Regular readers will know that I have long been concerned by the case of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, the Pakistani neuroscientist whose story is one of the murkiest in the whole of the “War on Terror.” Dr. Siddiqui disappeared with her three children in Karachi in March 2003, and for five years neither the US nor the Pakistani authorities acknowledged holding her, even …
Read More »Sailan Muslim
Japan earthquake unleashes tsunami
Up to 26 people are reported to have been killed after one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded struck Japan, triggering a 10-metre-high tsunami along parts of the country's northeastern coastline. The massive 8.9-magnitude earthquake struck Japan on Friday, sweeping away cars, boats, homes and people as widespread fires burned out of control. Japan's NHK television reported many injuries and showed …
Read More »The Royal House is Rattled Too
IN NORMAL times a government sitting on $440 billion in foreign reserves would have few cares. Even in the present season of turmoil in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia is lucky. With the price of oil up by $10 a barrel since January, and the Saudis squirting out spare stuff to make up for the slump in Libya’s output, the …
Read More »Deathly Silence Prevails in Pakistan By Gwynne Dyer
While the people of Arab states are overthrowing dictators, Pakistan is sinking deeper into intolerant Islamic extremism. Emboldened by the meek response of the people to the assassinations of Salman Taseer and Shahbaz Bhatti, Islamist vigilantes will now become more brutal At least with a dictatorship, you know where you are — and if you know where you are, you …
Read More »Palestine: Demands for a Unified Nation set for March 15
As the Arab world witnesses uprising after uprising, seeing dictators fall and others exposed one after another, the Palestinian case looks like the ultimate goal. The fate of Palestine has long suffered from its neighbors’ incapability (more or less intentional) of forming a strong block against Israel, whether through feeding the divisions inside the Palestinian political scene, or more …
Read More »Dengue danger lurks in Jeddah By MARIAM NIHAL
JEDDAH: Thirty three cases of dengue fever have been reported in the last three weeks in Jeddah, according to Health Affairs Director Dr. Sami Badawood, adding that more infections were likely in the coming weeks as the cool season comes to an end. Over a month after the Jan. 26 floods, local residents are combating fears of a malaria epidemic …
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