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King Hamad: insulted at home, welcomed in Britain
It doesn't take much to upset King Hamad of Bahrain who is rapidly emerging as the most thin-skinned monarch in the Gulf. So many people have hurt the king's feelings recently that the maximum penalty for "insulting" him was increased earlier this… Read more
Yemen is one of the least known Arab countries and one of the most misunderstood. For outsiders, it can be a baffling place – a wayward republic among the Arabian monarchies, a society that is still largely tribal (and heavily armed to boot), a place where millions while away their afternoons… Read more
President Obama is due in Riyadh today in what is being portrayed as an effort to patch up US-Saudi relations. Hopefully, one item not on the agenda will be further cooperation in combating terrorism.
Last month a new anti-terrorism law came into force… Read more
"Do you know who I am?" That's a question that officials everywhere in the Arab countries dread hearing. If they don't know the answer they had better find out pronto – otherwise they will be in trouble.
Privilege, nepotism, corruption ... whatever you call it, it's bad news. It's also one of the… Read more
A report issued on Wednesday by the UN Human Rights Council came closer than any previous UN report to blaming the Syrian government for the chemical attacks near Damascus last August, as well as an earlier attack in Khan al-Assal.
While not directly accusing the Assad regime, the report says… Read more
Art14, a contemporary art fair showing work from 42 countries, got under way in the Grand Hall of Olympia in London on Thursday. Labouring among the exhibits as the doors opened, staff put the finishing touches to what could easily have been mistaken for art installations of their own – perfectly… Read more
Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia. View of an alley with several tailoring businesses. Photo: Nadine Compton
This is the sixth in a series of blog posts exploring employment problems in the Arab Gulf states.
Part one: How it began
Part two: The iniquities of kafala
Part three… Read more
This is the fifth in a series of blog posts exploring employment problems in the Arab Gulf states.
Part one: How it began
Part two: The iniquities of kafala
Part three: Female domestic workers
Part four: Working outside the rules
Part five: Jobs for citizens?
Part six: Jobs,… Read more
Bahrain is to renovate a Jewish synagogue in the capital, Manama, Gulf News reports:
Visiting the religious venue, Minister of Culture Shaikha Mai Bint Mohammad al-Khalifa said that she was looking forward to the renovation of the synagogue as one of the iconic places in Manama that reflected… Read more
This is the fourth in a series of blog posts exploring employment problems in the Arab Gulf states.
Part one: How it began
Part two: The iniquities of kafala
Part three: Female domestic workers
Part four: Working outside the rules
Part five: Jobs for citizens?
Part six: Jobs,… 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
