Latest fromMiddle East

Zain Ali: How the Muslim world can help New Zealand
he time is right to engage economically with Islamic finance, writes Zain Ali, head of the Islamic studies research unit at the University of Auckland.

Fran O'Sullivan: NZ reaction to Israel 'scandal' exposes official wariness
The close scrutiny of the young tourists shows the SIS harbours deep suspicions when it comes to Israeli activity

Israelis seize protest yacht as it tries to run blockade
Israeli commandos yesterday boarded and seized control of a yacht carrying pro-Palestinian activists.

My son, the 'American Taleban', is innocent
John Lindh travelled to Afghanistan to help the ruling Taleban fight against Russian-backed insurgents. Then 9/11 happened. US troops tortured him, tried him as a terrorist and jailed him for 20 years.

How to avoid being killed: A traveller's guide
A Middle East-based journalist has penned a book advising travellers how to keep themselves safe in dangerous places.

Caviar farm will satisfy Gulf's growing appetite
The desert city of Abu Dhabi is the newest location for a vast caviar farm that dwarfs its global competitors.

Paul Holmes: No place here for burqa
Culturalism, schmulteralism: Mask wearers want no part of the West except our privileges, according to Paul Holmes.

Neo-Nazis ditch skinhead image in bid to entice voters
Despite a less aggressive image the violence committed by these extremists continues to increase dramatically.

Paul Thomas: I'll take boring over US loony extremes
Biggest economy wouldn't default over politics, would it?