Blog archive all
30th August 2009
Saudi involvement in Yemen’s affairs seems likely to grow following last week’s suicide attack that slightly injured Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, the kingdom’s assistant interior minister.
On Saturday, Yemen’s foreign minister revealed that the attacker – a known al-Qaeda militant – had travelled… Read more
29th August 2009
Sometime soon the Iraqi parliament will be asked to approve a new protection law for journalists (the draft was approved by the cabinet at the end of July).
I have pointed out before that "liberated" Iraq, far from becoming a model for the region, is rapidly acquiring the negative characteristics… Read more
28th August 2009
Efforts to negotiate a ceasefire between the Yemeni government and Houthi rebels in the north of the country have collapsed, with each side blaming the other.
President Salih has vowed to "cleanse" Saada province of rebels but in a speech on Wednesday he acknowledged that Operation Scorched Earth,… Read more
28th August 2009
A satirical TV series which makes fun of Kuwaiti politicians seems to have found a simple way to get round a government ban – by changing its name for every episode.
The privately-owned satellite channel, Scope TV, was ordered to suspend the 30-part series – specially produced for Ramadan – after… Read more
27th August 2009
A ceasefire may be on the way in the war between government forces and Houthi rebels in northern Yemen. NewsYemen saysa ceasefire was agreed verbally on Wednesday and that air strikes have halted though warplanes are still flying over Saada province.
A local official is quoted as saying there are… Read more
27th August 2009
Villagers in Awalad Yehia (Upper Egypt) are refusing to accept members of the Baha’i faith as their neighbours, Gulf News reports.
The Baha’is in question were made homeless by torrential rain and the government is seeking to rehouse them. "Resettling the Bahais in our village will be on our bodies… Read more
27th August 2009
Where does the New York Times’s celebrated Middle East commentator Thomas Friedman go to get “different perspectives on the news”? The Google Reader Blog poses this question – thenprovides an answer.
Among Friedman’s 17 most-favoured publications and blogs, there isn’t a single Arab source, not… Read more
26th August 2009
Violent confrontations over water shortages continued for a fourth day in southern Yemen on Tuesday. Police reportedly used tear gas and live bullets to disperse the crowds and one demonstrator was injured. On Sunday, a protester was shot dead, according to Reuters.
Water has always been scarce in… Read more
26th August 2009
More news from the world's most sinful city. Following the arrests of the cross-dressing Filipinos, the scandal of thedancing bankers and the "devil-worship" at a heavy metal concert, Riyadh police announce that 807 people have been arrested during the past month for "disgusting" clothing and… Read more
25th August 2009
It's looking as if Lebanon will not have a new government until late next month – after the end of Ramadan. Ms Tee, blogging at B-side Beirut, outlines three current theories about the reasons for the delay:
1. Michel Aoun is making impossible demands
2. Saudi Arabia and Syria (the two key power… 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
