The world has been inundated with talk of a new looming war. Not World War III, not quite, but something quite sinister and bound to spill over into a wider threat. The speculated war has so far remained in the realms of rhetoric: overtures, hype, threats and counter-threat flood media channels and posturing and propoganda make up much of the mutual intimidation and sizing up involved ahead of a potential war between Iran and Israel. Tension between the two nations spoiling for a fight has become increasingly heated as the ...

Obama began his presidency with a rousing and incredibly well-received speech in Cairo , aiming to win over the "hearts and minds"--interestingly a military coinage born during Britain's colonization of Aden--of the world's hundreds and millions of Muslims. "I have come here to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world; one based upon mutual interest and mutual respect; and one based upon the truth that America and Islam are not exclusive, and need not be in competition.” He came and saw, but did he ...

It seems that the FSA will recruit just about anyone in their fight against Assad. First soldiers and embittered civilians stood against the dictator's forces, now - in one big step for feline power - the kittens of Syria have risen. Do not be fooled by their cute, furry exterior - these kittens are tough. They fearlessly take on Shabiha on sniper duty whilst surveying the wreckage of their former homes. FSA kittens are not just found on the battlefield - representing the Syrian National Council (SNC), they have been ...

Papal Middle Eastern tours across the ages: How have the reigning Pope and the late Pope John Paul II fared in the Holy Land? In light of the recent Lebanon trip that captivated the Middle East's flock, wherein Pope Benedict XVI hailed the mountainous Mediterranean country as a beacon of inter-confessional coexistence, we take a look at papal Middle East tours past and present. The Pope pontificates from Lebanon to Morocco Like editors of Vogue magazine , the man sitting at the top seat in the Holy See - no ...

With September 11's 2012 anti-Islam movie mayhem for Muslims in the Middle East, we take a look at some other noteworthy examples of films or publications that have caused uproar and maximum offense to religious beliefs in the past. The movie trailer of the "Innocence of Muslims" was enough to induce protests and killings globally. Other films, books or works have been accused of blasphemy, and sometimes with varying degrees of consequence. Scandal-mongering films or cartoons have often resulted in life and business losses around the globe. The most inflammatory ...

Evidently too many talent shows don't spoil the broth - or at least MBC don't think so. The group already own the rights to 'Idol' and ' Got Talent ' but were keen to snap up the latest talent show phenomenon 'The Voice' as well. They have been plugging the show - which is set to hit TV screens on Friday - as an entirely different kettle of fish. 'The Voice' is aimed at people with genuine musical talent - semi-professionals and even former one-hit wonders can apply. There will ...

They have been the laughing stock of most Syrian netizens with conspiracy theories by the bucket-load but for a few, Dounia TV is a very real representation of the Syrian revolution . Dounia, although not technically a Syrian state-owned TV station, is about as close to the Assad regime as it gets. The Syrian president’s cousin owns the network and makes his loyalties clear in his news coverage. While bombs explode and gunfire spatters across screen, Dounia journalists are reporting ‘all clear.’ These news broadcasts, alongside conspiracy theories of Barcelona ...

"The Arab spring has not only revolutionized street art but also inspired Palestinian artists to use city walls for creative political statements and to address social taboos — especially in Ramallah on the West Bank." The walls are closing in but that doesn't stop the creative process from subverting the state. If only they had ears they would say: Gaza is running out of clean water; Hamas and Fatah are no closer to reaching a deal and the Israeli settlements keep going. Palestinians use graffiti to express themselves when other ...

Transfer deadline day has come and gone and, at midnight 31st August, we knew which football prize player was traded off to which lucky team. Now the European teams have set out their stalls and sealed their deals for the new season. Lucrative player-signings have just turned up the heat for the new season. Deal or no deal? Fee negotiations are done and dusted, medicals have been passed and failed to check that these Euro millions-worth hunk of football players come with a good warranty. Squads have squeezed that summer ...

Freedom of speech in the Middle East? Well not if it's distributed on the internet. Arab Internet 'surfers' are hitting a snag, or rip-current, in the region, and they might not be able to ride these waves of change. Are the tides turning against Arab internet users? Human rights NGO, Reporters Without Borders, have officially classified Bahrain, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Syria as 'Enemies of the Internet' but there are others not yet on the list that are well on their way to becoming online pariahs. Under surveillance so-to-speak are ...

The Middle East has been baying for new blood and change for the past couple of years now, and some of their calls have seemingly been answered. Heads have rolled , governments have changed, and stubborn rulers have slunk away or been unceremoniously made redundent. But as we look around the region, unrest is still the order of play. Those who wanted new power in place do not seem happy with the replacements. There is a niggling feeling of déjà vu for many of the citizens who campaigned against old ...