s northern areas speaking of their concern that their country might be hit in a revenge attack and discussing whether to move to the south. Turkey has also seen similar rising fears, not least because of its government's strong opposition to Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, which has already seen cross-border fire and the planting of bombs. Last week the country began distributing gas masks and deployed...
s Al Khalifa rulers, a Sunni dynasty facing down protests by the island state's Shia and democratic opposition. Toby Matthiesen's new study of the Gulf counter-revolutions demonstrates how the Saudis, Bahrain and Kuwait have all combined repression and cash handouts with an almost instinctive sectarianism to keep demands for reform at bay. The Saudis had long fretted about unrest in their predominantly...
s 83 sites and is expected to retain the Little Chef name and mascot Restaurant chain Little Chef will remain a feature on Britain's roadsides after a Kuwaiti firm snapped up the ailing business for £15m. The firm's Fat Charlie mascot, which has been a familiar sight for UK motorists for more than 50 years, looks likely to remain as the restaurant's logo following the successful bid by Kout Food Group,...
s fall, with self-interest governing policies across region The fallout from the ousting and detention of Mohamed Morsi continues to polarise Egypt's stakeholders across the region and beyond. The Gulf states in particular – Qatar excluded – have been quick to assert their geopolitical heft in post-Morsi Egypt, pledging sorely-needed multibillion aid packages. Saudi Arabia Despite ruling a conservative...
s political crisis shows no sign of abating as the military-backed authorities move against defiant Islamist supporters of the deposed president, Mohamed Morsi, and wrangling continues over a new government, casting a pall over the start of the Ramadan holiday. Public prosecutors ordered the arrest of Mohammed Badie, the supreme guide of Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood, over accusations of inciting violence...
s home town of Quneitra, on the borders of the Golan Heights, which was almost completely destroyed by the Israelis after the 1967 war and remains in ruins. The film is a historical-autobiographical epic of three generations, taking you from the Syrian fight for independence against the French in the 1930s, through the 1948 war with Israel, and into recent times. Malas is probably the most highly regarded...
Kuwait has delayed the enactment of a new media law after objections that it threatens freedom of expression and human rights. The government adopted the Unified Media Law in April, which gave the information ministry power to license news outlets. It was expected to be passed by the Kuwaiti parliament this month, but Sheikh Jaber al-Mubarak, the prime minister, decided instead to consult editors...
s headline was "Papa argentino" and La Nacion's said simply: "Francisco". Olé went with "La otra mano de Dios" (The other hand of God). La Razon's headline, "Un argentino, en al hombre de Dios" (An Argentine man of God), was superimposed on a rear view of the waving Pope. The papers in neighbouring Brazil, which is reputed to have the world's largest Roman Catholic population, also devoted full front...