Three days before Kuwait’s newly-elected parliament convenes for the first time, the formation of the new cabinet is facing challenges after three political blocs have insisted on not joining the government. However, Prime Minister Shaikh Jaber Al Mubarak did not lose hope that the Salafists, the Popular Coalition and the Hadas, Islamist movement, might...
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Malaysia on Sunday deported controversial Saudi former columnist Hamza Kashgari after Riyadh requested his extradition following the outrage caused by comments deemed blasphemous and insulting to Prophet Mohammad on his Twitter account. Malaysian newspaper The Sun Daily reported that Kashgari was deported back home two hours and a half before his lawyers managed to get a...
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The number of Kuwaitis vying for a municipal seat in next month’s by-elections has reached 16, officials have said. However, only one of the candidates is a woman, raising concerns about the setback to the political and social empowerment of women in a society known for its openness and tolerance.
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When Fareed Ahmad Hassan first heard about sectarianism as a phenomenon ominously destroying Bahrain’s social harmony, the newspaper editor sneered at the idea that Bahrainis who have lived with one another peacefully and graciously for generations could drift apart on the basis of sects. But after speaking with relatives and friends, the Shiite man...
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Libyan rebels toppled a large statue of Egyptian former president Jamal Abdul Nasser in Benghazi. The statue was erected by former leader Muammar Gaddafi as a tribute to the man seen as a potent symbol of Arab nationalism in the 1950s and 1960s.
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A Kuwaiti writer who has come under intense fire for “offensive remarks” has apologised to Shiites, claiming that his article had been misunderstood. “If some Shiite brothers misunderstood paragraphs in my article as a denigration of the Awaited Mahdi, I would like to apologise to them,” Mohammad Al Milaifi said.
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Qatar has declared Tuesday an official holiday as the country celebrates its first National Sports Day. All government ministries, agencies and establishments as well as banks and financial institutions will be closed on February 14, Qatar News Agency (QNA) said.
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Malaysia’s Home Minister late on Friday confirmed the arrest of controversial Saudi columnist Mohammad Najeeb A Kashgari at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). Hishammuddin Tun Hussain said that the Saudi national known as Hamza Kashgari, 23, was arrested by police on Thursday at about 9.40am at the request of Saudi Arabian authorities for reportedly...
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News that controversial Saudi columnist Hamza Kashgari wanted for “heretic attacks” has been arrested in Malaysia were not confirmed late on Thursday. The Saudi national has reportedly fled Saudi Arabia after he was accused of blasphemy and of abusing Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him), amid popular and official uproar.
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Turkey is planning to open its first school in the Gulf soon, the Turkish ambassador to Qatar has said. “With the increase in the number of Turks who work in Qatar, the embassy is considering opening a formal Turkish school,” Hakkı Emre Yunt said. “It will provide a formal education for the Turkish community...
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