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Renewed Israeli-Palestinian talks to start in Washington 3 days ago

Renewed Israeli-Palestinian peace talks are set to start Thursday, September 2 in Washington.

US President Barack Obama will host the talks between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, along with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Jordan’s King Abdullah, who have accepted Obama’s invitation to help out with the peace...

Hezbollah official's death tied to international tribunal investigation? 1 day ago

Mohammad Fawaz, a senior Hezbollah official who was killed in Beirut’s clashes last month, had been questioned, prior to his death, by the International Tribunal investigating the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq el Hariri, sources have confirmed.

There is speculation that the murder of the official, who was responsible for Hezbollah’s Burj Abi Haidar...

Russian gas tanker dumps Suez Canal for alternative route 1 day ago

In what is considered to be a threat for one of Egypt's most important national income sources, Russian gas tanker Baltica has made it through Murmansk, Russia, heading to Shanghai, China through the Arctic Ocean; experimenting with the use of this course as a substitute for the southern route, which goes through the Suez Canal.

If Baltica makes it safely to its final...

Egyptian dissident signs pro-Mubarak petition in shock move 1 day ago

In an unexpected step, Dr. Saad Eddin Ibrahim, a prominent opposition leader, has signed a statement support to Gamal Mubarak's presidential candidature.

Ibrahim justified his move by saying that, in his opinion, there is nothing wrong with Gamal Mubarak becoming a president, as long as it happens through free and fair elections without him having any advantage over his peers.

Iraq struggles for stability as US troops withdraw 2 days ago

US troops in Iraq have dwindled to 50,000 from the initial 300,000, as per US President Barack Obama’s promise of doing so by August 31st. The remaining troops will have advisory, counter-terrorism, and training roles in Iraq.

Today’s withdrawal was preceded with heightened security from the part of the Iraqi security forces, while military spokesman General Qasim...

Vatican dismisses Qaddafi's "Europe should embrace Islam" comment 3 days ago

The Vatican has dismissed Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi’s remark that “Islam should become the religion of all Europe,” as “lacking seriousness.”

Qaddafi’s comment came at a lecture he made to a group of 500 young women paid to attend, at a ceremony marking the second anniversary of Italy and Libya’s friendship treaty.

...

Israeli artists to boycott settlements for their status as "occupied lands" 3 days ago

A number of Israeli artists have signed a statement announcing their refusal to perform at a public theater in an Israeli settlement in the West Bank.

The declaration described the Erbil settlement, home to 18,000 Israelis and one of the largest settlements in the West Bank, as “occupied territories”.

The statement is reported to have angered Israeli...

US religious tolerance questioned after Muslim taxi driver stabbed in New York 4 days ago

After a New York City taxi driver was stabbed after being asked “Are you Muslim?” and the alleged desecration of prayer rugs in a Queens' mosque by a drunken man shouting racial slurs, the debate over Islamophobia in the US has taken a new prominence in the media.

At the heart of the crisis lies the construction of the Park 51 Community City, formerly known as the...

Saudi women suffer in job market as firms demand guardians' consent 4 days ago

A number of professors in Saudi Arabia have called for reform of labor laws in order to increase women’s chances of finding jobs.

Dr. Laila Bint Abdul Aziz al Hilaly, the General Supervisor of the Women's Union secretariat for the Riyadh region, said that 60% of enterprise owners require the consent of a woman's guardian before they will hire her, leaving the woman...

United Emirates' Grand Mufti calls for restrictions on marriages between locals and foreigners. 5 days ago

Grand Mufti Ahmad Bin Abdul Aziz Haddad expressed his concern looking at the number of Emirati men marrying foreign women.

Haddad is keen that the government imposes restrictions on marrying foreign women, and to only do it when it is the last option. He says that men should only marry foreign women when they are too old to find an Emirati women or when they have more than two...

Tunisian street child turns TV celebrity 5 days ago

A fourteen year-old Tunisian street child called Hamma Hamma has rocketed to celebrity stardom after appearing in a Ramadan television series.

Hamma plays the role of a homeless child in the series entitled “Casting”. The series is directed by Sami al-Fihra and sheds light on the problem of street children; a serious issue that is not being addressed in Tunisia.

Danish prophet cartoons to resurface in books 6 days ago

Five years after the initial release of the Prophet Mohammad cartoons in Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten, its cultural editor, Flemming Rose will be publishing a book entitled “The Tyranny of Silence,” which will include the 12 drawings that had sparked mass rioting.

Despite the possibility of renewed problems, Rose emphasized that in his book, to be released end...

Attacks hit streets across Iraq 6 days ago

Insurgents carried out attacks against at least 11 towns across the country killing more than 50 people and wounding many others.

This comes as political disagreements to form a government continue while people's frustration without electricity or other services, increases.

Iraqi politicians blame Al-Qaeda and remains of Saddam Hussein's regime for the attack...

Saudi family investigated over domestic worker torture reports 6 days ago

Sri Lankan authorities have launched an investigation into the torture of a Sri Lankan domestic worker whose employer reportedly drove twenty-four iron nails and a needle into her forehead, legs, hands and stomach as a form of punishment.

According to reports, Ms. Ariyawathie, who is expected to undergo surgery on Friday, endured more than a month of abuse after travelling to...

Hundreds of Gazans fall victim to infighting between Hamas and Fatah 1 week ago

Medical patients in Gaza are bearing the burden of political infighting, between the Hamas led government and Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah, an ongoing economic siege resulting in the deaths of dozens on a regular basis.

According to reports, Gaza’s dwindling medical supplies is due to an Israeli approval process that takes weeks or even months but...

