www.al-bab.com Brian Whitaker's blog en-gb mirabyte Feed Writer arab middle east 'The living conditions of these refugees are dismal' http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0911b.htm#plight_of_lebanon_palestinians Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:07:55 GMT Saudi involvement in Yemen 'is certain to aggravate the grievances' http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0911b.htm#saudis_fanning_the_flames Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:06:32 GMT 'Jewish settlements should be allowed to be expanded upon' http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0911b.htm#palin_peace_process Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:05:35 GMT Vehicles hijacked, gunmen battle security forces http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0911b.htm#clashes_in_southern_yemen Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:04:43 GMT Gulf state perceived as less corrupt than France http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0911b.htm#qatar_progress_against_corruption Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:59:47 GMT Two sentenced on 'false information' charges http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0911b.htm#moroccan_journalists_face_jail Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:59:10 GMT Developing a foreign policy based on 'mutual respect' is not without problem http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0911b.htm#with_respect_mr_president Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:39:34 GMT Saudi Arabia is creating an uninhabited 'buffer zone' on the Yemeni border http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0911b.htm#clearing_out_civilians Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:51:53 GMT Eight months plus 300 lashes for meeting woman in restaurant http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0911b.htm#after_the_meal_jail_and_flogging Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:00:09 GMT Egypt and Algeria block moves to strengthen anti-corruption treaty http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0911b.htm#shielding_corruption Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:21:37 GMT Sunnis rush to back Yemen and Saudi in war with the Houthi rebels http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0911a.htm#lining_up_against_the_shia Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:09:35 GMT 'Plan for Shia state'in parts of Yemen and Saudi Arabia http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0911a.htm#rebels_challenge_saudi_state Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:52:41 GMT 'Kuwaitis use archaeology to build a national identity' http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0911a.htm#kuwait_heritage Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:51:55 GMT Minister says kingdom is pursuing rebels beyond its border http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0911a.htm#saudis_admit_attacks_in_yemen Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:54:34 GMT Research casts doubt on value of extra troops http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0911a.htm#what_did_the_iraq_surge_achieve Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:30:38 GMT Magazine re-launched after four-year break http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0911a.htm#Middle_East_International_is_back Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:29:47 GMT Footage from Yemeni rebels appears on Facebook http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0911a.htm#video_of_captured_saudi Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:26:34 GMT Cartoons threaten Ben Ali's police state http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0911a.htm#tunisian_blogger_interrogated Mon, 9 Nov 2009 08:36:03 GMT Making students learn music is 'a blatant violation of human rights', say Islamists http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0911a.htm#facing_the_music_in_kuwait Mon, 9 Nov 2009 08:33:47 GMT Houthi conflict prompts mass expulsion http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0911a.htm#saudis_deport_3000_to_yemen Sun, 8 Nov 2009 11:31:50 GMT ... and more details of Iranian 'arms ship' emerge http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0911a.htm#saudis_continue_battle_with_yemeni_rebels Sat, 7 Nov 2009 11:13:40 GMT UAE to give women a bigger religious role http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0911a.htm#coming_soon:_female_muftis Fri, 6 Nov 2009 07:21:54 GMT Planes and artillery reportedly pound rebels inside Yemeni territory http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0911a.htm#saudi_arabia_joins_the_war Thu, 5 Nov 2009 21:11:34 GMT The key problem is a political one http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0911a.htm#reforming_arab_education Thu, 5 Nov 2009 08:46:49 GMT UN expert calls for 'national strategy' http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0911a.htm#tackling_slavery_in_mauritania Thu, 5 Nov 2009 08:45:56 GMT President sets deadline for ending conflict http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0911a.htm#ten_more_days_of_war_in_yemen Thu, 5 Nov 2009 08:45:14 GMT