dollar via www.shutterstock.com
Estimates of how much of Iran’s frozen assets it will get once sanctions are lifted vary widely, but the sum is most likely just a fraction of the total.
Senior Associate Fellow on the Middle East at RUSI; Associate Professor in Politics & International Relations; Deputy Director of the Centre on US Politics, UCL