Blog archive all
Whatever is the world coming to when you can’t get decent servants any more. Under the heading “Mission impossible”, the Saudi Gazette reports on the trials and tribulations of finding a housemaid for Ramadan. They expect so much money these days, and they don’t like staying up all night… Read more
The campaign by Saudi conservatives against Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, the liberal-minded multi-billionaire, has moved up a notch with calls to shut down LBC television’s operations in Saudi Arabia.
The Lebanese-based channel, which is 49% owned by Prince Alwaleed’s business empire, got into… Read more
Mediation by a tribal leader from the Socialist Party has secured a truce between Houthi rebels and armed supporters of the Islah Party in al-Jawf province (north-eastern Yemen), according to the Yemen Observer.
The Shi’a and Sunni rivals had been fighting for a couple of weeks with light… Read more
It’s probably reassuring for Iraq’s neighbours that the “democratic” Maliki government is gradually acquiring the characteristics of a bog-standard authoritarian regime.
Its latest move, reported in the New York Times, is to ban websites “deemed harmful to the public, to require internet cafes… Read more
You will be pleased to hear that even if Yemen is on the brink of
turning into a failed state, its banking sector is in fine fettle and unaffected by the global financial crisis.
The central bank’s governor, Ahmad al-Samawi, delivered the good news on Saturday and also “reviewed developments… Read more
The London-based Women Solidarity for Unified and Independent Iraq has appealed to Arab governments to help save the lives of nine women believed to be facing imminent execution in Iraq.
Amnesty International says Iraq's presidential council has ratified the death sentences and… Read more
With the holy month fast approaching, it’s time for a look at this Google graph. It shows internet searches for “sex” in Egypt during the last 12 months (or, if you want to Arabise it, searches for سكس).
Notice the sudden dip at the beginning of September. That was the start of Ramadan… Read more
The authorities in Morocco have seized the latest edition of two of the country's leading independent magazines – TelQuel (circulation 35,000) and Nichane (50,000).
The reason? Both published an opinion poll showing that 91% of Moroccans have a "positive or very positive"… Read more
Several recent reports from Gaza suggest a steady erosion of personal liberties as Palestinian society retreats into supposedly “traditional” values.
Al-Mezan Centre for Human Rights says there has been anoticeable increase in “honour” killings – the most recent case being that of a 27-year-… Read more
Not to be sidelined amid Yemen’s growing mayhem (the Houthi rebellion alone has cost 338 civilian lives during the last 12 months according to government figures), al-Qaeda elements attacked a military vehicle in the eastern province of Marib on Thursday.
AFP says three soldiers died… 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
