James M. Dorsey

Bin Hammam Investigation Grows: AFC In Frame

Bin Hammam Investigation Grows: AFC In Frame

JAMES M. DORSEY: The financial management of the Asian Football Confederation during Mohammed bin Hammam’s reign is under investigation

 Richard Silverstein

Erdogan to Gaza: The Siege Begins to Lift, Slowly

Erdogan to Gaza: The Siege Begins to Lift, Slowly

RICHARD SILVERSTEIN: Hard on the heels of Qatar’s high profile visit and investment in Gaza comes news that regional super-power Turkey plans a visit.

 David Roberts

Clear Motive: What’s Qatar Really Up To In France?

Clear Motive: What’s Qatar Really Up To In France?

DAVID ROBERTS: Qatar’s plan to invest a large sum of money into one of Paris’s poorest areas has led to attacks from left and right. So what’s happening?

 David Roberts

A Contrarian Streak: On Qatar and Hamas in Gaza

A Contrarian Streak: On Qatar and Hamas in Gaza

DAVID ROBERTS: While Israel and the Palestinian Authority may view Qatar’s embrace of Hamas with chagrin, it is Iran that is the central loser…

 Jonathan Cook

How Israel Starves Gaza: The Facts Revealed

How Israel Starves Gaza: The Facts Revealed

JONATHAN COOK: Evidence has recently emerged of the programme that Israel initiated to manufacture further Palestinian despair.

 Rob L. Wagner

Have the ‘Big Boys’ Given Up On Islamic Banking?

Have the ‘Big Boys’ Given Up On Islamic Banking?

ROB L. WAGNER: HSBC’s decision to downgrade significantly the resources it devotes to Islamic banking has thrown the issue into sharp focus.

 Tabsir

Kansas Spooked By Sharia: ‘The Ayatollahs Are Comin”

Kansas Spooked By Sharia: ‘The Ayatollahs Are Comin”

LUKE R.E. PUBLICAN, TABSIR: Kansas legislators have opted for a ‘belt and braces’ approach to deal with any possibility of Sharia creeping into the State.

 James M. Dorsey

Middle East Football Investment: No Guarantees

Middle East Football Investment: No Guarantees

JAMES M. DORSEY: The key question for Leeds supporters should be who is the investor and what is the purpose of the acquisition; those are questions that have yet to be answered.

 James M. Dorsey

Worker Deaths: Trade Unions Finger Point Qatar

Worker Deaths: Trade Unions Finger Point Qatar

JAMES M. DORSEY: Qatar has repeatedly denied it exploits foreign labour. “The Ministry has received no complaint of forced labour and it is inconceivable that such a thing exists in Qatar…”

 Crossroads Arabia

Saudis’ Water Consumption ‘Unsustainable’

Saudis’ Water Consumption ‘Unsustainable’

CROSSROADS ARABIA: Advances in solar power and nuclear plants will help Saudis address their energy issues but water consumption is a major issue.

 Susan Al Shahri

The Salalah ‘Invasion’: Some Planning Please

The Salalah ‘Invasion’: Some Planning Please

SUSAN AL SHAHRI: We’re all suffering from post-invasion stress in Dhofar following the unprecedented influx of tourists during Eid.

 James M. Dorsey

World Cup Hosts Qatar, Russia Back Under the Spotlight

World Cup Hosts Qatar, Russia Back Under the Spotlight

JAMES M. DORSEY: Three major investigations into corruption in global soccer are putting the credibility of major soccer associations and World Cup 2022 host Qatar to the test.

 Tabsir

Ramadan Epic Tale Rekindles Familiar Ire

Ramadan Epic Tale Rekindles Familiar Ire

DANIEL M. VARISCO: In its depiction of the life of the second caliph a television epic has touched a nerve while attracting huge viewing numbers

 Crossroads Arabia

Bahrain Becomes Vatican’s Middle East HQ

Bahrain Becomes Vatican’s Middle East HQ

CROSSROADS ARABIA: The Vatican is striving to improve relations with authorities throughout the Gulf

 Common Ground News Service

Islamic Finance: A New Model for Global System?

Islamic Finance: A New Model for Global System?

MARIA PAZ-LOPEZ, CGNEWS: Following the crisis of confidence in the global financial system there has been much discussion of alternative models

 David Roberts

Female Athletes Lead Teams: What Does It Mean?

Female Athletes Lead Teams: What Does It Mean?

DAVID ROBERTS: The Olympics Opening Ceremony was striking for many reasons not the least of which was the presence of so many women leading Arab teams.

 James M. Dorsey

FIFA Buys Time with Bin Hammam Suspension

FIFA Buys Time with Bin Hammam Suspension

JAMES M. DORSEY: FIFA’s investigation of Mr. Bin Hammam is likely to be just the tip of the iceberg, and will inevitably broaden to the Qatari World Cup bid itself.

 Juan Cole

The Real Olympic Question: Do Saudis Want to Integrate?

JUAN COLE: These are the first Olympic Games where women from every country in the world are participating. There is a bigger question for Saudis.

 James M. Dorsey

Court Questions FIFA Integrity over Hammam Proceedings

Court Questions FIFA Integrity over Hammam Proceedings

JAMES M. DORSEY: If Mr. Bin Hammam would be hard pressed to portray the ruling as evidence of his innocence, it is in many ways equally condemning of FIFA.

 James M. Dorsey

Questions Continue to Surround Bin Hamman

Questions Continue to Surround Bin Hamman

JAMES M. DORSEY: The appointment by Qatari and UAE soccer bodies of individuals who worked with Mohammed bin Hamman raises more questions