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23rd October 2009
Yemen's Houthi rebels have reportedly clashed with Saudi forces involved in the construction of a border fence. Reutersand the BBC have the story.
Reuters quotes a statement on a rebel website which says: "Residents of the area reject any fence which would have a negative economic impact on them… Read more
23rd October 2009
The UN conference on climate change is only a few weeks away, and what are the Arab countries doing about it? Next to nothing, or even worse.
“Most Arab countries do not even have a position on climate change, and many of the delegates [who have attended international talks] do not have the mandate… Read more
23rd October 2009
"If asked where change is likely to come from in the Arab countries, I would not put much faith in 'reformist' politicians and opposition parties – they're mostly no-hopers – but I would definitely put feminists, gay men, lesbians and bloggers very high on my list."
Read my full article on Comment… Read more
22nd October 2009
Arab countries are all in the bottom two-thirds of this year's Press Freedom Index issued by the Paris-based Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF). Kuwait has the highest ranking, in 60th place out of 175, closely followed by Lebanon.
This year, for the first time, Israel – in 93rd place, down 47 places… Read more
21st October 2009
The field commander of the Houthi rebels, Abd al-Malik al-Houthi, has died in hospital after being captured, according to medical sources cited by the Yemen Post.
On Sunday, several local websites reported that Houthi – regarded by the authorities as the most dangerous man in Yemen – had been… Read more
21st October 2009
In the continuing trials of suspected Houthi rebels, 10 more men were sentenced to death in Yemen yesterday, bringing the total of death sentences so far to 22. Six others were jailed yesterday for 15 years each.
They are among 190 defendants in a series of trials connected with fighting that… Read more
21st October 2009
The long-running debate in Egypt about Hosni Mubarak's successor took a new twist yesterday when Amr Moussa, the Egyptian head of the Arab League, hinted that he might run for the presidency in 2011.
"Every capable and efficient citizen has the right to aspire for the supreme post, which is the… Read more
21st October 2009
Kuwait's constitutional court is expected to give a ruling later this month on whether female members of parliament must wear the hijab.
An electoral law introduced when Kuwaiti women were given full political rights four years ago says: “A condition for women to vote and be elected is to abide by… Read more
20th October 2009
The question of Iranian involvement in the Yemeni war is often raised, though with scant evidence to support the various claims. The Houthi rebels who have been fighting the government off and on for the last five years. are Shia Muslims and, even though their Zaidi version of Shi'ism differs from… Read more
19th October 2009
The field commander of the Houthi rebels, Abd al-Malik al-Houthi, was arrested yesterday by the military after being injured in an air strike, according to unconfirmed reports from several local news sources (Yemen Observer, News YemenandYemen Online).
At the time of writing, the Yemeni… 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
