A local journalist claims a very important secret meeting between Saudi and Iranian foreign ministers took place in Pakistani capital Islamabad on the sidelines of OIC’s Council of foreign ministers (CFM) meet on Afghanistan issue. The scribe said in his vlog that the two Middle Eastern rivals agreed on a strategy to restore relations. TalkingContinue reading “Sidebar in Islamabad: ‘Saudi, Iran agree to mend relations’”
Monthly Archives: December 2021
Covid has generated hundreds of billions of dollars in windfall profits
The U.S. Secret Service is stepping up its efforts to claw back the billions more that Covid-19-related fraud has cost the economy –the agency over two years has seized more than $2 billion in relief funds obtained by fraudsters. One hundred people have been arrested. It still has more than 900 active criminal investigations intoContinue reading “Covid has generated hundreds of billions of dollars in windfall profits”
‘Music Scene is Being “Supercharged” in Saudi Arabia’
‘Incredible to see men and women dancing’: Music (is the) beating heart of Saudi Arabia; (The) Kingdom to host ‘600% more events in 2022, says Princess Haifa, according to report in the Kashmir Monitor (KM). Citing media reports, KM says Haifa made the comments at the XP Music Conference, a three-day event featuring discussions onContinue reading “‘Music Scene is Being “Supercharged” in Saudi Arabia’”
Did Don Quixote Long For Muslim Spain?
Don Quixote is the Saturday Night Live of the Spanish Inquisition. Cervantes roasts everybody, including the Catholic Church and even the reader. This magnum opus—called by many the first Western novel—is really a book about reading: Carlos Fuentes famously said of Quixote: “Su lectura es su locura.” [“His reading is his madness.”] Quixote reads too much (if that’s possible)Continue reading “Did Don Quixote Long For Muslim Spain?”
1971 Events: Sifting Facts From Fiction (Video)
IRSHAD SALIM: December 16, 2021 marked 50 years of estrangement between East Pakistan and West Pakistan –the former wing of Pakistan became independent as Bangladesh, and the millions of both the wing’s populace faced barrage of narratives, counter-narratives. Therefore, sifting facts from fiction (History is written by the victor) by many observers, experts, researchers andContinue reading “1971 Events: Sifting Facts From Fiction (Video)”
India and Pakistan can achieve peace ‘by pieces’
Kanti Bajpai in This Week in Asia has peddled geo-economy first and geopolitics later between nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakistan, who have gone to wars on the Kashmir dispute at least three times. Critics and many independent observers DesPardes has been talking to for years, remain skeptic about resolution of the Kashmir dispute. There areContinue reading “India and Pakistan can achieve peace ‘by pieces’”
DHAKA INSIGHT: 50 Years of Dec 16
IRSHAD SALIM: Here’s my 2nd insight (of many) on what some of the factors I believe led to Dhaka Debacle in December 1971. The 1st insight written on it in Dec., 2020, is also included -for those who may have missed reading it earlier. Jinnah’s two-nations doctrine -which gave birth to Pakistan and India (asContinue reading “DHAKA INSIGHT: 50 Years of Dec 16”
Jan 6 riot probe: Trump loses challenge
Trump has lost the appeal to block the Jan. 6 Capitol riot probe from getting White House records. A federal appeals court rejected former President’s effort to block a House committee from getting a tranche of White House records related to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. The decision comes a day after Trump’s former WhiteContinue reading “Jan 6 riot probe: Trump loses challenge”
Amid Diplomatic Snub From Some Countries 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing
Canada joins a growing list of countries planning a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the decision, shortly after Britain’s Boris Johnson said UK officials would also be boycotting the Games. Australia has said it will join the US in a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics inContinue reading “Amid Diplomatic Snub From Some Countries 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing”