Neil MacFarquhar currently serves as the UN bureau chief of the New York Times.
He previously served as Cairo bureau chief from 2001 through 2005.
His Mideast expertise predates his Cairo assignment. He grew up in Libya and covered the region for the AP, including stints in Israel and Kuwait.
An Arabic speaker, Mr. MacFarquhar is the author of "The Media Relations of Hizbollah Wishes You a Happy Birthday" (PublicAffairs, 2009) and "The Sand Café" (PublicAffairs, 2006) about Gulf War correspondents marooned in a Saudi hotel.