Government 'really pissed off' about UN report http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0911a.htm#torture_in_egypt Wed, 4 Nov 2009 07:36:32 GMT 'In 20 years, I have never seen Hizbullah this paranoid' http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0911a.htm#qaeda_threat_to_hizbullah Wed, 4 Nov 2009 07:35:33 GMT Ambushed by suspected militants http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0911a.htm#security_chiefs_killed_in_yemen Wed, 4 Nov 2009 07:34:35 GMT UN expert's fact-finding mission http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0911a.htm#investigating_slavery_in_mauritania Tue, 3 Nov 2009 07:50:04 GMT 'Knowledge, development and freedom are inter-related' http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0911a.htm#arab_knowledge_report Tue, 3 Nov 2009 07:49:04 GMT When reality is hard to distinguish from satire http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0911a.htm#egypts_war_on_butterflies Mon, 2 Nov 2009 07:38:29 GMT Suppression of moderate Islamists 'is dangerously short-sighted' http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0911a.htm#dangers_of_slamming_the_door Mon, 2 Nov 2009 07:37:01 GMT Row leaves Egypt's top cleric discredited http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0911a.htm#al_azhar_capitulates_over_niqab Sun, 1 Nov 2009 09:43:36 GMT Jail sentences for Yemeni journalists who criticised Salih http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0911a.htm#president_of_mass_destruction Sun, 1 Nov 2009 09:42:59 GMT Blaming it all on foreigners http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910c.htm#a_reply_to_the_angry_arab Sat, 31 Oct 2009 19:16:54 GMT Regimes fear the consequences of education reforms http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910b.htm#the_state_of_arab_knowledge Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:08:31 GMT As Yemen holds the crew, Iran gives its version of events http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910b.htm#the_iranian_arms_ship Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:03:36 GMT Female members of parliament not required to wear hijab http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910b.htm#victory_for_equality_in_kuwait Thu, 29 Oct 2009 07:08:43 GMT Suicide and torture of foreign domestic workers http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910b.htm#misery_of_the_housemaids Thu, 29 Oct 2009 07:06:48 GMT Reports on seizure of Iranian vessel http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910b.htm#arming_yemens_rebels Wed, 28 Oct 2009 07:45:32 GMT 'Royal cartoons' row continues http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910b.htm#morocco_bans_spanish_paper Wed, 28 Oct 2009 07:44:40 GMT US State Department's report http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910b.htm#lebanese_politics_inherently_discriminatory Wed, 28 Oct 2009 07:43:32 GMT Repression ensures Tunisian president's election victory http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910b.htm#ben_ali_again_and_again_and_again Tue, 27 Oct 2009 07:28:55 GMT King waives sentence but justice system is the real problem http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910b.htm#saudi_tv_woman_escapes_flogging Tue, 27 Oct 2009 07:27:33 GMT The problems and potential of online activism in Egypt http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910b.htm#revisiting_the_facebook_strike Mon, 26 Oct 2009 06:29:27 GMT Five dead, three wounded by attack in south http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910b.htm#soldiers_die_in_yemen_ambush Mon, 26 Oct 2009 06:28:45 GMT Egyptian politician attacked at fish restaurant http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910b.htm#mubaraks_thugs Sun, 25 Oct 2009 07:01:40 GMT Yemen revives claim that aircraft was shot down http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910b.htm#missile_blamed_for_airbus_crash Sun, 25 Oct 2009 06:59:57 GMT Tunisian president awaits another massive majority http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910b.htm#and_the_winner_is Sun, 25 Oct 2009 06:57:50 GMT Media harassed in run-up to election http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910b.htm#tunisia_all_going_according_to_plan Sat, 24 Oct 2009 08:38:25 GMT Still no signs of president's predicted 'victory' http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910b.htm#yemen_army_commander_killed Sat, 24 Oct 2009 08:37:18 GMT Saudis are quietly campaigning to protect oil interests http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910b.htm#undermining_the_climate_talks Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:59:25 GMT Reports of border skirmish http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910b.htm#yemen_rebels_clash_with_saudis Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:58:41 GMT Those driving real change in the Arab countries are not politicians but feminists, gay people and bloggers http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910b.htm#arab_winds_of_change Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:57:37 GMT No Arab country in top third of league table http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910b.htm#arab_press_freedom_a_sorry_sight Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:57:06 