Stories about Arabic from August, 2012
Egypt: Ahmed Shafik Denies UAE Appointment on Twitter
Former Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Shafik has resorted to Twitter to react to what he described as "rumours" about his appointment as an adviser to the President of the United Arab Emirates. Many netizens tweeted and retweeted a news story announcing Shafik's appointment. Shafik, who was former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's last Prime Minister, is also a former candidate for the Egyptian presidency.
Mauritania: Head of Supreme Court Rejects His Dismissal
Mauritania has been witnessing a wave of mounting protests calling for the toppling of the military regime. According to the opposition [ar], the military rule is against the existence of an institutional state in addition to its attempts to tame justice. Meanwhile, the head of the Mauritanian Supreme Court, Seyid Ould Ghailani, has rejected the decision discharging him from his function prior to the end of his mandate. Ghailani considered this decree as a coup against justice and an outrageous interference in the work of the judicial power by the executive one.
Egypt: Celebrating Curiosity and the Man of Mars – Dr Essam Heggy
Egyptians watching Curiosity are celebrating the work and life of NASA researcher Dr Essam Mohamed Heggy, a planetary scientist who is a member of the science team involved in the discovery of life on Mars. Comments on Twitter note that Heggy's skills were better appreciated abroad.
Syria: “I Tweeted Prime Minister Riad Hijab's Defection First”
A Syrian Twitter user claims that he was the first to break the news that Syrian Prime Minister Riad Farid Hijab would defect a week ago. The Twitter user goes by the name @THE_47th and is also credited with announcing other defections well before mainstream media.
Mauritania: $10 Million Aid Grant Comes Too Late
The World Bank has approved a US$10 million grant to help the Government of Mauritania provide emergency food and agricultural supplies to rural communities in the face of the country's ongoing drought. The funds are intended to provide fertilizers to rice farmers; veterinary products and livestock vaccines to herders; cereal...
Lebanon: Inflammatory TV Show Leads to Arrests of Gay Men
A recent crackdown on a Beirut cinema frequented by gay men ended up in the arrest of 36 men, who later were subjected to anal examinations to "prove" their homosexuality. The raid prompted outrage, and many accused a certain TV show of inciting it.
Mauritania: Mining Workers Protest ‘New Kind of Slavery’
More than 2,300 laborers are protesting in the Mauritanian northern mining city of Zouerat, which has led to complete paralysis at some ten National Mining and Industrial Company sites, in addition to disrupting work in other locations. The demands centre around a pay dispute.
