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Six weeks after the Russian airliner crash in Sinai that claimed 224 lives, Egypt's civil aviation ministry has issued a preliminary report of its investigation. This has prompted some misleading stories in the media that Egypt is either flatly denying a terrorist connection or at least… Read more
Prince Mohammed bin Salman addresses a news conference on Saudi Arabia's "anti-terrorism" initiative.
Amid widespread derision, Saudi Arabia has announced that it will lead a new military coalition to protect "the Islamic world" against terrorism.
Speaking at a news conference in Riyadh, deputy… Read more
The global Freedom of Thought Report for 2015, published today, begins with a map of the world where every country in the MENA region, from Morocco and Mauritania on the Atlantic coast to Iran in the Gulf. is coloured either black (indicating "grave violations) or red (indicating "severe… Read more
Seven mercenaries – six Colombians and their Australian commander – are reported to have been killed fighting near Taiz in central Yemen. According to the local Saba News agency:
"The army and popular committees repulsed an attempt of the mercenaries of the Saudi-led coalition to advance… Read more
The assassination of the governor of Aden this morning places a further huge question mark over the Gulf states' strategy in Yemen. Major-General Jaafar Mohammad Saad, who was appointed governor less than two months ago, died along with several others when his car was blown up … Read more
Simmering differences between Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who is still widely described as Yemen's president, and Khaled Bahah, the man he appointed as vice-president and prime minister, turned into an open rift yesterday when Hadi announced a cabinet reshuffle and Bahah rejected the changes… Read more
Magna Carta, Philip Hammond and the Saudi businessman
Did foreign secretary help sheikh meet the Queen?
Last summer Britain's foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, received a gift from a Saudi businessman – an Ebel watch priced at almost £2,000. Although government… Read more
Carole Samaha returns to GNRD
Lebanese singer backs mysterious rights organisation
Following the birth of her baby daughter in August, Lebanese singer/actress Carole Samaha has announced that she will be resuming "professional activities" in December and returning to… Read more
1. Because everyone else seems to be doing it
2. Because we are already bombing in Iraq
3. Because it looks bad if the French are doing it and we aren't
4. Because the Russians are doing it and we don't like… Read more
Last September Thomas Friedman of the New York Times wrote a column disputing the claim by a retired American general that Iranians are the world's leading "purveyors of radical Islam". That title, he said, belongs to America's friend, Saudi Arabia.
Friedman was right. There are plenty of… 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