GMT Medical sources say he died of head injury in hospital http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910b.htm#yemen_rebel_leader_is_dead Thu, 22 Oct 2009 01:55:31 GMT Court to decide if female MPs must cover their heads http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910b.htm#hijab_battle_in_kuwait Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:37:15 GMT Arab League chief hints at bid for Egypt's top job http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910b.htm#amr_moussa_for_president Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:36:07 GMT Latest trial brings total death sentences to 22 http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910b.htm#more_yemeni_rebels_face_execution Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:34:18 GMT President talks of Iranian funding but refrains from accusing government http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910b.htm#iran_and_the_yemeni_rebels Tue, 20 Oct 2009 23:58:09 GMT New rules for gun shops and shooting clubs http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910b.htm#saudi_gun_restrictions_relaxed Mon, 19 Oct 2009 21:40:55 GMT Houthi field commander captured in Yemen, local sources say http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910b.htm#reports_of_rebel_leaders_capture Mon, 19 Oct 2009 21:38:05 GMT Jordanian father 'stabbed pregnant daughter 25 times' http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910b.htm#another_honour_killing Mon, 19 Oct 2009 21:37:22 GMT One-year sentence for articles about king's health http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910b.htm#moroccan_editor_jailed Sat, 17 Oct 2009 21:52:06 GMT Is Salih heading for victory or another stalemate? http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910b.htm#endgame_for_yemeni_war Sat, 17 Oct 2009 01:13:17 GMT Wrong arguments for a worthy cause http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910b.htm#saadawi_and_secularism Sat, 17 Oct 2009 01:12:34 GMT Gadafy junior is put in charge of almost everything http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910a.htm#libya_the_son_also_shines Fri, 16 Oct 2009 02:11:50 GMT Videos show huge protest gathering http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910a.htm#demonstration_in_southern_yemen Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:51:53 GMT Ben Ali's campaign sails on; opposition parties run into problems http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910a.htm#tunisian_electoral_traditions Thu, 15 Oct 2009 06:34:52 GMT Egypt blames 'natural causes', others blame torture http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910a.htm#hamas_man_dies_in_custody Thu, 15 Oct 2009 06:33:48 GMT Iranian-funded hospital accused of links to Yemen rebels http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910a.htm#troops_seal_off_hospital Thu, 15 Oct 2009 06:31:41 GMT Married without consent to a man she had never met http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910a.htm#father_sold_disabled_daughter Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:08:57 GMT Yemeni MP could lose his asylum status http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910a.htm#germany_warns_rebels_relative Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:07:40 GMT Man gets long sentence but changing attitudes in Jordan is hard http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910a.htm#15_years_for_honour_killing Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:05:43 GMT Old quarrel with Bulgaria revived http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910a.htm#libya_threatens_unesco_boycott Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:41:22 GMT Will it make Damascus regime change its ways? http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910a.htm#eu_syria_agreement_finalised Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:39:55 GMT Saudi government gives lessons on beard control http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910a.htm#right_way_to_shave Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:38:31 GMT Willing to accept 'Yemeni or Arab' mediation http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910a.htm#rebel_leader_ready_for_dialogue Mon, 12 Oct 2009 13:53:39 GMT New hope for Yemen relief effort as Britain donates £2m http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910a.htm#aid_convoy_from_saudi Sun, 11 Oct 2009 15:53:29 GMT Egypt's most vexatious litigant accused of 'fame seeking' http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910a.htm#the_biter_bit Sun, 11 Oct 2009 15:52:43 GMT Algerian faces 16 'politically motivated' lawsuits http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910a.htm#anti-corruption_journalist_on_trial Sat, 10 Oct 2009 17:20:30 GMT Politicians sit back and blame others, paper says http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910a.htm#lebanon_waiting_for_salvation Sat, 10 Oct 2009 18:35:14 GMT UN says conflict is widening and shows no sign of ending http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910a.htm#yemen_rebels_capture_border_district Sat, 10 Oct 2009 18:34:09 GMT Face veil 