M.-Lynx-Qualey

Countdown to the International Prize for Arabic Fiction

Countdown to the International Prize for Arabic Fiction

M. LYNX QUALEY: The award has stirred controversy this year as other years, with authors such as Gamal al-Ghitani and Radwa Ashour refusing to be nominated.

 James M. Dorsey

Gadaffi Son a Study in using Sport for Politics

Gadaffi Son a Study in using Sport for Politics

JAMES M. DORSEY: Gadaffi’s controversial soccer-playing son, Saadi, offers a study in the use of soccer by authoritarian Arab regimes to distract attention from real issues.

 James M. Dorsey

Al Ahly Opposes Matches in Support of Protesters

Al Ahly Opposes Matches in Support of Protesters

JAMES DORSEY: Al Ahly SC has publicly rejected plans by the Egyptian Football Association, to restart suspended league matches behind closed doors.

 Matt J. Duffy

UAE Media Breaks Silence on Emirati’s Arrest

UAE Media Breaks Silence on Emirati’s Arrest

MATT J. DUFFY: The next move would be to follow up on the article. Interview Hammadi’s family, for instance. But, that’s probably asking too much…

 James M. Dorsey

Ultra’s Organization Evident in Tahrir Square

Ultra’s Organization Evident in Tahrir Square

JAMES DORSEY: The organizational skills of the ultras, fanatical Cairo soccer fans, are emerging as opponents and supporters of President Mubarak.

 James M. Dorsey

Soccer Fans Play Key Role in Egyptian Protests

Soccer Fans Play Key Role in Egyptian Protests

JAMES M. DORSEY: The involvement of organized soccer fans in Egypt’s anti-government protests constitutes every Arab government’s worst nightmare.

 James M. Dorsey

Demographics, Expats, Rights – & Hope in Football

Demographics, Expats, Rights – & Hope in Football

JAMES M. DORSEY: Just 13% of the UAE’s population has citizenship. In Qatar it’s 26% and Kuwait 34%. And those percentages are dropping.

 Jonathan Cook

Pilgrims to Jesus’ Baptism Site Welcomed by Land Mines

Pilgrims to Jesus’ Baptism Site Welcomed by Land Mines

JONATHAN COOK: Visitors to Qasr al Yahud, in the Jordan Valley, received an unusual welcome: They had to pass through a fenced-off corridor warning of landmines.

 Shelina Zahra Janmohamed

Love Lost: When Politics and Marriage Collide

Love Lost: When Politics and Marriage Collide

SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMED: Politics and marriage might seem worlds apart. But recent cases suggest there are more agendas than we might think.

 Shelina Zahra Janmohamed

When a Woman is Harassed by Men, Why Rush to Blame Her?

When a Woman is Harassed by Men, Why Rush to Blame Her?

SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMED: Any further messages will be named and shamed. Such as this one I received: “Hiya i would luv to say hi, luv your eyes … x”

 Jonathan Cook

God-TV helps Israel oust Bedouins

God-TV helps Israel oust Bedouins

JONATHAN COOK: The involvement of extremist Christian groups like God-TV will turn this into a religious confrontation – much harder to resolve…

 Jonathan Cook

Israel’s War on Jerusalem’s Young Palestinians

Israel’s War on Jerusalem’s Young Palestinians

JONATHAN COOK: The children of East Jerusalem are bearing the brunt of an aggressive Israeli crackdown which has human rights activists up in arms.

 Shelina Zahra Janmohamed

Sarkozy’s Rabbit Chasing: The Wikileaks Trivia that Fascinates…

Sarkozy’s Rabbit Chasing: The Wikileaks Trivia that Fascinates…

SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMMED: We secretly love the utterly trivial gossip that even diplomats exchange. My favourite? Sarkozy’s rabbit chasing…

 Sultan Al Qassemi

Edward Said – A Threat or an Asset?

Edward Said – A Threat or an Asset?

SULTAN AL QASSEMI: Public intellectuals reflect the conscience of society and should not be regarded as a threat, but as part and parcel of the community.

 Sultan Al Qassemi

GCC Cooperation Key to Tomorrow’s Challenges

GCC Cooperation Key to Tomorrow’s Challenges

SULTAN AL QASSEMI: Recently I attempted to capture some of these aspirations. On Twitter, I asked: “What do Gulf citizens want from the summit?”

 Sultan Al Qassemi

The UAE and the UK – a Special Relationship

The UAE and the UK – a Special Relationship

SULTAN AL QASSEMI: Today, there are approximately 240,000 British citizens living in the UAE, with another one million plus visiting the country every year and up to 40,000 Emiratis visiting Britain annually.

 Sultan Al Qassemi

Entrepreneurs to leave mark for next generation

Entrepreneurs to leave mark for next generation

SULTAN AL QASSEMI: Arab governments need to understand that without pan-Arab initiatives, true prosperity will not be achieved. We must capitalise on our strengths as a region with a population larger than the United States…

 Sultan Al Qassemi

A more balanced federal budget benefits us all

A more balanced federal budget benefits us all

SULTAN AL QASSEMI: But how can the country cover a federal budget shortfall of Dh18.2 billion, which is now carried by only Abu Dhabi and Dubai? A tax regime…

 Alexander McNabb

UAE Media Shame and ‘The Tent Next Door’

UAE Media Shame and ‘The Tent Next Door’

Gulf News deserves to be held to a higher standard than Gulf Today, though. And in this, it has failed. Its silence is nothing less than shameful – and its shame is clearly exposed by The National.

 Sultan Al Qassemi

A Monument of Tolerance in the Heart of Dubai

A Monument of Tolerance in the Heart of Dubai

SULTAN AL QASSEMI: Nestled in one of Bur Dubai’s older districts is one of the emirate’s best kept architectural secrets: the Ismaili Centre of Dubai.