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

 Eman-Al-Nafjan

Saudi Women In Olympics: Kingdom ‘Gets the Bug’

Saudi Women In Olympics: Kingdom ‘Gets the Bug’

EMAN AL NAFJAN: The Olympics usually barely registers on Saudi consciousness. This time round, though, things are different

 Layla

Saudi Salary Racism: What’s the Colour of Your Passport?

Saudi Salary Racism: What’s the Colour of Your Passport?

LAYLAH: Are Saudi employees not seen as efficient or highly trained as the western nurses are and thus not deserving as much pay?

 Common Ground News Service

‘Israel Loves Iran’: An Iranian Perspective

‘Israel Loves Iran’: An Iranian Perspective

SAHAR NAMAZIKHAH, CGNEWS: It’s certainly garnered plenty of headlines but does the campaign have substance?

 Crossroads Arabia

Saudi: Filipino, Indonesian Ban Continues

Saudi: Filipino, Indonesian Ban Continues

CROSSROADS ARABIA: Philippine, Indonesia making “illogical” demands over the pay and conditions their citizens will receive – Saudi Labor Ministry.

 Ramzy Baroud

U.S., China: A Cold War in Warm Waters

U.S., China: A Cold War in Warm Waters

RAMZY BAROUD: Leaders of adjacent countries might find themselves forced to choose sides in a conflict over resources and military presence.

 Shelina Zahra Janmohamed

Halal: Chasing The $500 Billion Industry

Halal: Chasing The $500 Billion Industry

SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMED: The race is on to establish powerful international ‘halal brands’. The stakes are high: by some estimates $500bn a year.

 Tabsir

My New Year’s Resolution? No New Year’s Resolutions!

My New Year’s Resolution? No New Year’s Resolutions!

DANIEL M. VARISCO: It’s a curious tradition and one worth burying, in my humble opinion – the bore that is the New Year’s Resolution.

 James M. Dorsey

The Facebook Revolution. Is it really?

The Facebook Revolution. Is it really?

JAMES M. DORSEY: Autocrats – and their advisers – around the region have clearly underestimated the power of social media. But how significant has it been in effecting real change?

 Tabsir

How NOT to Educate Children About 9/11

How NOT to Educate Children About 9/11

DANIEL M. VARISCO: “We Shall Never Forget” is a masterpiece in truth-twisting and bigotry. The bad news is that it’s a coloring book aimed at U.S. children.

 Rob L. Wagner

Maids Caught in Middle of Saudi, Indonesia Spat

Maids Caught in Middle of Saudi, Indonesia Spat

ROB L. WAGNER: Saudi Arabian and Indonesian intransigence has put maids needing work and Saudis help between a rock and a hard place.

 Sultan Al Qassemi

A Compelling Case for a UAE State of the Union Address

A Compelling Case for a UAE State of the Union Address

SULTAN AL QASSEMI: This year is an ideal time for the UAE, the only successful union in the Arab world, to institutionalise a State of the Federation address.

 SuhaibWebb

The Top Terrorist Organisation For the U.S.? Not Muslim…

The Top Terrorist Organisation For the U.S.? Not Muslim…

MUSTAFA OMAR: When it comes to the white-hot issue of terrorists who threaten American citizens perception, unfortunately, is very far from reality.

 Shelina Zahra Janmohamed

Dictatorship: The Ultimate ‘Boys Only’ Club

Dictatorship: The Ultimate ‘Boys Only’ Club

SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMED: Adeptness in brutal suppression and torture are characteristics demanded of all dictators. One other vital characteristic is also required – maleness.

 Michael J. Totten

Libya: People are People, Even When World’s Apart

Libya: People are People, Even When World’s Apart

MICHAEL J. TOTTEN: Two years ago I spent time in Libya. It seems like a good time to revisit my experience of a kind people but an overarching, clamping presence.

 Tabsir

Ibn ‘Big Ben’ Casts its Shadow over Mecca

Ibn ‘Big Ben’ Casts its Shadow over Mecca

DANIEL MARTIN VARISCO: One understands the need to provide hotel rooms for the faithful, but Gucci bags?