Podcast:China-Africa Relations Through Social Media

The China in Africa Podcast discusses how social media is influencing China's engagement in Africa.

Yemen: Anti Drone Protests in the US

Yemenis join nation-wide rallies across the US in protest against predator drones and extrajudicial killings.

Egypt: Prime Minister Prescribes Smurf Diet

Hesham Qandil, Egypt's Prime Minister, is an illustruous expert in healthcare issues as attested by, e.g. his insightful comments about ‘dirty boobs breastfeeding’. The Prime Minister delivered another priceless advice...

Caution as Yemen Hands Diplomatic Immunity to Top Military

Yemeni President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi has removed former president Ali Abdullah Saleh's son Ahmed, the head of the Republican Guard, and appointed him as ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Saleh's nephew Ammar, the deputy intelligence chief, was appointed military attache in Ethiopia, Ammar's brother, Tareq Yahia, head of the Presidential Guard, was appointed as military attache in Germany. Removing the Saleh's relatives from power has been an major challenge in restructuring Yemen's military, and an obstacle to the transitional government. Netizens react.

Tunisian Graffiti Artists Fined, Most Serious Charges Dismissed

A Tunisian court fined two street artists for drawing pro poor graffiti today. The court, however, dismissed the charges of "disturbing public order" and "breaching the state of emergency".

Iran Quake Aftershocks Reach Qatar, Bahrain

Doha News charts reactions from Qatar residents following the aftershocks of an earthquake which hit southern Iran today. The aftershocks were also felt in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, where offices...

Protesting Electricity and Water Cuts in Yemen

Syria: Tweeting from the Frontline in Aleppo

Journalist Jenan Moussa is back in Aleppo, Syria, tweeting her experiences as the war between pro- and anti-government forces intensifies. Moussa's tweets are raw and personal, giving readers a snippet of what life is like for those caught in the crossfire.

65 Years After the Deir Yassin Massacre

Israel blogger Elizabeth Tsurkov tweets: @Elizrael: Today is the 65th anniversary of the Deir Yassin Massacre, one of the worst crimes ever committed by armed Israelis

Bahrain Anti-Government Protests for Equality

From Bahrain, where the ongoing anti-government protests are portrayed in mainstream media as a Sunni/Shia sectarian clash, blogger Nader AbdulEman writes [ar]: أنا الطائفي الذي اريد حكومة منتخبة أنا الطائفي...

Yemen Court Summons Investigative Reporter

“Yemen’s Press and Publications Court (YPPC) has issued a summon statement against prominent investigative journalist, Mohammed Abdo Alabsi, to appear before court and interrogate him for his investigative reports,” writes...

Egyptian Comedian Accused of Pakistan Insult

Satirist Bassem Youssef tweets: A new investigation started against me accusing me of: insulting Islam(again), spreading atheism & insulting Pakistan #LOL He was recently accused of insulting Islam and Egyptian...

Iran: Earthquake Struck near Nuclear Plant

Thirty people have been killed after a 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck near Bushehr in Iran. Several bloggers worry about the safety of Bushehr plant.

Iran's Anesthetics Shortage Reaches Alarming Levels

Panic struck in Iranian hospitals as the country's medical officials confirmed a serious national shortage of anesthetics on March 15, 2013 hindering life-saving operations on patients in Iran.

An Iranian Blogger's Hunger Strike in Question

While many bloggers warn that Mehdi Khazali’s life is danger after 90 days of hunger strike in prison, there are also those who question whether it is really true.

North Korea Nuclear Threats Draw Arab Laughs

North Korea's threats to attack US military bases, including those on the American mainland, drew laughs from a number of Arab netizens.

India: A Different Take on Syria

German Ulrike Reinhard links to a series of videos featuring Prem Shankar Jha, a well known journalist in India, who offers a different take on what is going on in...

Campaign Tackles Migrant Worker Exploitation in Lebanon

Seven NGOs in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Affairs have recently launched the “Fi Chi Ghalat” (Something is Wrong) campaign, denouncing Lebanon's controversial Kafala (sponsorship) System through which all ‘unskilled laborers’ (domestic workers) must have an in-country sponsor responsible for both her or his visa and legal status. That sponsor is usually their employer as well. The online campaign calls for a change of the Kafala system and guaranteeing those workers their rights.

Opening the Black Box of Governance: Alleviating Poverty With Data

Opening the data produced by public administrations is part of an effective approach to poverty alleviation. Despite the huge potential for the public good, this data is rarely released and shared for public use.

First Saudi Human Rights Association for Abolishing Execution Launched

Following last month's court ruling to dissolve the Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association (ACPRA) and to confiscate its (nonexistent) properties, a group of activists yesterday announced a new independent association called the Union for Human Rights. Among its stated goals, the association is seeking an end to deterrent executions, an issue rarely raised in the kingdom.

Iran's ‘Oldest’ Blogger Passes Away

Ahmad Falsafi, an 82-year-old dentist and blogger who wrote in his blog for about eight years, has died. Many considered him as the oldest blogger in Iran.