Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah died on January 23, 2015 at age 90. He was buried in an unmarked grave according to Islamic customs. He has been ruling the kingdom since 1996 and became the King in 2005, after his half-brother’s death from a debilitating heart attack few years back. Saudi Arabia is crucial for the […]
Economic cost of Ebola still rising
The Ebola outbreak in West African countries of Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia not only killed thousands of people but also infected scores of others with the virus. Daily life in those counties came to a virtual halt. The devastation is now being shown in economies of the affected countries. Total economic costs for those […]
Massacre at the French satirical magazine Carlie Hebdo
The killings at the French satirical weekly magazine office of Charlie Hebdo appear to be motivated due to the magazine’s publication of cartons of Prophet Mohammed. People being killed for blasphemy have a history of more than 400 years especially in Europe. Contrary to the Western cultures, Islam avoids depiction of Prophet Mohammed. The magazine […]
Preparing for a Construction Claim
Summary: Preparing a construction claim requires consideration of deadlines and documents. Construction projects, no matter how well-planned, can find themselves with supply or personnel shortages at any point during crunch time. Accidents also happen, especially when crews are rushing to meet deadlines and are overworked. Construction companies should not ask if a claim will happen, […]
ISIS propaganda machine recruit young girls in the West
Young schoolgirls as young as 14 or 15 years of age are reportedly leaving European and North American countries to join the Islamic State (ISIS) have been on a rise lately. Many of them reappeared in Syria and Iraq. Pictures of many young girls holding AK-47 are used for ISIS propaganda on the Internet. The […]
Measles outbreak in the US
At the last count 14 states have been reported cases of measles. The outbreak has been linked to Disneyland in California. According to many sources there are more than 500 suspected cases and more than 90 have been infected with the virus. 2014 has been the worst year for measles and the average number of […]
Falling oil prices
World oil prices are continuing its slide from a record high of over $130 a barrel of Brent crude in 2008 to a $60 a barrel in early December 2014. It was less than $25 a barrel in 1987. Major economies that are feeling the pinch include oil exporting countries such as Russia, Saudi Arabia, […]
Can jihadi “John” identify using voice recognition software?
After several highly published jihadi beheadings, the British government is reportedly using voice recognition techniques to identify the jihadist in many YouTube videos. All beheadings were appears to be carried out by the same jihadist with a London accent. This British accent is known as Multicultural London English (MLE). Many non-native speakers use MLE. Many […]
The great 2014 hack of Sony Pictures
Hacking of Sony Pictures computer system in early December 2014 dominated the Internet and newspaper headlines. Not only hackers were able to access private emails of key employees which were later published embarrassing many of them. Hackers threatened to publish personal information if Sony Pictures do not stop the planned Christmas Day release of satirical […]
Race relations tested once again in the United States
Protesters took to the streets once again after a Staten Island, New York grand jury declined to indict a white police officer involved in the chokehold death of an unarmed black person, Eric Garner. Protester’s carried signs that said “I can’t breathe,” last known words that Eric Garner told officers while tackled to the ground […]