· June, 2008

Stories about Middle East & North Africa from June, 2008

Morocco: Websites and Newspapers

  17 June 2008

With the world going digital, many newspapers are meeting the challenge by making their news pages accessible online. The Arab world is no different. Moroccan blogger M S Hjiouij [Ar] complains about the standard of a popular newspaper's website in this post.

Jordan: A New Lease of Life for Dwwen

  17 June 2008

Arab bloggers held their breath waiting for an announcement on the fate of popular Arab blog aggregator Dwwen. After a bit of uncertainty, the all clear was given and it is business as usual for the site which brings together Arab bloggers, writing posts in Arabic and English, under one roof.

Iraq: Return of a Kidnapped Neighbour

  17 June 2008

Iraqi Sunshine shares with us different aspects of her life in this post – the return of a kidnapped neighbour, sitting her physics exam and extracting her wisdom tooth.

Iraq: Chinese Food

  16 June 2008

Do Arabs like Chinese food? Read the reactions a story Sunnyraindrops links to about a Chinese restaurant in Iraq to know the answer.

Palestine: Obama on Jerusalem as Undivided

  16 June 2008

Barack Obama's pledge on June 11th to AIPAC that Jerusalem should be Israel's undivided capital has angered Palestinian officials. President Mahmoud Abbas made a statement that Obama's pledge is “totally rejected,” while Saeb Erekat, an Abbas aide, said that Palestinian negotiators would continue to insist upon East Jerusalem as the...

Syria: Coup Plot Crushed

  16 June 2008

Joshua Landis links to reports about a coup plot against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad that was quietly crushed without the world noticing in Syria Comment.

Iraq: Black – The Colour of Grief

  16 June 2008

Iraqi women are now accustomed to wearing black - the colour of grief and mourning, notes Inside Iraq. But amid the darkness and gloom, some young women admit to wearing brown, green and even pink!

Renewable Energy ‘Supercenter’ at Tel-Aviv University

  16 June 2008

The Green Prophet blogs about the announcement by Tel-Aviv University. “The proposed Supercenter “will be much more than a hatchery for new clean technologies,” said Prof. Abraham Kribus, an engineer and solar energy expert. “It will be a multi-disciplinary powerhouse including all the non-technological aspects, such as economics, law, and...

Iran:Sex scandal in University

  15 June 2008

Several Iranian news sites and blogs including Moeini reported [fa] that Hassan Madadi,Vice president of Zanjan University, was caught on film by students as he was taking off his shirt and allegedly about to take sexual advantage of a female student.

Libya: Father's Day

  15 June 2008

Anglo-Libyan, who lives in the UK, celebrated Father's Day today. “Today in Britain we celebrate Father's Day,while I think everyday should be fathers & mothers day but still it is nice to have a special day dedicated to all the dads out there who usually have to put up with...

Kuwait: $10,000 Car Treat!

  15 June 2008

Would you spend $10,000 getting your car waxed? I know I wouldn't - but Lebanese blogger Mark, who lives in Kuwait, draws our attention to someone who did just that.

Bahrain: Where's My Breakfast?

  15 June 2008

“Who cares about oil prices? Sure it’s at $139 at close in NY yesterday, but it’s still cheaper than water. The issue I have is not that, it is the complete absence of Weetabix from the local market. How can one have a decent breakfast if there is no Weetabix?”...

Kuwait: Covered Hard Candy for Madonna

  14 June 2008

“Madonna’s album is being raped by Kuwaiti MOI [Ministry of Information], they basically forced leggings on her and took all the pictures off her CD booklet, it is a cover only no inlay pages,” writes Moey.

Iran: Protest against corruption and inflation

  14 June 2008

Several Iranian bloggers including Biseda reported[fa] that several hundred people protested in Tehran (Park Melt) and Mashhad yesterday against corruption and high prices.The bloggers and news sites reported at least 150 people were arrested.

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Mariam A.
Mariam A. is the editor for the Middle East & North Africa. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.