Photo Album: Egyptians Protest in New York to End Military Rule

@nasry

By Nasry Esmat

About 1500 protesters,mostly Egyptian Americans, rallied in New York city on Saturday afternoon to show solidarity with protests in Egypt asking to bring down president Hosni Mubarak who has been in his position for 30 years.

Latest photos from BBC Arabic : Egypt Uprising

BBC Arabic reporter

After blocking all sorts of communication by the Egyptian government on Friday including landline, cell phones, and Internet, some TV stations managed to get video reports from Cairo, here are some of the latest photos from these videos that were broadcast few minutes ago.

Elections in Egypt: Free, fair and peaceful?

By Marina Ferhatovic and Assaad Thebian

EGYPT. A parliament with no opposition to speak of, media crackdown, fraud allegations and violence. 2010 parliamentary elections gave a landslide victory with 83 percent of the vote to president Mubarak’s National Democratic party (NDP). And set Egypt 15 years back.

Alexandria Inspires Young Swedish and Arab Leaders

The Participants in YLVP @SI

By Ahmed Esmat

26 young leaders from Sweden and the Arab World participated in a fruitful dialogue hosted by the Library of Alexandria and the Swedish Institute in Egypt’s.

Get a glimpse of Social Media Café in Cairo

@YLVP

CAIRO. The third Social Media Café, held in Cairo, went beyond organiserss expectations.

Cyber Hajj Season Begins in Second Life

The Holy Mosque in Second Life

By Hanan Solayman

Getting ready for the Hajj (Islamic pilgrimage) season, a virtual training program was launched on SecondLife.com, the virtual reality website, to teach Muslims and non Muslims Hajj rituals on a online island.

Summer camps in Syria bring adolescents new opportunities to grow

@PK

By Pawel Krzysiek

A particularly hot summer in Syria has heated youth centres across the country. Whipping up adolescents’ enthusiasm to participate, summer activities offered by UNICEF’s Adolescent Development and Participation (ADAP) Project gave Syrian youth fresh opportunities to grow outside of school time.

Hunger strike for “those who die in silence”

 

@sawtalniswa

 

By Assaad Thebian

LEBANON. “Dr. Abdel Meneem is a Sudanese community leader and refugee in Lebanon since 23 years. He went on hunger strike for 16 days in September and October this year to demand the ending of racist policies and arbitrary detention against Sudanese people and other marginalized communities in Lebanon. Throughout these days, he was visited by some security forces, which harassed and urged him to stop his hunger strike and leave the strike place”.

Israel, legal limbo for 400 children of foreign workers

Report and photos by Alessandro Di Maio

Tel Aviv. For a few months now, Israeli public opinion has been divided on one of the most discussed issues in recent years — the future of 400 children that were born and bred in Israel and speak perfect Hebrew, but they are still not considered Israeli citizens.

EMAJ reports on first Euro-Arab Youth Conference

@Biljana Vukmirovic

By Alessandro Di Maio

Sicily, Italy. The first Euro-Arab youth conference opened last 26 July 2010, in southern Sicily with the presence of approximately 120 participants coming from over 65 European and Arab countries. The conference was organized by the Council of Europe and the League of Arab States, in close partnership with the Forum Nazionale Giovani, the European Youth Forum and the Tunisian Union of youth organizations.

Jerusalem, first Friday prayers of Ramadan end peacefully

Report and photos by Alessandro Di Maio

Jesusalem. The first Friday prayers of the Muslim holy month ended uneventfully today.  Although over 90,000 Muslims participated in the religious event in the Old City of Jerusalem, the crowds dispersed as soon as the prayers were over.

Holy Land gets prepared for Ramadan

Report and Photos by Alessandro Di Maio

Israel. In a few hours, just after the sun sets and three stars appear in the sky above the Holy Land, Ramadan will start and many Muslims families will start praying and reading the Koran in a festive atmosphere.

Israelis support Palestinians from Sheikh Jarrah

Article and photos by Alessandro Di Maio

Tel Aviv. Over a thousand people took to the streets of Tel Aviv last Friday (6 August) to protest against the evictions of Arab families from a predominantly Arab neighbourhood in East Jerusalem known as Sheikh Jarrah.

The Tale of a Western “Bint el-Balad”

An English lady and "Bint Balad" @hanansolyman

By Hanan Solayman

Letters of the English writer Lucie Duff Gordon –also known in Arabic as el-Sitt el-Ingiliziya – to her husband represent a unique Muslim-Christian coexistence case .. read how she adopted “Fellaheen” lifestyle until her last breath in Cairo to be buried as “Daughter of the Arab”.

Yemeni journalist reports on the Middle East for Danish public

@Medievärlden

By Axel Andén

PORTRAIT. When Hana Al-Khamri discussed the future with her childhood friends, she listened, with growing irritation, how one by one explained that they do not need to study because they would get married. Finally she stood up and gave a little speech.

- I concluded by saying “I will not get married, and you will know who I am.”

„Més que un club” – 15th anniversary of the Barcelona process

Toledo, the multicultural capital of ancient Spain @Kitekintö

By Krisztian Gal

BACKGROUND. The Barcelona process has its 15^th birthday this year, which has involved more and more countries throughout the years. The core idea of the Euro-Mediterranean relations began with signing the funding document during the Spanish Presidency in 1995. Among the goals were the creation of a weapons of mass destruction and other chemical weapons free zone, a joint water policy, a free trade zone in 2010 and also the fight against deforestation and desertification.

