Sunday, October 21, 2018

Amnesty urges UN investigation, independent autopsy in Khashoggi death

              Nordic noir ... mon and lich ... The 2018:2 issue of the Swedish Book Review is now available online -- some of the articles and, more usefully, all of the book reviews -- English reviews of recent-in-Swedish titles of interest. 

The October issue of Asymptote is up, packed with international fiction, non, drama, poetry, criticism, and more -- a lot to keep you busy, and certainly worthwhile.  Time to also remember that sweetest revenge is served cold ... 


       The biggest literary prize announced yesterday -- at least in cash terms ? Not that Man Booker thing -- no, it was the Premio Planeta, awarded to Yo, Julia, by historical novelist Santiago Posteguillo; see, for example, the El mundo report. 
       How much does he get ? A tidy €601,000. 
       None of his work appears to be available in English, but you have to figure some will eventually -- this sort of historical fiction is pretty popular, and he seems to be a big hit in Spain. 


       In The Arab Weekly Zaki al-Soudeir profiles Saad Albazei, in Saudi literary critic: 'Fight against extremism continues'. 
       The piece opens:
Literary critic Saad Albazei says there are literary efforts in Saudi Arabia to document and keep up with current developments in the country.
       I'm not quite sure they're up to the challenge, especially considering recent events ..... 


Amnesty urges UN investigation, independent autopsy in Khashoggi death


Amnesty International said on Saturday that Saudi Arabia's explanation of journalist Jamal Khashoggi's death in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul appeared to be a whitewash of "an appalling assassination".

Secret recordings offer chilling insight into Saudi Arabia's attempts to silence its critics


Omar Abdulaziz, a close associate of the missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, hit record on his phone and slipped it into the breast pocket of his jacket.

  • by Loveday Morris & Zakaria Zakaria


Partner of deceased 'cult leader' suing state of NSW over police investigation that ended in suicide

Janice Hamilton, the widow of Ken Dyers, has alleged the state of NSW is guilty of misfeasance in public office.