Saudi historic sites bulldozed to make modern history

Medina`s authorities are building a mosque so big it will hold 1.6m people – but demolishing irreplaceable monuments to do it; spooked cow tramples Palestinian at Muslim feast; Arab customer service vs. American; Shiite Iraqis defending Bashar Assad; and Skyfall fails for women.

Madinah Haram Mosque will be the biggest mosque in the world-- but at what cost to historical sites?

Duhur [2]

Saudis Take a Bulldozer to Islam`s History

Medina`s authorities are building a mosque so big it will hold 1.6m people – but demolishing irreplaceable monuments to do it. A Washington-based Gulf Institute estimates that 95 per cent of the 1,000-year-old buildings in the two cities have been destroyed in the past 20 years.

Diaa Hadid Blog [3]

Spooked cow tramples Palestinian at Muslim feast

A spooked cow killed a Palestinian man who was trying to slaughter the beast on Saturday during the Muslim celebration of Eid al-Adha, a Gaza health official said.

Qunfuz [4]

In Praise of Hatred

I was honoured to be asked to write the introduction to the English translation of Khaled Khalifa‘s third novel, In Praise of Hatred – set in Syria in the 1980s and essential background reading for the current tragedy.

Jaraad [5]

Trust and Customer Service in America

In the US, customer service has a whole different meaning. Its entire economic success is due to almost a perfect customer service. Unfortunately, customer service here is deteriorating due to outsourcing and to foreigners exploiting this new culture of customer service experience.

The Arabist [6]

Influx of Iraqi Shiites to Syria Widens War’s Scope

Some Iraqi Shiites are traveling to Tehran and others take tour buses from the Shiite holy city of Najaf, Iraq, on the pretext of making a pilgrimage to an important Shiite shrine in Damascus that for months has been protected by armed Iraqis. While the buses do carry pilgrims, Iraqi Shiite leaders say, they are also ferrying weapons, supplies and fighters to aid the Syrian government.

Caledonnia [7]

Skyfall: a feminist lament

The token Bond girl, Séverine (Bérénice Marlohe) has lamentably little time on screen, and the men take over once again as the heros and stars.