The Gulf Cooperation Council is planning to conduct the first-ever combined census in 2010. The six member states will carry out the census separately, but will use the same survey form. It is expected that the census will be synchronized among all those countries. It has been announced previously, that the UAE will carry out the census in April. The last time the country carried out a census was in 2005, while the population composition in the country is changing rapid... Read more »

A Syrian militant, who had been detained at a high-security prison in Lebanon, has managed to escape. He was detained on charges of terrorism, including organization of bombings. He is a member of Fatah Al Islam group whose ideology is similar to that of Al Qaida. According to officials, he is very “dangerous”. Currently, the police is searching for him. The militant managed to escape with the help of other inmates who created a human ladder to help him climb over the w... Read more »

A woman in Tunis might break the world's record in multiple pregnancies since she is currently expecting 12 children. Currently the record holder is a woman from California who gave birth to octuplets. The pregnant Tunisian woman and her husband are both teachers. They got married in 2007, and since then the woman had 2 miscarriages, the Gulfnews reports. This ... Read more »

The streets of Algiers are now quiet after the clashes that erupted this week between Algerians and the Chinese subsided. As local citizens report, the clashes rose from a confrontation between a Chinese driver and a local shop owner. As the result, 10 Chinese people were injured and 5 shops owned by Chinese immigrants were looted, the Alarabiya reports. The... Read more »

In UAE all students of both private and public schools will have to undergo vaccination against swine flu in September. The vaccination will be mandatory for all students over the age of 5 but free, the Arabian Business reports. Some 630 thousand students will be vaccinated, which will cost the government about 870 thousand... Read more »

The only film festival to be held in Saudi Arabia has been cancelled. It was supposed to be held in December, in the country where cinema has been banned for almost 30 years. As the Gulf Times reports citing the words of one of the organizers of the festival, the news came from the governor of Jeddah. It... Read more »

330 detainees have been recently tried in Saudi Arabia by special courts dealing with security issues. They were charged with participation in the terror attacks of 2003-2006 that took place in the country. The detainees received different sentences including house arrest and imprisonment, as well as a death penalty. Several defendants were found not guilty, Middle ... Read more »

Oman has banned certain categories of people, including sick people, children and the elderly, from performing the umrah in Saudi Arabia. The ban is caused by fears of spreading swine flu, Middle East Online reports. The authorities did not specify whether there will be similar restrictions in place for the time of the hajj, the annual pilgrimage, which is in No... Read more »

Hundreds of Iraqis have turned to hospitals in seek of medical help due to the ongoing sandstorm in the country. The storm has been continuing for over a week, and citizens are suffering from breathing problems and clogged eyes. Those who have asthma are especially vulnerable. The storm has caused multiple flight cancellations and delays as well as changes in the Middle East visiting program of Joe Biden, the US vice-president. In addition, supply of electricity has bee... Read more »

Kuwait is trying to reduce the number of foreign workers in the country by stopping hiring them in the public sector. The government of Kuwait has developed a 5-year plan that is aimed at improving the living standards in Kuwait, Arabian Business reports. The plan aims to improve the situation in the education, employment and housing. T... Read more »