Stories about Middle East & North Africa from May, 2007
Kuwait: Pedicure Bliss
Ansam from Kuwait announces the launch of a new service – a pedicure service done right in the convenience of your home. “This is amazing… specially for Kuwaiti people! We like to have everything at our doorsteps!” she notes.
Kuwait: Online Grocery Shopping
Kuwait-based Lebanese blogger Mark says online shopping for grocery is picking up in Kuwait. “I prefer passing by an actual supermarket to buy my groceries but this could be an attractive solution for people who don’t have the time to physically go and shop,” he notes.
Oman: Shura Questions
Omani blogger Sleepless in Muscat discusses the affairs if the Sultanate here. “Then there is the other side of the story that has so many questions and queries to ask and begs to differ with the situation at hand. The fact that our country has come a long way in...
Lebanon: Rich Arab Rap Song
Lebanese blogger Leila links to a hilarious rap song by what is apparently a rich Arab.
Jordan: Smoking Fines
Naseem Al Tarawnah from Jordan challenges statistics about smoking fines in his country. “First of all, I’m positive that between my friends and I (which definitely total less than the number of enviro-cops) we could issue over 3,000 tickets in a single week let alone eight months! “Second of all,...
Libya: Blair in Tripoli
“British prime minister is touring Africa before leaving his office and we got a glimpse of his visit to Tripoli. His visit brought a very tight security to the city. Our backyard parking area is cleared by the police and there were checkpoints all around our street,” writes Iranian Mr...
Algeria: More on the Pew Survey
Algerian blogger Nouri continues to discuss the Pew Survey on American Muslims. “Rather than posting a lengthy analysis of the entire survey, I will mention some of the interesting questions and answers, and my response and my view of some of the results,” he explains.
Lebanon: Hariri Tribunal Wait Over
“Today, after a long wait, the International Tribunal will be established. The next priority is to build bridges, mend fences and restore unity and confidence in this country,” writes Beirut Spring.
Arabeyes: 1001 Tales from Libyan Taxi Rides
Can taking a taxi be an eye-opening experience to the society you live in? Libyan blogger Libyano takes us on a ride of a lifetime which gives him the chance to contemplate on his society, the behaviour of young men and the antics of some taxi drivers. Enjoy the ride!
Morocco: ban on YouTube lifted
The block on the video-sharing Web site YouTube has been lifted yesterday and the Moroccan blogsphere is celebrating its victory and planning to continue the struggle to unblock Google Earth and Livejournal. “Najib Omrani, a spokesman for the state-controlled telecommunications company Maroc Telecom, said Moroccans were unable to access YouTube...
Oman: Minimum Wage and Omanisation
Omani blogger Suburban questions the effectiveness of setting an Omanization quota for corporations in order to reduce the reliance on expatriate labour and provide greater work opportunities for Omani national citizens. Suburban argues that the stringent rules for laying off non-performing Omani employees along with the proposed increase in the...
Israel: Volunteers for Sderot
“Right, volunteers are being called for to come to the aid of citizens in Sderot. Below I’m going to append the information so that folks around and about can get involved if they so wish in the many ways they can help out. I’m particularly interested in going down to...
Oman: Shopping in Next Door ‘Do-Buy’
Omani Al Muscati had to travel to nearby Dubai to buy supplies for his home. “With our house already a few months behind schedule, I'll be damned to wait 8 weeks for simple things like door handles or light fixtures. So like the majority of my fellow Omanis, I packed...
Israel: Remaining Israeli
Israeli blogger Yehuda describes how his two children are involved in relief work and how he will never leave Israel despite holding a US nationality. “But it's a little something about what it means to be Israeli. No, I won't be going back to America if a missile falls through...
Israel: What's Wrong With Golan?
Israeli blogger Shmuel writes about how a customer service center in Jerusalem, which promises to deliver packages anywhere in Israel, refuses to deliver him a package to his home in Golan Heights.
Yemen: Yes to Internet Filters
Yemeni blogger Omar Barsawad is in favour of his country's internet censorship tactics, saying: “Yemen was mentioned as one of the countries to have the most extensive censorship filters for the Internet. I do wholeheartedly support this; as would most of my fellow adult Yemenis. What Yemen censors most, are...
Qatar: Iran Lifts Al Jazeera Ban
Karim, a friend of Qatar-based Al Jazeera Television links to a news which says that Iran lifted a ban on the station.
Palestine: Honour Killings
Palestinian blogger Amal A gives us an insight to the atrocities being committed against women in her country. According to a report she posts: “A forum of Palestinian organizations which fight anti-women violence published on Monday a report about killing Palestinian women under the guise of so-called family honour. The...
Lebanon: More on the Crisis in the Country
For the second week, Lebanese bloggers have posted anecdotes, reflections, updates, photos, videos, jokes, sarcasm and drawings on the issue that is taking precedence over all other topics. The issue is the ongoing violence which is taking the form of clashes in the north between the army and the militants and the terrorist explosions jumping from one location to another around the country, writes Moussa Bashir.
Tunisia: Anti-Smoking Campaign
‘On the occasion of the International Day against Smoking on May 31, 2007 , Tunisia has launched a campaign to fight smoking. The slogan adopted this year is “No smoking in public spaces”,’ writes Subzero Blue for Tunisia.
Jordan: Woman Chief of Court Appointed
Jordanian blogger Tololy announces the appointment of a woman chief of court in her country. “Good news; now we have women police officers, nurses, doctors, engineers, journalists, garbage-truck drivers, professors, teachers, mini-Sheikhs, nuns (obviously), managers, ministers, parliament members, and chiefs of court,” she notes.
About our Middle East & North Africa coverage
