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You couldn't make this stuff up. The Bahrain News Agency reportsthat King Hamad of Bahrain "won the title of Humanitarian Personality of the Year with absolute majority of votes" in a recent poll conducted by a Kuwaiti newspaper, al-Sharq.
Apparently, "tens of thousands of personalities from… Read more
There's an interesting article – for once – in today's Gulf Daily News (GDN), a generally pro-government newspaper which bills itself as "the voice of Bahrain".
The article is an extraordinary attack on what its headline calls "PR mercenaries" – British and American "reputation management… Read more
Barring full-scale foreign intervention, a negotiated settlement in Syria is "becoming inevitable", Patrick Cockburn wrote in
an article for the Independent last week.
As the dreadful carnage continues, shifting the battleground from Syria's streets to the conference table might seem an… Read more
Bahrain's habit of excluding foreign journalists, NGO representatives, politicians and others whose work it dislikes has long been common knowledge – though the government denies it.
Persisting in that denial may become more difficult following the publication of a report by Bahrain Watch… Read more
The requirement in Egypt's new constitution for the state to protect "public morality" is facing its first test with a lawsuit filed by a former member of parliament.
Hamdy al-Fakhrany – who was an independent member of the People's Assembly before it was dissolved – has… Read more
Killers on motorcycles were responsible for the murders of 40 military and security officers and four civilians in Yemen during 2012, the interior ministry said yesterday.
A further 21 military officers and nine civilians were injured in attacks involving motorcycles:
"Most of the motorcycle-… Read more
A vociferous campaigner against NGOs that criticise Israel is appealing for money following a disastrous legal action in the European Court of Justice. His supporters in Britain are being urged to make donations through a registered charity – in effect, with a subsidy from taxpayers.
Gerald… Read more
King Abdullah of Jordan has issued the first in a series of "discussion papers" intended "to share his vision on the kingdom's comprehensive reform process" (full text here).
The paper is basically a lecture about citizenship, calling on Jordanians to participate actively in national debates… Read more
Flooding caused by several days of heavy rain brought much of Baghdad to a standstill last week. "Disruption to the electricity grid and the failure of emergency generators as a result of damage to cables underground left many businesses and individuals without power," The National reported.… Read more
King Abdullah of Jordan will shortly be issuing a series ofdiscussion papers "outlining his vision on the kingdom’s comprehensive reform process," a statement from the Royal Court announced this week. "These papers seek to facilitate national dialogue and encourage citizens’ participation in… 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
