The National Conversation

Commentary, analysis and debate about key issues in the UAE, the Middle East and further afield.

Editorial cartoon for Sunday May 19 2013.

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Obama had a bad week but he will survive the press war

Despite the ensuing hysteria in Washington's partisan media coverage of president Obama's performance this week, the White House will survive it. Read article Obama had a bad week but he will survive the press war

James Zogby

Today's Comment

Cannibalism is not equivalent to regime's crimes
That incident involving a Syrian rebel fighter was repulsive, but isn't on the same scale as the regime's crimes. Other topics: Egypt's terrorists, and Hamas-Fatah unity. Read article

Arabic News Digest

Obama had a bad week but he will survive the press war
Despite the ensuing hysteria in Washington's partisan media coverage of president Obama's performance this week, the White House will survive it. Read article

James Zogby

At a refugee camp in Lebanon, coffee and dashed hopes
A refugee camp for Palestinians in Lebanon is called "downtown", in reference to an upscale seafront district in central Beirut. But it is not like that. Rana Askoul visits the camp on the Nakba day. Read article

Rana Askoul

Showing 1 - 10 articles of 3417

Comment

Cannibalism is not equivalent to regime's crimes

May 19, 2013

That incident involving a Syrian rebel fighter was repulsive, but isn't on the same scale as the regime's crimes. Other topics: Egypt's terrorists, and Hamas-Fatah unity. Read Article Cannibalism is not equivalent to regime's crimes

Arabic News Digest

Comment

Obama had a bad week but he will survive the press war

May 19, 2013

Despite the ensuing hysteria in Washington's partisan media coverage of president Obama's performance this week, the White House will survive it. Read Article Obama had a bad week but he will survive the press war

James Zogby

Comment

At a refugee camp in Lebanon, coffee and dashed hopes

May 19, 2013

A refugee camp for Palestinians in Lebanon is called "downtown", in reference to an upscale seafront district in central Beirut. But it is not like that. Rana Askoul visits the camp on the Nakba day. Read Article At a refugee camp in Lebanon, coffee and dashed hopes

Rana Askoul

Comment

Slow pace of talks has created a new issue for Yemenis

May 19, 2013

As Yemen's national dialogue moves slowly, a new issue emerges: Should the original schedule for designing a new Yemen be amended, or honoured? Read Article Slow pace of talks has created a new issue for Yemenis

Fernando Carvajal

Comment

Russia's arrest of a US spy sends a clear signal on Syria

May 17, 2013

Washington has to decide which is more important: getting the Russians to help get to the roots of the Boston Marathon bombing, or to step in militarily in the Syrian civil war. Read Article Russia's arrest of a US spy sends a clear signal on Syria

Alan Philps

Comment

A new manual on mental illness will hurt more than heal

May 17, 2013

Psychiatry seems to be creating new illnesses rather than eliminating old and existing ones. Read Article A new manual on mental illness will hurt more than heal

Justin Thomas

Comment

With victory behind him, Sharif must find ways to deliver

May 17, 2013

With many hard decisions expected, Pakistan's new prime minister will need all the wisdom, support and luck to meet people¿s lofty expectations. Read Article With victory behind him, Sharif must find ways to deliver

Sajjad Ashraf

Comment

Hawking's Israel boycott adds to momentum

May 17, 2013

An Arab writer says Stephen Hawking's refusal to participate in an Israeli conference will add momentum to the BDS campaign. Other digest topics include: Sudan, Syria. Read Article Hawking's Israel boycott adds to momentum

Arabic News Digest

Comment

The end of the Turkish-Syrian honeymoon

May 16, 2013

Tensions between Syria and Turkey are so high that escalation is the order of the day, a columnist writes in today's roundup of Arabic language opinion. Other topics: regimes' leftovers and combating cultural amnesia. Read Article The end of the Turkish-Syrian honeymoon

Arabic News Digest

Comment

Israel's actions in Syria could hasten regional spillover

May 16, 2013

Israel should back the US-Russian attempt to put together the international conference, rather than raising the military stakes in the Syrian war. Read Article Israel's actions in Syria could hasten regional spillover

Anne Penketh

Editor's Picks

Can’t you beam me up, Scotty?

Anton Yelchin stars as the USS Enterprise communications officer, Pavel Chekov, in the latest film, Star Trek Into Darkness. Photo courtesy of Paramount

Star Trek's technological feats are ahead of the times - dreamt up almost half a century ago, much of its technology is today a reality. Can’t you beam me up, Scotty?

A hunger for home

Selected Vegetables and Fruits, in Abu Dhabi, where a number of people from Sri Lanka and India shop. Delores Johnson / The National

Here is a look at how various cultures in the UAE have imported their cuisines and where to buy the ingredients. A hunger for home

Ferguson's excellent XI

Manchester United's Eric Cantona hammers the ball towards goal in their UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg soccer match at Old Trafford stadium in Manchester Wednesday April 23 1997. Dortmund won the match 1-0. (AP Photo/ Dave Caulkin)

As the great manager prepares for his final Manchester United match on Sunday, Gary Meenaghan, chooses a best XI from 27 Old Trafford years. Ferguson's excellent XI

Turkey tightens Blue Mosque dress code

A foreign tourist dons a head covering as she visits the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Trueky.Kerem Uzel for The National

Istanbul's famous mosque tries to strike balance between religion and tourism money by providing tourists with coverings. Thomas Seibert reports Turkey tightens Blue Mosque dress code

Step backward may help UAE rugby move forward

Manila, Philippines, May18, 2013, UAE Rugby, ASN Match UAE v Philippines, Manila Rizal Memorial Stadium-(2nd left) Renier Els pulls down a Philippine ball carrier. The UAE team lost 24-8 in their match with The Philippines . For The National Mike Young

Dropping out of the top tier could be more of a help than a hurt, comments Paul Radley. Step backward may help UAE rugby move forward

Lamborghini is still crazy after all these years

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of Lamborghini. Photo courtesy Lamborghini

The Italian marque is unbelievably, half a century old. To celebrate, the world's largest ever gathering of those outrageous sports cars assembled in its hometown. Lamborghini is still crazy after all these years

Video: Talking Shehhi – a dialect from RAK's mountain tribes

The dialect of the mountain tribes in Ras Al Khaimah is a living example of the history of the Arabic language's evolution in the region. Produced by Paul O Driscoll Video: Talking Shehhi – a dialect from RAK's mountain tribes