Blog entries

Arabic Poetry:Nizar Tawfiq Qabbani

itsupport — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 08:11:28 +0100

Nizar Tawfiq Qabbani

Nizar Tawfiq Qabbani (Arabic: نزار قباني) was a Syrian, poet and publiser. His poetic style combines simplicity and elegance in exploring themes of love, eroticism, feminism,religion, and Arab nationalism. He is one of the most revered contemporary poets in ...

Women in Arabic literature

itsupport — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 14:04:36 +0100

Women in Arabic Literature

Whilst not playing a major part in Arabic literature women have had a continuing role. The earliest poetesses were al-Khansa and Layla al-Akhyaliyyah of the 7th century. Their concentration on the ritha' or elegy suggests that this was a form designated for women to work in. A later poetess Walladah, Umawi princess of al-Andulus wrote Sufi poetry and was the lover of fellow poet ibn Zaydun. These and other minor women writers suggest a hidden world of female lite...

Yemen's Ali Abdullah refuses to step down

itsupport — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 14:15:55 +0100

Yemen's Ali Abdullah refuses to step down

President Ali Abdullah Saleh blames the opposition for delaying the transition of power
Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has said he will not stand down as promised if his opponents are allowed to stand in elections to succeed him.
...

At UN: Obama urges Israel, Palestinians to resume talks

itsupport — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 10:57:06 +0100

At UN: Obama urges Israel, Palestinians to resume talks

US President Barack Obama warned Wednesday there was "no short cut" to Middle East peace. He was speaking amid the Palestinian drive for UN statehood recognition.
"I am convinced that there is no short cut to the end of a conflict that has endured for decades. Peace will not come through statements and...

Saleh returns to Yemen and calls for truce

itsupport — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 10:27:52 +0100

Saleh returns to Yemen and calls for truce

Yemen's recovering President Ali Abdullah Saleh has called for a cease-fire after returning surprisingly to the country, saying the only way out of the crisis is through negotiations.
The state...

Egypt: General elections 'to begin in November'

itsupport — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 12:47:07 +0100

Egypt: General elections 'to begin in November'

Egypt's ruling military council has proposed the date of 21 Nov...

Military council convenes elections meeting

itsupport — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 13:12:43 +0100

Military council convenes elections meeting

CAIRO: The Egyptian ruling military council today called all political parties together for a meeting to discuss arrangements for the upcoming parliamentary elections.

The Egyptian Minister of Information announced that judges from the High Constitutional Court will attend the meeting to...

New faces of Delma Island tourism

Administrator — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 13:25:52 +0100

New faces of Delma Island tourism

ABU DHABI // Just a few months ago, Yasmeen Al Hammadi had never sat on a bicycle or paddled a kayak.
Now she is leading tourists on winding bike tours, mountain hikes and wildlif...

A decade after 9/11: Enduring lessons for the Arab world

Administrator — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 13:20:16 +0100

A decade after 9/11: Enduring lessons for the Arab world

Let me tell you about the most influential book to be published since 9/11, at least according to me. It's actually not a book but a report - a United Nations report written by a committee. I'm talking about the Arab Development Report ...

Western converts find much to celebrate

itsupport — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 08:13:51 +0100

Western converts find much to celebrate

DUBAI // Eid Al Fitr holds much deeper meaning for three western expatriates who have converted to Islam.
Jannah Deixonne, 26, from France, marked the start of Eid yesterday by praying at the Satwa Islamic Centre, where she now works.

Ms Deixonne says her conversion was triggered by a call to prayer i...

Nation remembers Shaikh Zayed

itsupport — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 12:53:05 +0100

Nation remembers Shaikh Zayed

In the book of history some pages are made exceptional because they record the deeds of giants among mankind, men and women whose impact is felt long after they are no longer with us.

They bring with them a depth of knowledge, a foresight for what ...

Egypt post Revolution Tourism: Tahrir Square

itsupport — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 12:06:59 +0100

Egypt post Revolution Tourism
Tahrir Square
Don’t Fear Tahrir Square and the damage caused during protests.

Tahrir Square has gained name recognition from the January 25th revolution, the center of the Egyptian youth movement. Tahrir carries the literal meaning “liberation”, the exact message millions of viewers worldwide who witnessed the revolution.

Doha and other Cities

itsupport — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 10:54:47 +0100

Doha and other Cities

As your aircraft descends into Qatar, you are welcomed by a spectacular view of the capital city, Doha. The completely landscaped, crescent-shaped Corniche, the sparkling blue waters of the Arabian Gulf, and the sandy desert backdrop provide the first glimpse of what experiences await you. This sun-k...

Arab culture in focus at world Scout meet

itsupport — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 10:37:48 +0100

Arab culture in focus at world Scout meet

RINKABY — For the fifth day running, the Omani Scouts continued their participation in the camp activities of the 22nd World Scout Jamboree in this Swedish city which hosts the event from July 27 to August 6 under th...

Syria unrest: Assad defiant despite growing pressure

itsupport — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 08:11:18 +0100

Syria unrest
Assad defiant despite growing pressure

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said he will not relent in pursuing "terrorist groups" in the country.He was speaking after talks with Turkish FM Ahmet Davutoglu, who had urged Syria to end military operations against civili...

The Arab perspective on fables

itsupport — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 10:26:57 +0100

The Arab perspective on fables

Arabic fairy tales are slightly darker without the clear-cut romantic storyline. Unlike the happily ever after that readers can count on in English fairy tales such as Beauty and the Beast and

Trial of Mubarak's Security Chief Resumes in Cairo

itsupport — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 12:25:46 +0100

Trial of Mubarak's Security Chief Resumes in Cairo

      SANAA, Yemen (AP) — Security officials say a car bomb has killed at least eight army soldiers and wounded scores in Yemen's coastal city of Aden.

      The officials say the blast took place Sunday near the gate of an army camp as a column of vehicles packed with troops and...

Pope Shenouda III investigating Bishop Paula

itsupport — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 13:02:58 +0100

Pope Shenouda III investigating Bishop Paula

CAIRO: Pope Shenouda III, the leader of Egypt’s Coptic Church, started investigations with Bishop Paula, the chairman of the Clerical council, and with Priest Royce Aweidah, the council's secretary.

The investigations are related to the incidents that took plac...

Syria unrest

Administrator — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 10:55:36 +0100

Syria unrest
Arrests in Hama as tanks move into Idlib

Friday's protest in Hama was one of the largest in three months of demonstrations.
Syrian troops are raiding houses and arresting people in the central city of Hama, reports say, after massive anti-government protests there on Friday....