Behind The News

Found guilty of money laundering, abuse of power and embezzlement, Mohammed Dahabi faces 13 years hard labor.

When Mecca goes to Vegas - it's a movie you didn't order. Is there more to the story of a commercial takeover at stake here? The keepers of Islam's most sacred sites in Saudi Arabia are modernizing the historic pilgrimage spots in a process akin to whitewashing history. Is 'Greater Mecca' the product of Saudi's assault on the ancient democratization of Islam?

President Barack Obama has got his work cut out for him. Syria and Iran will be pressing foreign agenda concerns to top off the fiscal cliff first stumbling block.

If you thought all Arabs were for Obama - think again, says one Arab-American commentator and Romney campaigner. Why Arabs might want to consider going the Mitt Romney way. He's good for business interests and keen to understand Arabs. He's from a religious minority himself...

Jordan might be struggling to quell opposition in its own Kingdom but that hasn’t stopped those in power from meddling in Kuwait's affairs, according to recent leaks from Saudi Arabia's infamous whistle-blowing tweep.

Tunisia is still tottering on the edge of crisis as a power struggle between moderate Islamists and Salafis vying for control takes hold. Armed Islamists were out wreaking havoc and threatening the progress of supposedly seasoned Arab Springer Tunisia this week, forcing the pioneer country to resort to the retrograde old-regime's 'state of emergency' default line.

What started as a rumor, is confirmed as true after security sources give details of the Israeli strike on the Iranian arms factory in Sudan.

Is North Africa trying to mount a Moorish re-awakening, uniting a traditional alliance, emboldened by the Arab Spring? This year revived the cycle of the Maghreb Summit and put the Moorish or Maghrabi question on the Arab table. It looks unlikely to be a force to reckon with, and more a redundant alliance of North Africa's Arab Belt.

The Emirate saw it's biggest ever protests this week. The Emir has been keen to play down their significance but the 'small' number have already led to plans for reform in the Kingdom.

It may have started as an occasion for mourning but the funeral of Lebanon's intelligence chief quickly descended into the Sunni/Shia maelstrom just under the surface of Lebanese society.

In light of today's Sassine Square east Beirut bomb blast, perhaps Lebanese tourism minister would like to reconsider his threat to sue US TV makers of 'Homeland' for their disparaging depiction of a barbaric Beirut with friendly Hamra ruled by war mobs and Hezbollah.

According to the UAE's laws, a woman having sex outside of marriage can be imprisoned and a child out of wedlock will be used as evidence against them.

While Pakistan's Malala Yousafzai pulls through her critical condition caused by her country's Taliban attack, Imran Khran makes a Jihad gaff unbefitting a politician of his stature.

The IMF and World Bank has been holding its annual meeting this weekend, but with all eyes on what Christine Lagarde and what she'll say with regards to the Eurozone crisis, attention is being diverted away from the new wave of involvement in the Middle East

Clashes erupted in Cairo’s Tahrir Square Friday as supporters and opponents of Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi tried to wrest control of the iconic square in rival rallies.