In October of 2009, Sheikh Mohamed Sayed Tantawi ignited a heated debate when he said the niqab was merely a tradition not linked to religion, and that women would be banned from wearing it in schools and universities.

A few days ago, an article was published on the Daily News Egypt website, about how some Egyptian women see the veil as a protection against sexual harassment on the streets. This is not a surprise, given the shocking statistics that were released a couple weeks ago that stated that 98% of foreign women and 83% of local women are sexually harassed in Egypt.

Damascus is getting trendier these day. As Syria opens up, western-style cafes and restaurants are mushrooming. Men and women gather together, sipping coffee and smoking and in the evenings, bars are filled with liberal-minded Damascenes gathering over a bottle of wine or Arak, the local aniseed-flavored spirit. Nights out may start with a lively debate about politics and end up on the dance floor. But as common as such scenes are these days in the capital, in much of the country they are not the norm.

Electronic media editors and activists on Thursday said the recent Cassation Court's decision to subject news websites and electronic media to the Press and Publications Law will curb Internet freedom. Meanwhile, the government said that a team of legal consultants is currently drawing up guidelines to address the issue of electronic media, which will be announced soon, especially in light of the latest developments.

Until a year ago, Dubai was the dream destination of fresh graduates from Lebanon looking for good work and good money. Today, young Lebanese are entering the workforce with trepidation, knowing they face a job market with few good opportunities in the Gulf and even fewer in Lebanon. "There are no more places for fresh graduates. We're turning and turning, and we don't know where to go," says Jenny Zailah, an economics student in her senior year at the American University of Beirut (AUB). She says she expects to stay in Lebanon upon completion of her studies, and has already started looking for work in anticipation of a tough job market.

Last summer, a six-week photography workshop invited 24 young people from Syria, Palestine and Iraq to bring their perspectives to issues affecting their region. The participants addressed issues including identity, gender equality, children’s rights and integration. Thousands of photos emerged, many of which were exhibited in galleries in Damascus and London.

Muslim Brotherhood Chairman Mr Mohamed Mahdi Akef announced that his last weekly statement as the Brotherhood's 7th Chairman will be delivered in a world-wide press conference scheduled to be held Thu

Lebanon has been ranked the world’s second most improved democracy in an annual study despite several incidences of sectarian tensions over the past year.