Journalism in the Gulf is losing its appeal Indian journalists have long formed the backbone of the media in the Gulf but it’s a decreasingly rewarding career move Hussain Ahmad guardian.co.uk, Friday 3 September 2010 08.00 BST Article history Recently a friend of mine who wanted to start a magazine in a Gulf country asked a prominent journalist in India to look for an editor to work with him. My friend wanted someone with modest experience and the salary offered was decent. After two months came the reply: the search in India had turned up nothing and, more surprisingly, many … Continue reading Indian journalists in The Gulf

Al-Qaeda and counter-terrorism Jihad in Saudi Arabia: Violence and Pan-Islamism since 1979 by Thomas Hegghammer Reviewed by Brian M Downing Thomas Hegghammer, a research fellow at the Norwegian Defense Research Establishment, looks at al-Qaeda with an eye trained in international affairs, statistical analysis, and sociology. His book is an outstanding, engagingly written study of the rise of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and the methods used by the Saudi state to defeat it. Phase One: 1979-1990 The movement in Saudi Arabia, which in 1988 would form into al-Qaeda, began with Pan-Islamic sentiment in the late 1970s and 1980s. Despite differences … Continue reading Jihad in Saudi Arabia

Charles Darwin’s ecological experiment on Ascension isle By Howard Falcon-Lang Science reporter, BBC News Cloud forest now forms a damp oasis on Ascension’s highest peak A lonely island in the middle of the South Atlantic conceals Charles Darwin’s best-kept secret. Two hundred years ago, Ascension Island was a barren volcanic edifice. Today, its peaks are covered by lush tropical “cloud forest”. What happened in the interim is the amazing story of how the architect of evolution, Kew Gardens and the Royal Navy conspired to build a fully functioning, but totally artificial ecosystem. By a bizarre twist, this great imperial experiment … Continue reading Charles Darwin – Key To Mars

Butts Arrested in Boob Murder Case POTTER TOWNSHIP, CENTRE COUNTY – Police have arrested a third person in connection with the murder of Samuel Boob. Boob was shot and killed at his home in Potter Township, Centre County, on the morning of August 23rd, 2009. Kermit Butts, 26, of Madisonburg, is accused of driving the suspected killer to and from the crime scene on the morning of the killing.  He was charged with aggravated assault and assisting a murder suspect and placed in the Centre County Prison. Police believe that Butts drove Ronald Heichel to the Boob home and picked … Continue reading Butts Attacked Boob!

Zooming in on Mars: New high-resolution images reveal Red Planet’s stunning terrain By Daily Mail Reporter It has long been a planet of wonder, leaving early astronomers to speculate about advanced alien civilisations. Now modern-day star-gazers can enjoy stunning new close-up images of Mars’ diverse surface after they were released by NASA today. The photographs were taken with a telephoto lens which can focus on objects the size of a beach ball from more than 180 miles away. They zoom in on a range of terrains – from volcanic cones and cratered planes to wind-swept dunes to crusts of ice. … Continue reading Mars – New high-resolution images

My wife the Queen: Prince Philip reveals his hidden talent for painting By Beth Hale She has sat for many an artist and her image has been captured on canvas countless times. But rarely has the Queen been captured in quite so informal a pose. Sitting at a beautifully-laid table, reading a paper, with a fresh loaf of bread and a pot of marmalade in front of her – she indulges in a leisurely breakfast. Who, you might wonder, had such intimate access to the monarch at her breakfast table? Well her husband of course. The Queen is shown at … Continue reading Prince Philip – The Painter

Evolution in action: Scientists discover lizards on verge of leap from egg-laying to live births By Daily Mail Reporter Scientists have caught the process of evolution in action as a species of Australian lizard abandons egg-laying for live births. The variety of skink, which is snake-like with four tiny legs, has been found laying eggs along the coast of New South Wales. However, the same yellow-bellied three-toed lizard living in the colder mountainous region is giving birth to offspring like a mammal does. Rare study: The Australian lizard has been found laying eggs along the warm coast of New South … Continue reading Evolving Lizards

High fertility concerns post-floods —Murtaza Haider With fortunately a low death count, the 2010 floods would still result in a higher fertility rate, given the very large displaced population. If not addressed in the post-disaster planning, higher fertility will result in multiplying the rebuilding needs in the next few years As Pakistan plans to transition from rescue to rebuilding after the disastrous floods that have killed 1,600 and destroyed over 1.3 million homes, it should also pay attention to the expected higher than usual fertility rates, which are often observed after similar calamities in low-income economies. The struggle to rehabilitate … Continue reading High fertility concerns post-floods

Lifting the shadow of Sialkot —Zaair Hussain Once the contract breaks down, it all breaks down. We cannot choose when to take the law into our own hands. If we snatch the law unto ourselves for a good reason, we will do it for a bad reason and eventually for no reason at all In recent weeks, we stood and fought a natural tragedy, but sat and wept at one manmade. We have been living in the shadow of Sialkot. We cannot imagine the terror of the brothers in their final moments, or the heartbreak of their parents. For this, … Continue reading Lifting the shadow of Sialkot