Iraq
Are Iraqis Ready To Throw Off Sectarian Ties?
[4 min 5 sec]
Peter Kenyon archive
Friday, November 20, 2009
Middle East
Obscured By War, Water Crisis Looms In Yemen
November 20, 2009 News from Yemen has been dominated recently by an escalating rebellion along the border with Saudi Arabia. But the country has been making news for decades because of its severe overuse of a rapidly disappearing water supply, the result of natural and political causes.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Middle East
Fighting In Yemen Escalates As Saudis Enter Fray
November 17, 2009 The Yemeni government's battle against Shiite rebels in the north has drawn in the Saudi military, in a rare use of its armed forces. The conflict intensified in part because of divisions within the Yemeni army.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Middle East
Ranks Of Displaced Yemenis Swell As Conflict Grows
November 12, 2009 Tens of thousands of Yemenis have fled the fighting between the country's army and Shiite rebels. The flow of displaced people increased dramatically in recent days, as Saudi Arabia joined in the conflict following a rebel incursion across the border.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Middle East
In Egypt, Succession Worries Prompting Crackdown?
October 30, 2009 Egypt's ruling party is working to quell speculation about President Hosni Mubarak's intentions — and whether his son will succeed him. Parliamentary elections are a year off, but the opposition, including the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood, is already facing daunting obstacles.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Middle East
Israel's 'Cold' Peace With Egypt, Jordan Grows Chillier
October 26, 2009 Cairo maintains diplomatic and limited trade relations with Israel, but hostility in the state-run media is escalating amid a stalemate on Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. One Egyptian editor faces possible sanctions simply for meeting with the Israeli ambassador.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Middle East
Veil Ban At Islamic School In Egypt Fuels Debate
October 20, 2009 In Egypt, a top cleric has barred the wearing of the full-face veil, or niqab, in classrooms and dormitories at one of the top centers of Sunni Islamic teaching. The ban is an example of Egypt's efforts to push back against the growth of conservative Islam across the region.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Middle East
Artificial Virginity Device Sparks Backlash In Egypt
October 13, 2009 Conservatives in Egypt are in a lather over a new device that promises to simulate the bleeding a virgin bride experiences on her wedding night. Politicians are calling the device an assault on Islamic and Arab values. But some young women say it's the inevitable result of Egypt's double standard for premarital sex.
Friday, October 02, 2009
Religion
Elevator Or The Stairs? In Israel, Rabbis Weigh In
October 2, 2009 Some prominent rabbis in Israel have declared that Shabbat elevators — specially designed to run without the need for passengers to press buttons — must not be used. It has stoked the eternal debate about what an observant Jew may and may not do on the Sabbath.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Middle East
Israel Pushes Harder Line On Iran Nuclear Ambitions
September 28, 2009 Iran said Monday that it test-launched missiles capable of striking Israeli cities and U.S. military bases in the region. The tests came after the disclosure last week of a second Iranian uranium-enrichment plant. Despite its support for new sanctions against Iran, Israel believes military options may ultimately be needed to halt Iran's nuclear program.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
World
Anti-Semitism Charges Mar Bid For U.N. Culture Czar
September 16, 2009 Egyptian Culture Minister Farouk Hosny was once a clear front-runner for the position of UNESCO director-general. But as the agency holds its first round of voting for the post, a backlash has erupted over his comment last year that he would burn Hebrew books found in Egyptian libraries.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Iraq
Patrols On Porous Iraqi Borders Yield Limited Success
September 14, 2009 Iraq's security forces are trying to expand their presence along the desert borders with neighboring states. Caches of weapons and explosives are being unearthed, and military officials believe a few favorite smuggling routes have been disrupted. But significant challenges remain.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Iraq
Will Iraqis Stick With Religious Leadership?
September 13, 2009 In Iraq, where parliamentary elections are scheduled for January, religious Shiite parties still dominate the political scene. They're flexing their muscles after decades of repression. But with local politics in flux, Iraqis are beginning to question how far they will follow such leaders.
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
Iraq
Bloom May Be Off 'Flower Of Baghdad'
September 8, 2009 The weeks since U.S. troops withdrew from Iraqi urban centers have been marked by a spike in violent attacks. That's prompted authorities to replace some of the giant blast walls that had recently been taken down. In Baghdad, the Sunni neighborhood of Adhamiya — the "Flower of Baghdad" — is an example of how positive things can change quickly to the negative.
Monday, September 07, 2009
