[1]
Middle East:
The UK isn't the only place where elections were held today…
Bethlehem bloggers [1] are closely following “the first local elections in 30 years.” (Photo: Beit Sahour polling station, Bethlehem, courtesy Bethlehem Bloggers.)
Rafahpundits [2] is all over the latest news from local elections in Rafah, in the Gaza Strip.
Semitism.net announces [3] a new online Israeli-Palestine Forum [4].
Natan Sharansky's resignation [5] means very different things to Israpundit [6] and Israelblog [7].
Syrian blogger Ammar Abdulhamid [8] is the only Syrian listed in Newsweek's list 43 Arabs making a difference. (via Abu Aardvark [9]
Music: Tikun Olam has info [10] on the performance of a song jointly written Israeli and Paliestinian music stars.
Podcast: Friendsofaljazeera.org has a podcast interview [11] with Hugh Miles, author of a book about Al Jazeera. They're looking for a volunteer to transcribe the interview.
Hammorabi has some views [12] on what the Iraqi government needs to do if it's serious about squashing the insurgency.
East Asia:
Japundit analyzes [13] the latest deadly train wreck and the “cold-hearted corporate culture that seems to regard its customers like a pile of expendable meat.”
South Asia:
Vantage Point is trying to convince [14]poet Yogesh Dashrath to blog.
Africa:
The Kenyan blogosphere [15] continues to buzz [16] about the behavior of First Lady Lucy Kibaki, who recently slapped a local journalist.
Black Looks points us to a new African fair trade e-commerce site [17]. Based in Ghana, they're hoping to “make e-commerce work for Africa.” Check it out.
Southeast Asia:
Jeff Ooi sees evidence [18] that his blog is having an impact on how Malaysia's leaders are discussing national issues.
Singabloodypore shares the inside scoop [19] from AcidFlask, the blogger who was recently forced to take down his site.
Cranial Cavity is highly unimpressed [20] with the Philippine police.
Central Asia:
President Bush will visit Armenia Georgia [oops! Thanks Onnik [21]for the correction.] next week and Blogrel points us to some images [22]of the preparations and speculates that the visit will have a significant impact on the region's future.
Europe:
Finland for Thought is concerned about the coming iPod tax [23].
Latin America:
A Venezuelan blog, The Devil's Excrement (what a name) reports admiringly [24] that the Cuban blog Babalu has been banned [25] by Castro's government.
Venezuela News & Views (not a Chavez fan) has an essay [26] on the “chavismo” phenom.