Sophie Blanchard, namesake was the first professional female balloon pilot, has become the first female captain, or pilot in command, for Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways. Blanchard was hired by Etihad as its first female pilot three years ago and last week took off from Abu Dhabi to London on her first flight as pilot in command, sitting in the left-hand seat of an Airbus A330-200. "I am very happy. It still is a pretty macho environment, but my colleagu... Read more »

The Egyptian minister of culture said on Saturday that a masterpiece by Vincent van Gogh valued at $50 million had been stolen from the Mahmoud Khalil Museum in Cairo. Farouk Hosni added that police had been searching for unknown suspects who lifted the "Vase and Flowers" (known as «Poppy flowers»). After that Hosni said two Italians had been arrested at Cairo airport, and the canvas found. But later he said he had been given "inaccurate" information, and t... Read more »

The office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees on Friday urged Saudi Arabia to stop sending Somali refugees and asylum seekers back to the war-ravaged Mogadishu. "UNHCR is deeply troubled by the reports of continuing deportations of Somali refugees and asylum seekers from Saudi Arabia to the conflict-stricken Somali capital," middle-east-online.com quotes the UN refugee agency spokeswoman Melissa Fleming as saying. "According to our local partners in M... Read more »

Hamas authorities ruling the Gaza strip are banning women from smoking water pipes in cafes and open places, claiming it violates customs, traditions and social norms. The smoking of water pipes loaded with scented tobacco, also known as shisha, is popular in cafes and public places of the Arab countries and was one of the few remaining leisure activities left in the isolated coastal strip. According to policemen, husbands often divorce women seen smoking i... Read more »

A fire in the Soma Hotel in Suleimaniya, northern Iraq, has killed at least 29 people and left many wounded. Four Americans were among the dead, according to bbc.co.uk. Also reportedly killed in the fire were citizens of Sri Lanka, Cambodia and the Philippines, and at least one Canadian. They worked as engineers. Suleimaniya is in northern Iraq's Kurdish autonomous area. City authorities said it was likely that the fire was started by an electrical fault, w... Read more »

Tropical Cyclone Phet moved toward the coast of Oman on Thursday and was expected to make landfall on Friday. Phet is estimated as a Category 4 storm with winds of over 210 km per hour. According to Oman state television the authorities ordered to evacuate people from areas of eastern Oman, where waves were 8 meters high. National air company Oman Air cancelled two flights so that aircraft could evacuate people from Masirah island off the east coast. Phet i... Read more »

Egyptian writers have criticized a call by a group of Islamic lawyers to forbid classic book Arabian Nights because it is "obscene". The group calling themselves «Lawyers Without Shackles» complained with Egypt's prosecutor general after the folk work of literature was republished. They called for the new edition to be banned. Lawyers Without Shackles spokesman said he had been shocked at some phrases the book contained. In his words they "call to sin". Moh... Read more »

Normally arid Riyadh has been paralysed by flooding after heavy rains. Violent thunderstorms shook Saudi capital on Monday. According to accounts from residents and TV reports underpasses, stalling cars got flooded. No injuries were reported. But after the warning by meteorological officials of more storms Tuesday Riyadh region governor Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz ordered the suspension of schools.

middle-east-online.com.

The US has freed from custody Qatari diplomat Mohammed al-Madadi, 27 after allegedly starting a bomb scare on a plane. Al-Madadi was reported to smoke in a toilet and then joke about setting fire to his shoes. Two F-16 jets were sent to intercept the United Airlines plane, on a flight from Washington to Denver. US officials would not declare the diplomat "persona non grata". However, one of them say: «Al-Madadi’s ability to function effectively has been sig... Read more »

A British pair hold for kissing in public in Dubai has lost their appeal. In November Ayman Najafi, 24, and Charlotte Adams, 25 were sentenced to a month in jail with subsequent deportation and fined £200 for drinking alcoholic drinks. Britons were arrested after after a local woman accused them of violating country's decency laws by kissing on the mouth. The pair is intended to make a second appeal.

Bbc.co.uk.