News stories by Mona Alami

Beirut, Lebanon, Dec 21 (IPS) - Despite its apparent liberalism, Lebanon scores low in gender equality, especially in politics.

Beirut, Nov 18 (IPS) - On the streets of Beirut, Hadi Hassoun begs for a few pounds to feed his five children. He has little hope of a job, especially now that the economic crisis in Lebanon has destroyed wealth.

BEIRUT, Sep 01 (IPS) - At a time when HIV rates have stabilised or declined elsewhere, the epidemic is still advancing in the Arab world, exacerbated by factors such as political unrest, conflict, poverty and lack of awareness due to social taboos.

AMMAN, Aug 31 (IPS) - As the region is rocked by violence against a backdrop of the rise of radical groups, Jordan's lesbian gay bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community fears that new instability in the Hashemite kingdom could lead to increased intolerance towards the community. 

BEIRUT, Aug 24 (IPS) - In a country where civil liberties remain the prerogative of the powerful and wealthy, the Lebanese gay scene is to be treaded carefully.

BEIRUT, Jul 30 (IPS) - Food price rises as far back as 2008 are believed to be the partial culprits behind the instability plaguing Arab countries and they have become increasingly aware of the importance of securing food needs through an international strategy of land grabs which are often detrimental to local populations.

BEIRUT, Jul 22 (IPS) - A declining economy and a severe drought have raised concerns in Lebanon over food security as the country faces one of its worst refugee crises, resulting from the nearby Syria war, and it is these refugees and impoverished Lebanese border populations that are most vulnerable to this new threat.

BEIRUT, Jul 16 (IPS) - Hezbollah clashes with Syrian rebels on the outskirts of Ersal seem to be widening the divide between residents of the Eastern Bekaa town – increasingly dominated by Syrian rebels, including the radical Nusra Front – and other regions as well as the Lebanese state. 

BEIRUT, Jun 20 (IPS) - With jihadists leading a Sunni uprising against Iraq's Shiite-dominated government, the conflicts in Syria and Iraq are beginning to reverberate across the region, raising fears of contagion in divided Lebanon where a suicide bombing took place on Friday after a period of calm.

BEIRUT, Jun 05 (IPS) - The war in Syria has brought back to the forefront the concept of ‘jihad', with tens of thousands of fighters currently waging what they believe to be a religious war there.