No more chai lattes in Lebanon?

Protesters in Beirut forced a branch of coffee chain Starbucks to close today after anger directed towards the ongoing war in Gaza.

An immediate boycott of Israeli products has been urged across the Arab world after day 19 of the conflict has seen 1,010 people killed and over4,000 injured.

A reason to hire me

The media can be more powerful than politicians. With this power, comes responsibility and one of the most unpredictable careers ever. For me personally, becoming a journalist has been a life long goal.

After graduating with my honours degree this year, I intend to move to the Middle East to learn Arabic and gain experience within conflict zones such as Palestine and Lebanon. Palestine is an issue that is both ongoing and challenging at the same time. I thrive on challenges and work best under pressure and I believe that reporting on such a controversial issue will help me use skills I learned in university to the best of my abilities.

First time at the BBC

My first experience of working for the BBC was exciting an nerve wracking at the same time. I walked into the induction for Radio Scotland nervously in April 2007 followed by a handful of other jittery students. We were all in the same boat.

We were briefed on interviewing techniques, given a short history of Radio Scotland and much to my surprise, were not told to make coffee for the bosses.

The toothy BBC smile

Eng v Scot v the education system

Lets face it, there seems to be some that are trying to create a hostility between Scotland and England. A few of us think we are above the English which geographically we are, whilst others think it’s solely the English that put the “U” in the United Kingdom.

The row over student fees in Scotland has only helped to expand the Anglo-Scot divide especially since Gordon Brown became the top man of the Labour Party.

While Scottish students, and EU students studying in Scotland get off ‘Scot free,’ English students still are required to pay the full fees.

John Simpson – a good review

From the second you see the silver hair and broad face of one of the most reputable journalists on the BBC, you know that you will be provided with good quality reporting.

The same will apply to John Simpson’s autobiography, Strange Places, Questionable People.

Simpson reporting on the Iraq war

Govanhill migrant issue

Govanhill has came under scrutiny after Strathclyde Police say that racism is on the increase against migrant workers and asylum seekers.
The police claim that there is a growing hostility between the Asian population of the Southside and other ethnic groups.

A Palestinian path to Scotland

A young teenager walks into the room followed by her father. They both sit and talk politely. This is no ordinary family. This is the Hussein family who immigrated to Scotland from the Gaza Strip in Palestine back in 2000.

The father, Ghazi Hussein, decided to settle in Glasgow after a gruelling life in one of the most war ridden places in the world: Palestine.

He says: “When we arrived here I had a feeling things were going to get better. Everything in this country is so different to what I’m used to. My family and I were so overwhelmed. The culture and people of this country changed me as a person forever.”

Ghazi Hussein in Edinburgh

Pakistani earthquake

Over 3 million people are facing another harsh winter in Pakistan’s northern regions, a year on from the earthquake according to Oxfam Scotland.

An estimated 86,000 people lost their lives in what is the biggest South Asian earthquake to date. And still, the aid and relief isn’t reaching the people in need.

Public Enemy yo!

After Flava Flavs disturbing appearance on celebrity Big Brother a few years ago, one would think that the reputation of Public Enemy has went downhill.
But Fear of a Black Planet remains one of the most influential hip-hop albums of all times. Inspiring artists such as Zach de la Rocha and Dr. Dre, it is the revolutionary lyrics of Chuck D in ‘Fight the Power’ and ‘Welcome to the Terrordome’ that makes this politically heated album give a voice to civil rights and put the bitches n’ bling hip-hop we hear now to shame.

Public Enemy still fighting the power

Nine Inch Nails album review

Over the years, Nine Inch Nails have created different sounds ranging from screaming metal guitars in Pretty Hate Machine to the slower pulsation of The Fragile. NIN have not ceased to disappoint until now. The somewhat repetitive clatter of debut album The Slip was released shortly after the instrumental Ghosts I–IV. Even though frontman Trent Reznor decided to be generous by giving the entire album away for free, the dabbling with disco in tracks such as ‘Discipline’ proves to be an unworthy move. Although ‘Head Down’ and ‘Echoplex’ rekindle the early days of Reznor’s poignant creations, The Slip leaves you feeling like NIN have been there done that.

NIN live in Edinburgh