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The approval of a "mini-constitution" by Tunisia's newly-elected constituent assembly has been largely overlooked by western media, along with the controversy inside Tunisia about its discriminatory content.
The 26-clause document, intended to pave the way for appointing a president and government… Read more
I have written here before about the American public relations firm, Qorvis, and its shameful $40,000-a-month contract with the government of Bahrain to spruce up the kingdom's tarnished image. Now, though, a document filed by Qorvis under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (as… Read more
The official Yemeni news agency reports a meeting between foreign minister Qirbi and Criag Jenness, director of the UN's Electoral Assistance Division.
It appears that Yemen is seeking "UN technical and logistical assistance" in the presidential election scheduled for February 21.
This is… Read more
Razan Ghazzawi, a prominent Syrian blogger and rights activist, was arrested on Sunday while travelling to Jordan for a conference on freedom of expression.
One of her friends told Reuters: "She was arrested as she presented her passport to immigration at the Syrian border post of Nassib to… Read more
Arab states continue to perform badly in the World Economic Forum's latest survey of the Global Gender Gap, released last month. The Middle East and North Africa is the worst-performing of six global regions examined in the study.
As in previous years, four Nordic countries –… Read more
A human rights organisation in South Africa is planning legal actionafter a journalist was sacked by al-Jazeera and expelled from Qatar following a positive HIV test.
The journalist – a South African who has not been identified – had recently taken up a post as a senior editor with al-Jazeera'… Read more
Having signed the GCC's ludicrous "transition agreement" under international pressure, President Saleh shows no sign of relinquishing power in Yemen and the situation continues to deteriorate.
Fighting has been going on for several days now in the city of Ta'izz, south of… Read more
The Saudi press has been awash with praise for the "visionary" (but stupid) Prince Nayef who has just been named as crown prince - i.e. next in line to the throne. Indeed, if the Saudi reports are to be believed, world leaders are also overwhelmed with joy at the news of his appointment.
As… Read more
It has been widely reported that the Yemen "transition" agreement signed last week includes immunity for President Saleh and members of his entourage. This led to protests in Yemen at the weekend calling instead for Saleh's prosecution.
If guarantees of immunity have indeed been given,… Read more
It looks as if Saudi Arabia will avoid exclusion from the 2012 Olympics – by entering a token female presence in equestrian events.
Women's sporting activity in the kingdom is widely discouraged on religious grounds and the kingdom has previously sent all-male teams to the… 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
