Blog archive all
27th September 2019
The United States has concluded that the Assad regime carried out a chemical attack in north-western Syria last May, secretary of state Mike Pompeo announced on Thursday. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, he said:
"This attack was part of the Assad regime’s… Read more
22nd September 2019
The Egyptian authorities have issued a notice to accredited foreign journalists based in Cairo. Basically it seeks to restrict their reporting of demonstrations by demanding compliance with some rather bizarre "professional standards" -- presumably with the threat of expulsion if they disobey. Here… Read more
21st September 2019
Twitter announced on Friday that it has closed down a series of accounts connected with the UAE, Egypt and Saudi Arabia as part of its effort to shed more light on "state-backed information operations".
Regarding the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, it said:
"We have removed a network of 271… Read more
19th September 2019
The political crisis in Algeria is about to take a turn for the worse as the authorities attempt subdue street protests ahead of a presidential election. On Wednesday Gaïd Salah, the army's chief of staff, ordered police to stop buses and cars transporting demonstrators into the capital for what… Read more
18th September 2019
Writing in the New York Times on Monday, Martin Griffiths, the UN's special envoy for Yemen, outlined "seven elements" that "will necessarily underpin any agreement to end the war". The components for a peace deal are "in plain sight", Griffiths said – and few would disagree with them as goals.… Read more
16th September 2019
In a controversial move aimed at ending seven months of street protests, the Algerian authorities announced on Sunday that a presidential election will be held on 12 December. The announcement – which appears to have been made at the behest of Gaïd Salah, the country's influential military chief… Read more
14th September 2019
A banner from Friday's protests says "Transitional government ... No to military rule". Photo via @addadhakimnidha
The protests in Algeria that began in February show no signs of fizzling out. On Friday, for the 30th week in succession, tens of thousands demonstrated in the capital and other… Read more
9th September 2019
Last Friday, for the 29th week in succession, demonstrators took to the streets of Algiers. It's now five months since they achieved their initial goal – triggering the resignation of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika after more than 20 years in power – but their demands go far beyond that. They want… Read more
30th August 2019
Separatist fighters in southern Yemen who appeared to be on the brink of defeat on Wednesday recovered some lost ground on Thursday as the United Arab Emirates launched airstrikes to support them.
This direct intervention by the Emiratis in a conflict between two rival factions which are… Read more
29th August 2019
Twitter" src="/sites/default/files/separatists-celebrate.jpg" style="border-style:solid; border-width:1px; height:356px; width:500px" />
The separatist revolt in Yemen's south which began four weeks ago appeared close to defeat on Wednesday after forces supporting the internationally-recognised… Read more