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Israel: Ceasefire with Hamas Ends

Gilad Lotan · 17:25, November 19th, 2008 · Middle East & North Africa

The temporary cease-fire (tahdiya) agreement between Israel and Hamas has come to an end earlier this month with an escalation of violence in the region and a re-implementation of the Gaza blockade. Gilad Lotan highlights conversations on the Israeli blogosphere on the escalation of violence and the humanitarian conditions in Gaza. 2 comments · read »

Trinidad & Tobago: Flood!

Janine Mendes-Franco · 15:07, November 19th, 2008 · Americas

Trinidad and Tobago has been at the receiving end of some heavy rains over the past few days, resulting in severe flood waters that have immobilized commuters, compromised infrastructure and wreaked havoc on the public transportation system. But only a handful of local bloggers were on top of the story (perhaps the rest were too busy trying to find a way home). 2 comments · read »

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November 20th, 2008

Egypt: American University in Cairo's New Campus Sparks Debate

Marwa Rakha · 17:45 · Middle East & North Africa

Designed to accommodate 5,500 full-time students and 1,500 faculty and staff, the American University in Cairo's new $400 million, 260-acre campus is technologically advanced and environmentally friendly. Students say that it was a premature move as they suffer sexual harassment and expensive food, among many other issues. Marwa Rakha reports. 0 comments · read »

Egypt: Convicted for being a Blogger

Marwa Rakha · 17:19 · Middle East & North Africa

Is blogging a serious crime? And is speaking up for others something which warrants punishment? Egyptian Marwa Rakha translates a post from Arabic which discusses bloggers and blogging in Egypt. 0 comments · read »

Madagascar: Brides-for-Sale just one harsh reality of poverty

Lova Rakotomalala · 16:04 · Sub-Saharan Africa

Lova Rakotomalala translates the Malagasy blogosphere as it talks about the extremes people can be driven to by poverty. 0 comments · read »

Egypt: King Abdullah's Glass of Wine

Tarek Amr · 15:46 · Middle East & North Africa

A rumor has been spreading in the blogosphere, accompanied with a photograph of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia showing him seated beside US President George W Bush while holding a glass of wine in his hand. And as you all know, alcohol is prohibited in Islam, and it is a sin to drink or even stay in a place where it is being served or available. Following are reactions from Egypt. 1 comment · read »

Peru: APEC Summit an Opportunity for the Country

Juan Arellano · 05:18 · Americas

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum will attract 21 member countries to Lima, Peru, which will have the opportunity to put on display its recent economic accomplishments, investment opportunities, as well as its tourism potential. Many Peruvian bloggers are excited about this showcase opportunity, in spite of the logistical nightmares such a large gathering might produce. 0 comments · read »

November 19th, 2008

Rollback in New Zealand's emissions trading scheme?

John Liebhardt · 21:51 · Oceania

A little more than a week after New Zealand’s National Party swept away nine years of Labour Party rule, new Prime Minister John Key stitched together a coalition government. At the new government's swearing in ceremony in Wellington, Key’s center-right coalition promised to boost economic growth by cutting taxes, enacting free ... 1 comment · read »

Links

Middle East & North Africa

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns online journalist Shahnaz Gholami’s arrest at her Tehran home on 9 November. RSF reports that theologian and online journalist Mojtaba Lotfi was arrested on 8 October for a posting a sermon by a well-known opponent of Supreme Guide Ayatollah Ali Khamenei online.

Middle East & North Africa

Oman Community Blog is planning a blogger meeting. The dates have not been finalised - but tentative dates are the 17th, 18th or 19th of December.

Middle East & North Africa

Abdelilah Boukili debates the death penalty in his blog as a response to the BBC World's Have Your Say program.

Middle East & North Africa

Omani blogger Amjad says King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia met with Saudi students during his visit to the US. He describes the gesture as “really cool.”

Middle East & North Africa

From Syria, Maysaloon wishes that writers and bloggers will stop generalising when addressing political issues and “stop speaking for ‘most' or ‘many' Syrians.”

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