▁met als ▁information ▁and ▁a ▁source ▁of ▁benchmark ▁price ▁assess ments ▁in ▁the ▁physical ▁energy ▁mark ets . ▁ ▁Life ▁ ▁John ▁Roberts ▁is ▁the ▁young est ▁son ▁of ▁the ▁poet , ▁Michael ▁Roberts ▁and ▁of ▁the ▁writer ▁and ▁editor ▁Jan et ▁Adam ▁Smith . ▁His ▁older ▁sib lings ▁are : ▁Andrew ▁Roberts , ▁former ▁Professor ▁of ▁the ▁History ▁of ▁Africa ▁at ▁the ▁University ▁of ▁London , ▁Henri etta ▁Dom bey , ▁Professor ▁of ▁Liter acy ▁in ▁Primary ▁Education ▁at ▁the ▁University ▁of ▁Bright on , ▁and ▁Sir ▁Adam ▁Roberts , ▁President ▁of ▁the ▁British ▁Academy . ▁He ▁is ▁married ▁to ▁Ann ▁Mil nes ▁Roberts . ▁ ▁Career ▁ ▁Tra ined ▁by ▁Re ut ers ▁News ▁Agency , ▁from ▁ 1 9 7 8 - 8 0 ▁Roberts ▁covered ▁the ▁return ▁of ▁Leb anon ▁to ▁civil ▁war , ▁including ▁the ▁Isra eli ▁occupation ▁of ▁Southern ▁Leb anon ▁in ▁March ▁ 1 9 7 8 ▁– ▁Operation ▁Lit ani . ▁He ▁joined ▁the ▁Middle ▁East ▁Econom ic ▁Dig est ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 0 ▁and ▁was ▁ME ED ’ s ▁U . S . ▁Editor ▁from ▁ 1 9 8 4 ▁to ▁ 1 9 8 8 ▁and ▁then ▁Washington ▁Bureau ▁Chief ▁for ▁Al ▁Hay at ▁New sp aper ▁from ▁ 1 9 8 8 - 8 9 . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 9 0 , ▁he ▁broke ▁the ▁news ▁that ▁S add am ▁Hus sein ▁was ▁determined ▁to ▁re - open ▁Ira q ’ s ▁boundary ▁dispute ▁with ▁K uw ait