Tucked away in the corner of the Arabian Peninsula and somewhat obscured by surrounding Persian Gulf countries, Yemen is struggling with multiple crises: If an ongoing uprising and endless clashes between Yemen’s security forces and al-Qaida militants weren’t enough of a challenge for the impoverished nation, nearly half of Yemen’s people are going hungry, with many facing the danger of starvation.

Edward Yeranian | Cairo

Al-Qaida is claiming responsibility for a suicide-bombing Saturday in the southern Yemeni port city of Mukalla, which left at least 26 people dead and at least 20 others wounded. The bombing came just hours after a speech by Yemen's new President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who is originally from the south of the country.

Witnesses say the suicide car-bomber broke through an outer barrier at a presidential compound in Mukalla blowing up himself and his vehicle, near a group of soldiers who were eating, causing dozens of casualties.

Edward Yeranian | Cairo

At Cairo's posh Gazeera Club, workers leave the showers running as they sit nearby drinking tea and chatting. Large quantities of water pour down the drain as water pipes around the city and its suburbs run dry.

For inhabitants of Cairo’s poor neighborhoods, water only infrequently arrives via government pipes. In order to cook and stay hydrated, says resident Hossam Abdel Razaq, housewives trek to a local water dealer and buy the precious liquid for 25 cents. When water does briefly flow, he adds, kids run to the faucets to drink.

Wednesday, July 27th, 2011 at 7:40 pm UTC

Government loyalists and anti-government protesters have clashed in Yemen where rallies unfolded across the country on Wednesday.

Witnesses say several people were injured in the southern town of Ibb when pro-government gunmen opened fire on demonstrators.

Yemen's president appears to be backing out again from signing a Gulf region-brokered deal that would have him transfer power within a month.

President Ali Abdullah Saleh said Sunday that he is not interested in signing a deal inked "behind closed doors."

His statement came hours before he was scheduled to sign the agreement.

Plans to sign the deal have already stalled twice because of objections by the Yemeni leader.

Yemen's opposition signed the pact Saturday with the understanding that the president would sign the agreement Sunday.

Yemeni security forces have fired on a group of anti-government protesters and striking teachers, killing two and and wounding several others.

Witnesses and medics said security forces moved into Taiz early Monday to quell a rally blocking the city's main street. At least three people were seriously wounded. Teachers demanding better pay also participated in the rally.

More than 140 people have died in protest-related unrest since January.

At least seven people have been killed in clashes in Yemen, where thousands of anti-government protesters across the country are demanding President Ali Abdullah Saleh's departure.

Most of Wednesday's deaths took place in the capital Sana'a, where rival forces traded gunfire. Witnesses say President Saleh's military units clashed with forces led by Ali Mohsen, an army general who recently split from the president.

Mohsen's unit was manning a military checkpoint set up on a road leading to a main protest area.

Mohamed Elshinnawi

A tense and sometimes bloody standoff continues between the president of Yemen and thousands of demonstrators trying to bring down his government after 32 years in power. The dispute reached a boiling point when supporters of the president shot and killed dozens of protesters last week, prompting key military and tribal leaders to join the opposition.

Divisions inside Yemen's armed forces led President Ali Abdullah Saleh to warn his military chiefs that any attempt to stage a coup will bring on a civil war and split the country.

Medical officials and witnesses say at least 30 people have been killed and more than 100 wounded in Yemen, after security forces and government loyalists opened fire on anti-government demonstrators in the capital, Sana'a.

The incident took place after Friday prayers. The Associated Press says security forces fired from rooftops and houses at thousands of demonstrators who were entering a square in Sana'a.

Anti-government activists have been calling for an end to President Ali Abdullah Saleh's 32-year rule for weeks. However,