"We've earned our independence"
Our Observer from Pristina react to the declaration of independence of Kosovo. For Kushtrim Xhakli, this achievement after a long struggle means that the country can become an investment zone for foreign companies, especially in the new-technology sector. Read more...
Does the army make "real Israelis"?
It’s estimated that around 25% of Israelis don’t complete their mandatory military service. This group is largely made up of Arab-Israelis, Ultra-Orthodox Jews, married and religious women and individuals with physical and psychological disorders, but it also includes many who simply refuse to partake. These “conscientious objectors” are now being targeted by a guilt-wielding campaign, entitled “A real Israeli does not evade the army.” Read more…
From the video campaign. Foreign girls are impressed by Israeli guys who've done their military service...
Abusive policeman suspended after evidence posted on YouTube
“Spielberg’s just poking his nose where it’s not wanted”
A Chinese blogger reacts to the announcement of Steven Spielberg on Tuesday that he’s abandoning his post as an artistic advisor for the Olympic Games in protest against China’s policy concerning the Sudan and the conflict in Darfur. Read more…
UPDATE (10.30am, 18.Feb. 08): Since this article was posted our regional editor has informed us that the author has become concerned about his security. We have therefore removed the post.
Mein Kampf in pride of place on bookshop shelves
Hitler's notorious diary ‘Mein Kampf' was translated into Indonesian in 2007. An immediate bestseller for publishers Narasi, it became one of their top five favourites. An employee from the publishing house explains why. Should we be worried about this seemingly unhealthy interest coming from the most populated Muslim country in the world? Read more...
And the prize for Best Actress?! We’re not entirely sure…
Iran's International Fajr Film Festival was hosted in Tehran last week for the 26th time. But pictures from this year's edition of the popular festival offered an unusual view of the showbiz affair. The FARS news agency blurred out the faces of female guests, making them almost unrecognisable. Our Observer for Iran, feminist Farnaz Seifi, explains why. Read more...
UPDATE (17.30, 15 Feb. 08): Thanks to comments on this post, we have found photos posted by the Fars agency where actresses' faces are not blurred. The photos are part of a different set found at a seperate link. This would suggest that the agency has no consistent policy on whether or not their photographers can show the faces of female actresses.
Photos from the FARS news agency posted on Arash Kamangir's blog.
The Democrat dream: Obama and Clinton together in the White House
If you can hear this you’re a public nuisance
The use of a high-pitched alarm to drive British teenagers away from public places is under dispute on the blogosphere after a campaign against the alarms was launched by the Children's Commissioner for England yesterday. The ‘mosquito' alarm which is so high-pitched that only young ears are able to pick it up has been installed by 3,500 shopkeepers and supermarkets in the UK since it was invented in 2005. Now, the ‘Buzz off' campaign says that the £500 product should be prohibited from use. Test your hearing to find out if you're a public nuisance here...
Flickr members protest in pictures over looming Microsoft takeover of Yahoo
Yahoo bought the photo sharing network Flickr in 2005. Now, Yahoo faces takeover from Microsoft, meaning that Flickr would also fall into the hands of the corporate giant. But the photo-sharers are not happy about the move and have created a group called ‘Microsoft: Keep your evil grubby hands off our Flickr' to prove it. Since its creation last month the group has already accumulated 3,615 members and 314 pictures dedicated to the cause. Read more...
Montreal fire-fighters try for Toronto wages
A Montreal fire engine with the altered Toronto emblem
Montreal fire-fighters are arguing for a pay rise to equal their Toronto counterparts- who
have just received a three per cent rise. But because of a law in Quebec that prohibits
emergency services from going on strike, the workers have
had to find a more innovative way to complain. To get their message across the
stations are plastering a new emblem on their engines. An altered version of
the Toronto motif, where the original features Toronto's landmark CN Tower; Montreal's version has the equally famous
Montreal Olympic Stadium in its place. Their message to the council is clear:
we want equal pay. Read more...
