What is Terrorism?

'An intrinsically political act': How the word terrorism is used and misused around the world 

You may think you know what terrorism is, but if you're picturing an Islamic attack on the West you're not even close to knowing the full extent of what terrorism means, where it happens and who decides what is and what isn't terrorism. Click here to find out.

China's eerie ghost cities

Are China's "ghost cities" a debt fuelled bubble or fore-thinking urban planning?

All across China, there are dozens of entire cities completely empty with almost no population at all, but still the building continues. While some say this construction is a debt fuelled waste, others praise China for forward-thinking urban planning, describing this mass construction like buying a shirt that's two sizes too big for a growing boy.

To view the full video and written report you can visit this link.

Syria: If 'the cradle' falls

If Daraa falls, could it be the beginning of the end of the civil war?

After brutally crushing Eastern Ghouta, the Syrian government now have their sites set on Daraa known as "the cradle of the revolution".  Taking this last rebel enclave in the south would not only be a symbolic victory for the government, but would also consolidate government territory. Will it be enough to ease the conflict?  Click here to read the full report.

'So many kids were dying'

Meet the incredible Australian women saving lives in Cambodia

I first met Robyn back in 2006 while researching a story on the then 10-year-old Sok Mao who had just been diagnosed by Robyn as having Haemophilia. The response to Sok Mao's story was overwhelming and he ended up with sponsorship for medication for the next 12 years, but that still left a lot of other kids with blood disorders in need.
Since then Robyn's work has expanded to include fundraising, training, setting up lab equipment and procedures and setting up the Cambodia Haemophilia Association which opened the way for treatment to be donated to other Haemophiliacs.
Sok Mao is now 22 and I had the privilege of meeting him again last month.

You can read the full story here and see my video package for The World and ABC news.

Facial recognition technology

Facial recognition technology spots wanted man in crowd of 60,000 Chinese concert-goers

Facial recognition technology has reached scary levels in China with 176 million CCTV cameras and even "smartglasses" with built-in facial-recognition technology to help security officials track suspects and scan documents.

Find out more by clicking here.

Why Eastern Ghouta?

Little-known Eastern Ghouta has become the focal point of ongoing conflict

In the past two months, Syria's Eastern Ghouta has been shelled, bombed, attacked in ground assaults and it has now been allegedly hit by chemical weapons — what makes it such a constant target?

Click here if you want to read my report for ABC.

'My heart is breaking'

40,000 Libyans blocked from returning home to Tawergha after 7 years

Libyan gunmen have block hundreds of unarmed families from returning to their home town Tawergha after seven years of forced displacement, burning their tents and threatening them with heavy weapons. The families were driven from their homes during the Libyan revolution because they sided with then ruler Muammar Gaddafi.  Click here for the full story.

'We will tear them down'

Turkey launches attack on US-backed Kurds in northern Syria

Yet another front has opened up in Syria putting NATO allies the US and Turkey in direct confrontation. After a week of warnings about the offensive, President Erdogan has launched an attack on the Kurds in the city of Afrin with army, tanks, airstrikes and Syria rebel fighters loyal to them. The US support the Kurds and have troops embedded with them in other areas. Relations are tense to say the least.

Read the full story here

Red panda rescue

Endangered red pandas seized in Laos in largest rescue recorded

Six endangered and very cute red pandas were seized from smugglers trying to cross from China to Laos. They were discovered during a random vehicle search. Unfortunately, three died 😞  but the other three are doing well and being cared for by Free the Bears in Laos.

Here's the story on ABC.

'Playing with fire'

Turkey and Russia oppose US-led border security force in Syria

The US have begun training a border force of 30,000 Syrians - mostly Kurds - to protect the borders of rebel held territory in predominately Kurdish areas of northern Syria. The problem is the main border they will be stationed along is the Turkish border and Turkey and the Kurds are kind of enemies. So now they have warned their ally the US to back off saying they are "playing with fire" by training up "terrorists" along their borders and threatened to wipe out the Kurds in Syria. 

Oh and Russia are kind of upset too. You can read why here if you're interested.

Snowstorm blankets Sahara desert in white

A freak snowstorm blanketed the Sahara desert in white in Algeria on Sunday creating these beautiful scenes. Karim Bouchetata sent me these awesome photos.

Click here is you want to see the full story and pictures on ABC.

Trump tweets

My day was filled with yet more reports on antagonising tweets from Donald Trump, who in just three days of 2018 has managed to p off Palestine, Pakistan, Iran, the Democrats and journalists (did I miss anyone?) all in just 280 characters. But he still had time to argue back and forth with Kim Jong Un about whose nuclear button is the "biggest". No seriously!

Yes these are two of the most powerful men in the world. It's hard to know whether to laugh or cry.
Can't wait for the most dishonest and corrupt media awards on Monday though.

Iraq revenge killings

HRW accuses Yazidi fighters of revenge killings of Arab men, women and children

A new report claims 70 Arab men, women and children have been killed by Yazidi armed forces in northern Iraq in a spate of revenge killings. But Yazidi groups dispute the claims and say they are yet to see any justice for the thousands killed by Islamic State fighters and more than 6,000 women forced into sexual slavery.

You can read my full story here on ABC

Al Qaeda's deadly feud

Al Qaeda seek to rebrand amid a deadly feud in Syria

Al Qaeda are in the middle of a deadly feud in Syria. Key leaders have been assassinated and many detained amid accusations and threats. In the middle of it all is a push toward a more moderate line by Syrian leaders, while hardliners loyal to al Qaeda head Ayman al-Zawahri see this less radical Islamic rule as betrayal. 

Read the full story here on ABC News

Nepal's last dancing bears rescued

Nepal's Last Dancing Bears rescued

I just wrote this story for ABC on the dramatic overnight rescue of two sloth bears. Rangila and Sridevi were the last two bears in Nepal being forced to 'dance' for tourists, a practice that is much crueler than it sounds. They have been transfered to a wildlife rescue centre for treatment.
See the full story here