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26th September 2010
From the Egyptian daily, al-Masry al-Youm:
Chairman of al-Ahram newspaper Abdel-Monem Saeed said he has not received any complaints from authorities concerning the publishing of aPhotoshopped picture of leaders in negotiations held recently in Washington to put Mubarak ahead of the other leaders… Read more
25th September 2010
The six-day siege of al-Hawta (Hota, Huta) in southern Yemen ended yesterday with an official announcement that the army had cleared suspected al-Qaeda fighters from the town.
The huge operation, involving tanks, artillery, air strikes and 1,500 troops may have been intended to show donor countries… Read more
24th September 2010
Abdel-Monem Said, chairman of al-Ahram, the leading pro-government newspaper in Egypt, has issued a statement headed: "The Ahram 'photo' and the Western media's reaction".
This is in response to criticism of the doctored photograph which purported to show President Mubarak striding through the… Read more
23rd September 2010
More than 1,500 Yemeni troops launched a major offensive yesterday against the southern town of Hota (Huta, Hawta) which they have been besieging since Sunday. Xinhua news agencyquotes a local counter-terrorism official as saying:
"The massive offensive started with ... air raids and a partial drop… Read more
22nd September 2010
As many as 15,000 civilians have now fled al-Hota (Huta), the southern Yemeni town which has been besieged by the military since Sunday.
Between 80 and 100 al-Qaeda militants are said to be holed up in the town (estimated population 20,000-25,000) and the surrounding area. It appears that the army… Read more
21st September 2010
In the continuing crackdown in Bahrain, Ayatollah Hussein al-Najati – a prominent Shia religious figure – has been stripped of his citizenship. The passports of his wife and three children have also been revoked.
Najati is the local representative of the Iraqi grand ayatollah, Ali al-Sistani.… Read more
21st September 2010
Between 8,000 and 12,000 people have fled their homes in al-Hota, southern Yemen, in what is said to be a battle between government forces and al-Qaeda militants, according to Red Crescent sources in the area.
The town, in Shabwa province, has reportedly been subjected to heavy shelling, with five… Read more
21st September 2010
Don't you just love Egyptian humour? Following the al-Ahram debacle, when a sharp-eyed blogger spotted that the leading pro-government newspaper had doctored a photo to show President Mubarak apparently leading the way along a corridor in the White House, it seems that anyone can now get in on the… Read more
19th September 2010
In Yemen, the deputy governor of Abyan province, Ahmed al-Rahawi, survived an assassination attempt yesterday when his convoy was ambushed in al-Rai district of Jaar.
AFP says a roadside bomb exploded, injuring three soldiers and a fourth person who was in al-Rahawi's car. A civilian was reported… Read more
15th September 2010
The New York Times has a report giving a few more details about the case of Ali Ahmad Asseri, the Saudi diplomat who is seeking asylum in the US on the grounds that he is gay. The Los Angeles Times also notes some negative reactions in the Arab media.
Writing in the Crossroads Arabia blog, John… Read more
ARAB ART ONLINE: Susan Hefuna: Al Sabr Gamil (Patience is Beautiful) 2007. Ink stained on wood 140 x 170 cm. More information | Click to enlarge
