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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… Read more
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
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
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 Yemenand
Yemen Online).
At the time of writing, the Yemeni… Read more
Of all the many restrictions on life in Saudi Arabia that might reasonably be lifted, making it easier to buy and sell guns does not spring to mind as an obvious necessity – but the interior ministry seems to think otherwise.
It has decided to allow anyone over 25 with a clean criminal record and a… Read more
A 22-year-old Jordanian woman with stomach pains was taken to the doctor by her father and an uncle on Saturday. The doctor found she was pregnant.
“On their way home, the father stabbed the girl with a sword 25 times in her stomach, killing her immediately as well as her unborn baby boy,” a police… Read more
A Moroccan editor has been jailed for “intentionally publishing false information” about the king's health.
Driss Chahtan of al-Michaal newspaper was sentenced to a year in jail and two other journalists – Mostafa Hiran and Rashid Mahameed – were sentenced to three months each with a fine… Read more
Two views on the war in Yemen. President Salih says it will end very soon. "The army is achieving great, great progress in all frontlines, and over the coming few days the victory will be declared," he said on Wednesday.
Well, it's Friday now and the war goes on. But let's give it another… Read more
I have written before about the trials and tribulations of Nawal el Saadawi – the Egyptian writer, feminist and secularist – at the hands of Islamists. She recently formed a new organisation, “Egyptian Solidarity with Civil Society”, which will be based on "scientific… Read more
It was only last week that Colonel Gadafy pleaded with Libyan officials to help find a proper job for his 37-year-old son, Saif al-Islam.
Well, as luck would have it, a job has now turned up. The title is "coordinator of social and popular committees" which sounds modest but it… 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
