Blog archive all
20th May 2010
Videos have been posted on the internet showing the aftermath of Saudi Arabia's bulldozing of a Yemeni village (reported hereyesterday). "Here were houses," a man says in one of them. There doesn't seem to be much left of the village and I can't help thinking that if the Israelis had done this,… Read more
19th May 2010
Saudi forces are active across the border again, in Yemeni territory. In an incident that is being likened to Israel's destruction of Palestinian homes, the Yemeni village of Um Quaia’ah, close to the Saudi border, "was ravaged by Saudi bulldozers, including mosques and electricity poles", the… Read more
18th May 2010
The Abu Dhabi authorities seem to be in a quandary over whether to let Sex and the City 2 be shown in the emirate. The film, due to be released on May 27, has Abu Dhabi as its setting.
Plans to shoot the film in neighbouring Dubai, using the ultra-modern facilities of Dubai Studio City, had to be… Read more
18th May 2010
The Yemen Times has a few more details of the apparent attempt to assassinate President Salih on Saturday. The paper says the vehicles that came under attack were indeed the presidential convoy, though Salih was not in it – he had left earlier for Taizz by helicopter. The Yemen Times continues:
One… Read more
18th May 2010
Photo: mozzoom
The International Day Against Homophobia (Idaho) was observed in Beirut on Sunday with a programme of events. (I think Lebanon was the only Arab country where this happened, though there may have been something in Morocco.)
A set of photos has been posted on Flickr and there are… Read more
18th May 2010
Saudi police are investigating a complaint by a Filipina maid that she was repeatedly raped over a period of three years by her employer in Taif. It is the second such case in less than a week. Arab News reports.
Posted by Brian Whitaker, 18 May 2010.
17th May 2010
Egyptian security forces shot and killed another Sudanese migrant on Saturday night as he tried to cross the border into Israel.
Adam Ali Mohamed, 38, was hit three times after reportedly ignoring a call to stop.
More than 60 migrants have died at the hands of border guards since January 2008. In… Read more
17th May 2010
Yemen's Houthi rebels have not received much attention internationally since the ceasefire was declared in February. Since then, there have been numerous small-scale incidents, indicating that the war is dormant rather than at an end.
Last week, a 30-minute battle between rebels and security forces… Read more
16th May 2010
It's probably now only a matter of time before women are allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia. Today's Arab News reports on a TV debate of the issue, broadcast on the Saudi-owned al-Arabiya channel.
Although the question of women driving in the kingdom has been much discussed over the years, the… Read more
16th May 2010
There are conflicting reports of an attack in southern Yemen which may have been a botched attempt to assassinate President Salih.
A convoy of vehicles came under fire – apparently from southern separatists – in al-Habilain district of Lahij province yesterday. At least one soldier was killed and… 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
