Israeli commandos board Gaza protest boat

The Dignite-al Karama getting a courtesy call from the Israeli Military. Getting a little crowded in here don't you think?

Israeli commandos have intercepted and boarded the Dignite-al Karamaa - a boat trying to breach Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip. The Dignite-al Karama, was part of Freedom Flotilla II - a 10-vessel flotilla, that has been trying to breach the blockade for several weeks. Dignite-al Karama was … [Read more...]

Egypt sacks 669 senior police over protester deaths

They are at it again, those protesters in Tahrir square - Some days the military must long to return to the Mubarak way of dealing with unrest.

Egyptian Interior Minister Mansour Essawy has announced the sacking of 669 senior police officers for their involvement in the killing of protesters during the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak in February. Among those dismissed were 505 major-generals, including 10 of the interior minister's top … [Read more...]

Yemen’s President Saleh appears on TV

President Saleh does the Phantom of the Opera in reverse, with everything bandaged but the face.

President Ali Abdullah Saleh of Yemen has appeared on TV for the first time since being badly burned in an attack on his palace last month. Unable to move much with both hands wrapped in bandages President Saleh said he welcomed power-sharing, but stressed that it should be "within the framework … [Read more...]

European E.coli outbreak linked to Egypt

Well they don't look deadly but I guess we have to take the scientists word for it.

The deadly E. coli outbreaks in Germany and France may have come from seeds sourced in Egypt, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. A report said there was still "much uncertainty", but fenugreek seeds imported in 2009 and 2010 "had been implicated in both … [Read more...]

Triple bombings kill dozens in Baghdad marketplace

Any attack that kills innocent people without warning cannot be justified.

In Iraq, three wooden carts loaded with explosives have been detonated in a busy Baghdad marketplace killing at least 25 people and injuring up to 100 more. The Shurt al-Raba market is in the south of the city,and the area was crowded with shoppers at the time. One witness said "I was on my … [Read more...]

Shia protesters in Bahrain sentenced to life in prison

Life sentences for some but still the people protest inthe streets.

A Bahrain court has sentenced eight Shia pro-democracy activists to life in prison for "plotting to overthrow the government." The Special Security Court put 21 opposition activists on trial and rewarded their opposition to the government with hefty jail sentences. Undeterred, protesters … [Read more...]

Yemen’s President Saleh in Saudi Arabia

Of course my people love me. Only yesterday they told me to wait in the palace because they had a special message for me. But before I could get the message the outlaws attacked me with artillery shells.

Yemen's president Ali Abdullah Saleh has been flown to Saudi Arabia for medical treatment, only a day after he was wounded when his palace was shelled, Saudi Arabian officials have announced. Comflicting reports yesterday had Saleh fleeing the country and staying in Yemen following the artillery … [Read more...]

President Assad announces ‘general amnesty’ in Syria

Even though you are all thugs, extremists and criminals, I am preparred to forgive you if it means I get to stay on as your dictator.

State television in Syria has announced that President Bashar al-Assad has issued a decree granting a general amnesty for 'crimes' committed by protesters before 31st May. The amnesty covers all political opposition movements, including the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood. There have been weeks of … [Read more...]

Egyptian General admits ‘virginity checks’ carried out on female protesters

The Egyptian authorities obviously forgot to mention to the protesters that they had to be virgins to be allowed to protest in Cairo.

A senior Egyptian general has admitted that "virginity checks" were performed on some women arrested during the protests following the downfall of Hosni Mubarak's government. The allegations first arose in an Amnesty International report, published a few weeks after the 9th March protest. It … [Read more...]

Egypt to open Rafah border crossing with Gaza

The Rafa border crossing does not have the 'outlaw charm' of a smugglers tunnel but it is a lot cleaner.

Egypt is to permanently open the Rafah border crossing into Gaza permanently to most Palestinians from Saturday, the Egyptian state news agency Mena is reporting. Gaza has been under blockade since 2007, when the Islamist Hamas movement took control of the territory. The Mubarak regime in Egypt … [Read more...]

Lost pyramids spotted by satellite

Two of the lost pyramids were found at the major Sakkara archaeological site.

A satellite survey of Egypt has reveled seventeen lost pyramids as well as 1.000 tombs and 3,000 settlements. The satellite photos were using infra-red images which are able to show buildings and structures buried underground. Initial excavations have confirmed some of the findings including … [Read more...]

Hosni Mubarak to stand trial over protester deaths

Hosni Mubarak1

Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and his two sons, Alaa and Gamal are to stand trial over the deaths of anti-government protesters during the January/February revolution. The three men have been charged with "premeditated murder of some participants in the peaceful protests of the 25 … [Read more...]

Woman arrested in Saudi Arabia for driving a car

Manal al Sherif

Religious police in Saudi Arabia have arrested Manal al-Sherif, a Saudi woman for driving a car in the eastern city of Khobar. Al-Sherif had posted a video of herself driving a car on Facebook and YouTube as part of a protest against women being banned from drivinging in Saudi Arabia. Manal … [Read more...]

Obama wants Israel to return to pre-1967 borders

Nice speech Barack, but the backdrop is a bit predictable.

United States President Barack Obama has officially announced that it is U.S. policy that a future Palestinian state should be based on borders that existed before the 1967 Middle East war. Israel seized the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Golan Heights and the Sinai Peninsula in the so called 'six day … [Read more...]

President Assad admits “mistakes” by Syrian security forces

I told them not to fire and they did. It is just a training issue. They need to learn when I say don't fire I mean don't fire.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has been quoted in the al-Watan newspaper as saying his security services "made some mistakes" in their handling of demonstrations. He attributed the shortcomings to a lack of experience with such situations, which he said would normally be the police's … [Read more...]