Israeli/Palestine exports: South Africa states its case
South Africa’s ambassador to Israel, Ismail Coovadia, is set to face the wrath of the Israeli government this week after the department of trade and industry announced that certain goods originating from Israel would have to be re-labelled to indicate they actually came from Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Read MorePalestinian prisoners on hunger strike: Who exactly represents them?
First a Palestinian minister announced that a deal had been reached with Israel to end a weeks-long hunger strike by hundreds of prisoners. Then, various activists countered assertions of the reported deal, claiming the Palestinian Authority actually did not represent the hunger strikers and had no right to make such announcements on their behalf. The only certainty is that there is a crisis in the Palestinian leadership.
Read MoreSaudi Arabia & the SA nurse: You can enter any time you want, but you can never leave
A South African nurse in Saudi Arabia has been barred by Saudi authorities from returning home for two years after patients at the hospital where she works lodged complaints against her. South African authorities have extended consular services to her, but her fate remains uncertain.
Read MoreKenya and Somali refugees: A culture of mistrust
Kenya’s incursion into Somalia last October, dubbed Operation Linda Nchi or Protect the Country, signalled a renewed vigour in the war against Al-Shabaab. As part of the operation, officials also launched a crackdown in the North Eastern province of Kenya, intent on weeding out the Somali cell of al-Qaeda sympathisers. In the process, Kenyan Somalis and Somali refugees were arbitrarily arrested and gravely mistreated.
Read MoreFormula One: racing takes precedence over Bahrainis’ blood
Bahrain hosts the travelling circus of Formula One this weekend. As anti-government protesters continue to battle for political reforms, race organisers have shrugged off pressure to cancel the race, as they did last year. This time round, they are determined to hold the race, no matter the backlash.
Read MoreWe shall render unto the U.S.
Talha Ahsan is suspected of being a terrorist. He has languished in British custody since 2006. He has Asperger’s syndrome and he is fighting extradition to the US, where he could be sentenced to 70 years’ solitary confinement. The extradition treaty says US authorities don’t need to give proof of their suspicions to get their suspect.
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