'not a contravention of sharia or Egyptian law' http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910a.htm#protests_at_egyptian_niqab_ban Fri, 9 Oct 2009 21:25:22 GMT Ruling party MP criticises government strategy http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910a.htm#rift_over_houthi_rebellion Fri, 9 Oct 2009 21:24:24 GMT Five years and 1,000 lashes for Saudi sex braggart http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910a.htm#jeddah_casanova_sentenced Fri, 9 Oct 2009 21:23:46 GMT How will millionaire murderer escape the gallows? http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910a.htm#egypts_vip_prisoner Thu, 8 Oct 2009 22:47:07 GMT Thousands of demonstrators take to the streets http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910a.htm#protests_as_moussa_visits_yemen Thu, 8 Oct 2009 22:45:46 GMT Cracking down on face veils is no way to combat religious extremism http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910a.htm#freedom_and_the_niqab Thu, 8 Oct 2009 01:30:46 GMT Yemen issues list of illegal dealers http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910a.htm#arms_traffickers_named Thu, 8 Oct 2009 01:30:05 GMT Moroccan parents' struggle to name their daughter http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910a.htm#child_with_no_name Wed, 7 Oct 2009 03:06:03 GMT Religious police extend campaign against low-waist jeans http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910a.htm#saudi_fashion_news Tue, 6 Oct 2009 05:41:45 GMT Mass rejection of opposition candidates http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910a.htm#tunisian_election_rigging Tue, 6 Oct 2009 05:40:50 GMT Thousands risk lives crossing from the Horn of Africa http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910a.htm#red_sea_boat_people Tue, 6 Oct 2009 05:40:05 GMT 'Hesba' lawsuits pose growing threat to writers and civil society activists http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910a.htm#egypts_legal_vigilantes Mon, 5 Oct 2009 07:48:43 GMT Yemeni warplane crashes in rebel area http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910a.htm#shot_down_or_not Mon, 5 Oct 2009 07:48:01 GMT Newspaper offices sealed off http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910a.htm#moroccan_cartoon_crackdown Sun, 4 Oct 2009 08:00:47 GMT 'Ministries become warring fiefdoms' http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910a.htm#lebanon_problems_of_power_sharing Sat, 3 Oct 2009 11:00:55 GMT 'Women took off their abayas and danced with men' http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910a.htm#100_arrests_at_saudi_party Sat, 3 Oct 2009 11:00:15 GMT 'One dead, 22 injured' in protests http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0910a.htm#violence_in_southern_yemen Sat, 3 Oct 2009 10:59:08 GMT Divorced mother was stabbed 15 times http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0909b.htm#honour_killing_in_jordan Fri, 2 Oct 2009 12:36:31 GMT Swedish writer/activist detained at airport http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0909b.htm#egypt_to_deport_journalist Fri, 2 Oct 2009 12:35:30 GMT Shelling and gunfire as security forces battle separatists http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0909b.htm#new_clashes_in_southern_yemen Thu, 1 Oct 2009 13:56:26 GMT Four charged in Saudi Arabia with 'publicising vice' http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0909b.htm#jeddah_casanova_in_court Thu, 1 Oct 2009 13:55:27 GMT Egyptian detained for questioning in Dubai http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0909b.htm#man_claimed_to_be_jesus Thu, 1 Oct 2009 13:54:57 GMT University 'requires higher standards' for female applicants http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0909b.htm#al-azhar_discrimination_complaint Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:10:39 GMT UK allegedly supports president's campaign against rebels http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0909b.htm#yemen_claims_british_backing Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:08:32 GMT Wanted suspects killed in Yemen. But what were they doing and who killed them? http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0909b.htm#al-qaeda_and_the_houthi_conflict Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:12:08 GMT British government reluctant to help former employees http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0909b.htm#plight_of_iraqi_interpreters Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:11:15 GMT When Kurds and Arabs can't communicate http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0909b.htm#iraqs_growing_language_gap Tue, 29 Sep 2009 01:00:05 GMT Specially-chartered plane flies royal Aston Martin to Britain for repairs http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0909b.htm#moroccan_king_carbon_footprint Sun, 27 Sep 2009 22:45:49 GMT Most users say internet is now 'indispensable' http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0909b.htm#algerians_and_the_internet Sun, 27 Sep 2009 22:42:40 GMT Yemeni and Saudi governments are doing too little to help emergency relief efforts http://www.al-bab.com/blog/blog0909b.htm#yemen_obstruction_of_aid Sun, 27 Sep 2009 01:26:05 GMT