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• Newly Digitized Israeli Military Prepares to Fight Hezbollah

  The army's greatest asset could be its ultimate flaw, making it more vulnerable to cyber attacks.
  "Bravo One. This is Bravo Two. We have spotted suspicious activity. Sending data now. Over," a platoon commander says."Stand by to fire all remote weapon stations," replies Bravo Two. "Roger that. Engaging now," the radio crackles, seconds before remote-controlled cannons and heavy machine guns mounted atop armored vehicles open fire at a target, in this case a ...

• Conscription in Gaza?

  Hamas has announced the possibility of voluntary or mandatory conscription, but the details are shrouded in secrecy. [Gaza] It started first with the introduction of high taxes on cigarettes. It was the de facto government's hope that this would prevent merchants from selling cigarettes, and that if they do, the cost would be too much for an average citizen to afford. Hamas believed this would eventually lead to the end of cigarette smoking in Gaza. Islam strongly discourages smoking and some e...

• Kuwait Running Out of Water

  Desalination capabilities not keeping up with consumption

  Kuwaitis are consuming almost more water than the country can produce.

  An estimated 1.5 million cubic meters of water was being consumed daily in Kuwait, dangerously close to country's maximum production capacity at, the business news site Arabian Business reported.

  Acc...

• Algerian Men Put to Justice for Breaking the Ramadan Fast

  Human Rights Groups Bemoan Religious oppression in the North African Country

  Police in Algeria have detained ten men for allegedly eating in public in violation of the sanctity of Ramadan.

  Police picked up the young men in a restaurant in the province of Bejaya, east of the capital Algiers after neighbors complained of the alleged public desecration of the Islamic faith'...

• Bahrain cracks down on opposition as national elections near

  Government arrests opponents block Internet and censor mosque sermons

  With general elections scheduled for next month, the ruling government in Bahrain has been increasing its suppression of opponents, blocking Internet sites and taking over control of Shiite mosques, human rights activists have claimed.

  The island country off the coast of Saudi Arabia has set parliament...

• ElBaradei Calls for Election Boycott to ?Bring Down Mubarak Regime?

  Mohammed ElBaradei, former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency and Egyptian political activist, has called for a boycott of Egypt's national elections scheduled for November. ElBaradei is seen as a candidate to oppose long-time President Hosni Mubarak, but unless constitutional changes are made, his bid cannot succeed. He told reporters on Monday that, "If the whole people boycott the elections totally, it will be in my v...

• Atomic Watchdog Blasts Syria for Obstructing Probe: Reuters

  The head of the International Atomic Energy has blasted Syria for preventing an inspection team from reaching a purported nuclear site bombed by Israel in 2007. The Reuters news agency reports it has obtained a secret report by IAEA head Yukiya Amano in which he complained that Syria's intransigence might end with the loss of evidence. International intelligence agencies believe North Korea was helping to construct a reactor on the ...

• Lebanon's Prime Minister Defends Syria in Assassination of His Father

  Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Al-Hariri is recanting his accusation of Syrian involvement in the assassination of his father, the late Prime Minister Rafiq Al-Hariri, six years ago. At the time, it was widely believed that Damascus was behind the killing and the act led to Syrian troops based in Lebanon leaving the country. But recently, the political winds have shifted, and Al-Hariri is building bridges with Lebanon's neighbor. The ...