Lebanon turns to Iran for military aid after suspension of US donations 1 week ago

In light of the US’s suspension of military assistance to Lebanon, Lebanese President Michel Suleiman has turned to Iran for replacement military aid, and Iran has in turn expressed readiness to help Lebanon out and conduct weapon transactions with it.

President Suleiman has emphasized the need for the army’s modernization, which will require external aid and...

Egypt in darkness, two ministers exchange accusations 1 week ago

The Egyptian government is facing one of the biggest media and popular campaigns since years as a result of the repeated power outages.

The crisis started with the beginning of summer and the extremely high temperatures that led to an increased electric load causing generators to collapse. President Mubarak summoned both Electricity and Energy and Oil Ministers to reprimand them...

Beirut personal dispute leads to deadly clashes 1 week ago

Clashes erupted Tuesday night after a personal dispute between supporters of Hezbollah and a Sunni Sufi group, known as the Association of Islamic Charitable Projects or al-Ahbash, in the Beirut suburb of Burj Abi Haidar turned violent leaving at least three dead.

According to reports, Hezbollah official Mohammad Fawaz and Ahmad Jamal Omairat, an official from al-Ahbash, were...

Arabic language to become compulsory in Israeli schools 1 week ago

Israeli authorities are to introduce mandatory Arabic lessons for students starting from the fifth grade, both based upon students’ demands, as well as in an attempt to bridge cultures and promote tolerance.

The initiative will be adapted in 170 public and religious-public schools in northern Israel, and will gradually be applied throughout the country.

Prior...

9th Lebanese Film Festival collaborates with human rights NGO for first time 1 week ago

This year, Beirut’s Ninth Edition of the five day Lebanese Film Festival (LFF) collaborated with human rights NGO Human Rights Watch, and featured Iranian director Bahman Ghobadi’s “No One Knows about Persian Cats,” which focuses on the daily political and cultural challenges that the typical Iranian youth faces. The screening was followed by a debate on how art can...

New proposed media law threatens democracy in South Africa 1 week ago

South African journalists have begun fighting a new media law that, if passed, would impose restrictions on the media in a country that has always been known as the freest in Africa.

Journalists are fighting the new media law through campaigns they carry out in their writing and through notices they publish along with articles to raise readers' awareness.

Egypt: Investigations and arrests over theft of the Middle East's only Van Gogh painting 1 week ago

Deputy Minister of Culture Mohsen Shaalan and four security officials have been placed under arrest for “"negligence and failing to carry out their employment duties,” while Egypt conducts investigations over the theft of “Poppy Flowers,” a Van Gogh painting, from Cairo’s Mahmoud Khalil Museum.

The museum’s director was released on bail,...

Tensions rise over Iran’s nuclear ambitions 1 week ago

As Iran celebrates the unveiling of a long-distance bomber drone and the fuelling of the Russian-built Bushehr power plant analysts continue debating the implications and possibility of an Israeli attack to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

According to reports, Israel has condoned the plants opening while US and UK officials say that the plant, which will be under the...

Algerian website clarifies religious questions and dispels confusion 1 week ago

Algeria’s Ministry of Religious Affairs has launched an online web portal with the aim of providing qualified spiritual opinions and curbing misinterpretations of Sharia law during the Holy Month of Ramadan.

According to reports, initiatives like the Bank of Fatwas is of great importance due to the increase of religious edicts being issued by unqualified scholars in the...

Teenagers are not tuning you out, they simply can't hear you 1 week ago

In a study in the United States, the number of teenagers who have hearing lose have increased up to 30% since the last 15 years. This can affect their learning, speech as well as social skills, and self-image.


Despite attempts from the Journal of the American Medical Association to eliminate ear infections and exposure to loud noises as natural causes for the hearing...

Greece reassures Arabs of continued close ties despite strengthened Greek-Israeli relations 1 week ago

In light of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s unprecedented visit to Greece, Greek deputy foreign minister Dimitris Droutsas has reassured Greece’s Arab allies that improved Greek-Israeli ties were for the good of Greece and the entire Middle East region, and that they do not affect “cooperation with the Arab world, and especially not [their] Palestinian friends.”
...

Appeals for Tunisian President Ben Ali to run for sixth term 1 week ago

Numerous campaigns have been launched in Tunisia throughout the last few days to call upon President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali to run for a new presidential term. Many public figures, businessmen, artists, media professionals and lawyers have taken part in these campaigns.

A statement calling upon Ben Ali to "accept running for the presidential term 2014 – 2019, in order...

Ramadan food prices soar as governments struggle against price inflation 1 week ago

Price inflation by food suppliers during holy month of Ramadan has forced many local vendors in the Middle East hike up prices sparking an outcry by many of the region’s poor who say they are ending up in debt while struggling to feed their families.

According reports, the price increase of several staple items like fruits, vegetables and meats have prompted many...

Facebook users warned over "Dislike" privacy scam 2 weeks ago

Recently, a Facebook “dislike” button application surfaced and spread virally amongst many who use Facebook religiously, spreading with it the rise of malware and spam.

The dislike button “application” (among many similar others) asks users for permission to access their private information, and proceeds to post seemingly legitimate spam and malware videos...

Former Palestinian intelligence chief dies aged 70 2 weeks ago

Amin Al-Hindi, a former Palestinian Authority intelligence chief suspected of taking part in organizing the deadly attack on Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympics in 1972, has passed away aged 70 in Amman. Al-Hindi was an associate of the Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat.

The Palestinian Ambassador to Amman said that al-Hindi had been diagnosed and treated for cancer.
...

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