Desi girl: On love, loss and the untimely death of Jiah Khan
Jiah Khan may not have been Bollywood's youngest or brightest, but it turns out that she was loved. If only she had known before she chose to end her life.
View ArticleSeek, and ye shall be data-mined
Google is an inspirational company, but it and companies like it must be held accountable for how they use the personal information they collect.
View ArticleMy child will know the beauty of a mixed heritage
How much of a role do Mr T and I play in Baby A's understanding of who she is, and where she's from?
View ArticleMocking a guest on a TV show is in poor taste
The armchair evangelist Aamir Liaquat has failed to win over those who don't like to follow the pack.
View ArticleMy father has two wives: explaining the role of polygamy in Islam
A Christian friend of mine was very intrigued when I told her my father has two wives.
View ArticleThe printed word still rules - see for yourself in Chandigarh
On holiday in Chandigarh, I noticed an extraordinary number of bookshops around town.
View ArticleJournalist remembers a rebel friend killed in Syria's civil war
For an Islamist rebel who had once wanted to join the jihadist leader Abu Musab Al Zarqawi in Iraq, he was surprisingly friendly.
View ArticleThe zombie-like trance that smartphones induce in us all
The first thing I do after I wake up is to check my phone and the last thing I do before I go to bed is to, well, check my phone.
View ArticleDesi Girl: New Miss America Nina Davuluri might not make the cut in India
I can’t think of any dark-skinned desi girls who have not had a love-hate relationship with their skin tone. In our tumultuous teens, it was an extra cross to bear.
View ArticleDespite prosperity, Emiratis hold traditions dear
Rapid economic development has dramatically changed the way Emiratis live, but their core values remain intact.
View ArticleMaverick Egyptian poet Ahmad Fouad Nigm was a fearless speaker of the truth
Kamal Abdel-Malek remembers his friend, the maverick Egyptian poet Ahmad Fouad Nigm, who died on December 3 at age 84.
View ArticleAsk Ali: The significance of Emirati prayer beads
Gulf men are proud to own a high-quality subha and the handmade stone beads increase their owner’s prestige.
View ArticleAsk Ali: Weather is perfect to visit Al Ain’s many attractions
This time of year, there are many interesting things to do in Al Ain
View ArticleEmirati Life: Sitting in a car with chocolate is the new nicotine
Quitting smoking can be a torturous ordeal – it certainly doesn't help when you're trying to quit in a smoker-friendly city such as Abu Dhabi.
View ArticleIn pictures: City of culture Baghdad
It was once the most learned place in the world, the pinnacle of the Golden Age of Islam. Justin Marozzi, author of a new history of the city, reflects on its grandeur.
View ArticleNostalgia for showing short films before big screenings
Today's cinemas feature comfy seats, 7.1 surround sound and giant screens. The cinemas of my childhood were very different places – all faded glory and crumbling walls.
View ArticleObserving Life: Little surprise packages from the postman are a stamp of home
Our villa has a number and the street has a name, but unless we physically set up a PO Box at Emirates Post and pay for the delivery to the house, we will never get mail.
View ArticleHow I became addicted to football – just in time for the World Cup
I've gone from being completely uninterested in football all these years to getting hooked on the game, thanks to social media.
View Article