Adi Ratjaka

Adi Ratjaka was born in Nablus and got a start in journalism after receiving a scholarship from the British Council to study at the prestigious Nazarene Media School in Nazareth. While at the school Ratjaka became head of the student newspaper, The Watcher, and was involved in student politics.

He got his first job at the North Yemeni Times where he was prepared to write many ‘cat up trees’ stories to prove his spurs only to find there weren’t many trees, or for that matter cats, in Yemen. Ratjaka’s first major scoop was to break the story on then President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s chronic flatulence, which was cited as a major influences for coup leaders ousting the dictator.

After the story broke Ratjaka was picked up by Agence France-Presse (who because they’re French will pretty much employ anyone). Ratjaka’s work with AFP has taken him to all corners of the Middle East and beyond, which is when he came to the notice of the team at The Israeli Daily who promised him a land of Xboxes and Le Creusset in order to bring his professional, journalistic traits to the team.

 

British Prime Minister Defends Torture
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British Prime Minister Defends Torture

In the run up to the next election, UK Prime Minister David Cameron has admitted that torture is ok by him as long as he doesn’t have to get any of that icky blood stuff on himself. Asked on the campaign trail about the UK’s cozy relationship with Saudi Arabia Cameron said: “I can tell you one time since I’ve been prime...

Raqqa, Syria twins with President Obama’s US birthplace
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Raqqa, Syria twins with President Obama’s US birthplace

In a move aimed at bringing greater understanding between their communities, the mayors of Raqqa, Syria and Honolulu, Hawaii have announced that the two cities will be twinned. Speaking at separate ceremonies in the two locations because of last minute visa difficulties, the two mayors said that the twinning arrangement would allow for greater cultural awareness between the two communities...

Saudis learn lessons from Vatican in leadership change
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Saudis learn lessons from Vatican in leadership change

The Saudi Royal Court said today that it had been taking advice from Vatican officials in how to handle transition in a gerontocracy (a government run by old farts). The sad news of the demise of 90’ish King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz‎ was quickly followed by the pronouncement that he will be succeeded by his spritely 79-year old half-brother Salman. A...

UN Peacekeepers almost restart Israeli, Egyptian hostilities

UN Peacekeepers almost restart Israeli, Egyptian hostilities

Secret UN communiques passed to The Mideast Beast have revealed that Egypt and Israel came close to renewed conflict last week due to the over exuberance of some of the peacekeepers posted to the Multinational Force & Observers operating in the Sinai peninsula. According to the communiques Indian soldiers posted as part of the force were able to sneak in a...