Testimony of a Lifeguard: Lebanon, a racist country

Different Tongues, One Racism @Facebook group: ALL LEBANESE

By Assaad Thebian

OPINION. Lebanon, a racist country? This title might not be accepted by a vast number among the Lebanese population, who think that it is the land of forgiveness and in which Jesus Christ did his first miracle (Qana, south of Lebanon). But let us face it: Check the last two or three weeks news and you will totally understand what I am talking about.

Wasla .. A printed bridge between Egyptian bloggers and society

Cover of Wasla's first edition @Wasla

By Hanan Solayman

In time of online revolution, a printed magazine plays an important role in bridging the gap between the Egyptian blogsphere and public opinion leaders who are not familiar with blogging.

A Lebanese Flotilla is ready to reach Gaza

Julia is one of the ships that will try to sail to Gaza @journaliststogaza.wordpress.com

By Alessandro Di Maio

Almost a month later after the Flotilla incident that caused the death of 9 Turkish activists and diplomatic tensions between Israel and Turkey, a new flotilla could sail on the water of the Mediterranean Sea to break the Israeli naval block on the Gaza Strip.

Lebanon’s security dilemma: An issue related only to Israel and Hezbollah?

Hezbollah soldiers @Flickr

By Gülsen Devre

OPINION.  LEBANON. “We will return Syria to the Stone Age by crippling its power stations, ports, fuel storages and every bit of strategic infrastructure if Hezbollah dares to launch ballistic missiles against us,” an Israeli minister, who remained anonymous, was quoted in the Lebanese Daily Star website recently. These threats came after American and Israeli allegations over scud missiles that were said to be smuggled into Lebanon through the Syrian border. Syria has denied these accusations, while Hezbollah prefers to remain silent on the issue until today, as “these are internal matters”.

Aleppo to be the first child friendly city in MENA

Syrian children playing indoors @Pawel Krzysiek

By Elsy Melkonian

Children are expected to be leading a happy life. Yet, for eight year old Basel Saeed, happiness is still not a part of his life, “I like Aleppo, but I hate being deprived of lovely parks to play football with my friends. Roads are too dangerous to ride bikes. I want to have fun and I want to be happy”.

“Israel’s triple fiasco”: Read francophone press reactions on Flotilla

A Freedom Flotilla ship @freegaza.org Flickr stream

By Elif Kayi

ROUND UP. Most writers in Francophone press in France, Belgium and Switzerland criticized Israel heavily for the attack on Flotilla, while others raised questions related to roles played by Turkey, Hamas and US.

Flotilla: When reports become the news

Photo from thermal imaging footage released by Israel for incidents happened on one of the Flotilla ships @freegaza.org Flickr stream

By Adi Halfon

OPINION. On Monday evening my cell phone rang. My mother was on the line, asking me how am I doing in Berlin and if I encountered any hate crimes since the morning, as a result of the famous Flotilla events. “Watch out”, she said, “The international image of Israel right now is problematic”.

Stockholm: Thousands demonstrating against the Flotilla attack

@EMAJMagazine

By Sami Halabi and Assaad Thebian

The central Sergels Torg square in Stockholm is not the place you would normally expect to hear the words  “stop the blockcade,” or “boycott Israel;” or even “In our souls and with our blood we support you Palestine” in Arabic no less. But that is what happened as thousands of people descended on the square today in support of the “Freedom Flotilla”, the campaign that was a fast reaction after the Israeli commandos shot fire on the ship convoy trying to break Gaza siege.

Flotilla: Israel endangers its own security

@freegaza.org Flickr stream

By Alessandro Di Maio

OPINION. At present moment the details remain unknown, but it is certain that the consequences of the attack launched this morning to international flotilla direct to Gaza, will mark negatively the already affected Israel’s image in the world. The greatest risk is to lose the traditional and strong alliance with what is now a regional power, Turkey.

One voice is not enough: How to follow latest news related to Flotilla?

Flotilla @Flickr

By Aylin Yazan and Nasry Esmat

Because one voice is not enough to know the truth, Here is a list of diverse sources to follow news related to Freedom Flotilla and reactions worldwide.

Several dead on the Freedom Flotilla

By Marina Ferhatovic

The Israel military sources confirmed 10 dead activists on the ship heading to Gaza. Some international media outputs speak of as many as 16. As the news is making headlines across the globe, the two sides are producing contradicting accounts of the events.

Freedom Flotilla to Gaza: Delayed but not stopping

@freegaza.org Flickr stream

By Marina Ferhatovic

Freedom Flotilla, a group of ships from various countries, including Ireland, Turkey and Greece, started their journey towards the Gaza strip, carrying over 700 activists, diplomats, politicians and journalists, as well as about 10,000 tons of aid.

The goal of the voyage is said to be breaking the maritime blockade on the Gaza Strip.

European football creates new generation of Egyptian immigrants and ultras

Egyptian fans download and create posters of their favorite teams @filgoal.com

By Nasry Esmat

For Millions of Bayern Munich fans, 23^rd of May 2001 was a tremendous night celebrating their 4^th European champions league title but for the Egyptian loyal fan Shady Amir this day was the reason he wanted to immigrate to Germany.

Syria: Behind the scenes of the fashion industry

@Elsy Melkonian

By Elsy Melkonian

SYRIA. Syrian people are often labeled ‘fashion followers’ as they tend to spend a great amount of time visiting fashion stores to choose whatever is trendy and stylish. Making the right choice of catchy clothes, however, has become a hard task because the Syrian market is currently stuffed with every kind of goods that range from brand names, Chinese imports to national products.