Global Voices Online » Middle East & North Africa

Iraq: “Egyptians Recruited to Iraq”

Amira Al Hussaini — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 21:06:24 +0000

“According to Egyptian website Al-Mesryoon, last two months there was a campaign in America to recruit Egyptians as interpreters in the American forces and to be sent to Iraq. The Americans offer Green Card to Egyptians who sign a contract to work for at least six months, and the recruiters can extend the period,” reports Ladybird from Iraq.

Iraq: Selling Fuel in Baghdad

Amira Al Hussaini — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 20:58:50 +0000

“The gas and the fuel for cars has always been a problem for Iraqis inside Iraq, the irony that Iraq has one of the worlds largest reservoirs of oil is not lost on Iraqis,” says Alive in Baghdad, which posts a video on the situation here.

Bahrain: Bogus Degrees

Amira Al Hussaini — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 20:54:51 +0000

Bogus degrees? Bahraini Mahmood Al Yousif exposes those who helped themselves to some.

Jordan: Variety Show

Amira Al Hussaini — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 20:47:35 +0000

7iber, from Jordan, details a cultural variety show with a difference in this post.

Tunisia: Eleven Minutes

Amira Al Hussaini — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 20:40:02 +0000

“Another Paulo Coelho book that I've read recently and that I've been meaning to write about is ‘Eleven Minutes'. The book is pretty different from the other books I've read by Paulo Coelho, even though it is equally as great and enjoyable as a book, and inspiring in its own kind of way,” writes Subzero Blue from Tunisia.

Dubai: Nugget full of Bone

Amira Al Hussaini — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 20:32:48 +0000

Writing in Dubai Consumer Mirror, moryarti found a bone in a KFC nugget.

Bahrain: The high cost of Ramadan

Ayesha Saldanha — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:09:09 +0000

Bahraini blogger Yagoob describes the effect of inflation on the holy month of Ramadan.

Saudi Arabia: Growing fewer dates

Ayesha Saldanha — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:07:20 +0000

Saudi Jeans tells us about date-growing in Saudi Arabia: “Growing dates has become a dying profession.”

Bahrain: Fifth of population living in poverty

Ayesha Saldanha — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:06:31 +0000

Bahraini blogger Mahmood reports that 20 per cent of Bahrainis are living below the poverty line.

Western Sahara: Goodbye Peter Van Walsum

Jillian York — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 17:36:57 +0000

Western Sahara Info reports that the mandate of Peter Van Walsum, personal envoy of the UN secretary-general for Western Sahara, has not been renewed.

Moroccans at the Paralympics

Jillian York — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 17:32:34 +0000

The View from Fez informs us that Morocco will send 18 athletes to the 2008 Beijing Paralympics. The delegation is comprised of 14 runners, 4 weightlifters, and 12 officials.

Turkey: YouTube Un-blocked?

Deborah Ann Dilley — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:56:35 +0000

Several Turkish bloggers are reporting the lifting of the YouTube ban in Turkey, including Internation Musings, however it may take up to 72 hours for Turkish web users to see it.

Morocco: Daylight Savings Fail

Jillian York — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:17:22 +0000

Nomadic Morocco remarks upon Morocco's decision to roll back the clocks early. The country, which instituted Daylight Savings Time this summer for the first time in several years, is changing the clocks this week just in time for Ramadan.

Morocco: Tanjia, a Marrakshi Specialty

Jillian York — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:13:31 +0000

Moroccan blogger LoveFrom1stBite shares the recipe for (and photos of) her favorite Moroccan dish, tanjia.

Saudi Arabia: The history of salons

Ayesha Saldanha — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:47:43 +0000

Saudiwoman explains how many tailors' shops turned into beauty salons in Saudi Arabia.