· July, 2010

Stories about Western Europe from July, 2010

Iraq: Ban on topless women?

After France imposed a ban on the veil, Iraqi Layla Anwar tweeted: “I am looking forward to see a ban on topless Western tourists on Muslim countries beaches…”

26 July 2010

Egypt: Niqab ban in France stirs controversy

The lower house of the Spanish Parliament is debating a proposal to prohibit the wearing of body-covering burqas and face-covering niqabs in all public spaces in Spain, and the French parliament just approved a ban on niqabs (face veils). Bloggers from across the Middle East react.

23 July 2010

Mozambique/Brazil: “Ethanol diplomacy” meets criticism

NGOs furiously denounced last week's trilateral accord between Brazil, Mozambique and the European Union promoting ethanol production in Mozambique for the European market. The blogsphere provides some background to this "ethanol diplomacy" and questions its future social and environmental impacts.

22 July 2010

Portugal: Seagulls Invade the city of Porto

A seagull problem has been occurring in Porto's historical center. Portuguese netcitizens report that the birds are hungry and fearless and have even killed pigeons. For Cristina Santos, they are...

19 July 2010

Russia: A governor in the gaul?

LJ user bobasta discusses [RUS] ongoing speculations if it really was the governor of Saratov, Pavel Ipatov, who was caught by Italian police on a yacht in the Mediterranean last...

18 July 2010

China: Buy BP assets? Could do!

Britain's new foreign secretary William Hague is in Beijing today, and Chinese online media are reporting the goal of his trip is to sell China on BP assets from the company's South American holdings. Comments on the news suggest netizens are eager to help begin negotiating the terms of the deal.

14 July 2010