middle east
Hundreds of Refugees Leave Lebanon for Syria Despite ‘Torture Risk’
Around 700 Syrians have voluntarily crossed back over the Lebanese border to their homeland. Rights groups say they are at risk of torture and arbitrary detention.
US Citizen Jailed for 16 Years in Saudi Arabia for Tweets He Sent From Florida
Dual US-Saudi national Saad Ibrahim Almadi, 72, was arrested when he arrived in Saudi Arabia last year. It’s the latest sign of the regime cracking down on online dissent.
Now Politicians Are Storming Lebanon’s Banks Too
New security measures have been put in place after a wave of bank sieges, but people forcing banks to let them withdraw their own money has become part of daily life.
Saudi Arabia Wins Bid to Host Asian Winter Games in City That Doesn’t Yet Exist
NEOM, a futuristic city that's the brainchild of Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, is slated to host the 2029 event.
Iranian Riot Police Clobber Student Protesters
As protests triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini continue to rage, supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei resorted to blaming the US and Israel for orchestrating dissent.
Inspiring! Saudi Crown Prince Becomes Prime Minister Aged Just 37
Mohammed bin Salman has managed to “fall up” despite being accused of ordering the murder of a journalist.
Signal Is Asking People Around the World to Help Iranians Access the Encrypted App
The encrypted chat app published “easy” detailed instructions to help anyone set up a proxy server to help Iranians.
Woman Dies After Being Arrested By Cops Under Iran’s Strict Hijab Law
Mahsa Amini, 22, fell into a coma and died after being rounded up by morality police in Tehran and “re-educated” for not complying with the modesty law.
Video of Women Being Beaten at Saudi Arabian Orphanage Sparks Outrage
The incident was reportedly sparked by young women going on hunger strike over living conditions at the institution.
Meth, Money, Militias: Welcome to Iraq’s Hottest Narco Town
A vicious cocktail of addiction, extremism, state failure and unbearably hot summers has turned Basra into a powder keg.
Protesters Stormed an Iraqi Palace and Jumped in the Swimming Pool
At least 23 people have died and hundreds of protesters stormed a government palace in Baghdad after Muqtada al-Sadr, a popular Shia cleric, retired from politics.
‘I’ll Do it Again,’ Says Man Who Held Up Bank to Withdraw His Own Money
Faced with huge medical bills for his sick family, Bassam al-Sheikh Hussein held up a bank to withdraw his own savings, and walked free. He speaks to VICE World News about becoming an unlikely public hero.