A long-contested ban preventing Frankfurt’s female public employees from wearing burqas has been settled in court, but the vitriol continues online. Opposition to Burqas has spread. This graffiti from Australia (Beau Giles) FRANKFURT – A Frankfurt city employee may have lost a long-running battle to wear a burqa to work, but the debate is still […]
Author: Worldcrunch
In Saudi Arabia, a new facebook group called “The People Want The Government To Reform” has attracted more than 2,000 members in the past day. A R A B I C A ارابيكا By Kristen Gillespie FACEBOOKED *In Saudi Arabia, a new facebook group called “The People Want The Government To Reform” has attracted more […]
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Fancy A Spring Break In Tunisia?
Post-revolutionary tourism in Tunisia? Deserted beaches and empty restaurants amid the debris of the uprising, as resorts try to convince tourists the country is safe.
ALL NEWS IS LOCAL: Thirty-six leaders of Jordanian tribes, the load-bearing pillars that have held up the Hashemite regime for more than six decades, have submitted an unprecedented petition to King Abdullah calling for electoral and political reform. A R A B I C A ارابيكا By Kristen Gillespie ALL NEWS IS LOCAL: Thirty-six leaders […]
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Why Google Can Never Replace A Guggenheim
The Google Art Project, according to Florentine art curator Francesco Bonami, will never match wandering through a museum. A digital dissection of a Vermeer classic (flickr) One might be tempted to think that nobody will ever set foot in a museum again after Google unveiled its upcoming art project, which will make high-definition, digitized masterpieces […]
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Why Google Can Never Replace A Guggenheim
The Google Art Project, according to Florentine art curator Francesco Bonami, will never match wandering through a museum. A digital dissection of a Vermeer classic (flickr) One might be tempted to think that nobody will ever set foot in a museum again after Google unveiled its upcoming art project, which will make high-definition, digitized masterpieces […]
In an interview with La Stampa, Rachid Ghannouchi insists that he favors a lasting democracy and women playing a political role in Tunisia’s future. (magharebia) TUNIS – Until last month, Rachid Ghannouchi, the founder and leader of the Islamist al-Nahda Party — the Tunisian equivalent of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood — was just one of thousands […]
With Louis Vuitton sales jumping more than 20 percent last year, the LVMH luxury goods group is sprucing (and scaling) up Louis Vuitton sales outlets across the globe. Looking for new bags at Louis Vuitton store in Paris (Zoetnet) How do you sell more and more luxury merchandise across the globe, without undercutting an image […]
Advances in neuro-psychology help decipher the secrets of consumer decisions. (Elsie) How do our subconscious minds react to advertising? What are the different consumer types? Researchers around the world are searching for the latest secrets of our purchase decisions, and a growing number of companies are putting their findings into practice. In Germany, the Hamburg […]
The guardian of Egypt’s ancient tradition of belly dancing, Dina Talaat is a fierce defender of her art as it comes under pressure from Islamic fundamentalism.
Amidst the tumult from Tunis to Cairo, the turnaround in Turkey offers lessons for the future. Bosphorous Bridge, Istanbul (Tasslehoff Burrfoot) While demonstrators in Egypt are still busy trying to get rid of President Hosni Mubarak, others are beginning to ponder the trajectory of the country’s future. For many, Turkey comes quickly to mind. “As […]
As protests in Egypt continued for the 11th day, calls continued for Hosni Mubarak’s ouster, a state of affairs the Egyptian President said he is “fed up” with, in an exclusive interview with the American broadcaster ABC News. A R A B I C A ارابيكا By Kristen Gillespie As protests in Egypt continued for […]
Padma is Europe’s only pharmaceutical company producing Tibetan medicines, working to adapt Eastern cures to strict Western regulations. Tibetan monks at Wutun monastery (Tom Thai) Michael von Ledebur WETZIKON – Allspice, columbine herb, gypsum, marigold petals, cardamom, sandalwood, Icelandic moss: the list is long of ingredients in Padma 28. The compound, which is the Swiss […]
Foreign companies will be bidding for a major share of France’s Yoplait, the world’s second-largest yogurt maker. Is this good for Yoplait? Or for France? sweetfixNYC A 50 percent stake in the French dairy product manufacturer Yoplait, the world’s second largest yogurt maker, is up for grabs following French private equity group PAI’s decision to […]
For the past decade, the tiny island of Lampedusa has seen ebbs and flows of desperate immigrants arriving. Already in the past week, political upheaval in Tunisia looks set to spark a new wave. Lampedusa harbor (noborder) LAMPEDUSA – After two days of perfect calm, a north wind is blowing again. The gusts are strong […]
A R A B I C A ارابيكا Your daily shot of what the Arab world is saying, hearing, sharing By Kristen Gillespie TWITTERING: Egyptian opposition leader Ayman Nour, head of the Al-Ghad party and who was imprisoned for four years after challenging Hosni Mubarak in the 2005 presidential election, fired off this tweet: “I […]
A R A B I C A ارابيكا Your daily shot of what the Arab world is saying, hearing, sharing By Kristen Gillespie TWITTERING: Egyptian opposition leader Ayman Nour, head of the Al-Ghad party and who was imprisoned for four years after challenging Hosni Mubarak in the 2005 presidential election, fired off this tweet: “I […]
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ARABICA Thursday, Feb 3, 2011
A R A B I C A ارابيكا your daily shot of what the Arab world is saying, hearing, sharing by Kristen Gillespie TWITTERING: Egyptian opposition leader Ayman Nour, head of the Al-Ghad party and who was imprisoned for four years after challenging Hosni Mubarak in the 2005 presidential election, fired off this tweet: “I […]
While broader civil unrest spreads across the region, Jordan’s Islamists focus on fighting “desecration” on a pair of Amman boulevards with the most holy of names. Amman by night (gr33ndata) EYES INSIDE – THE MIDDLE EAST Like their counterparts in Tunisia and Egypt, more and more young Jordanians are taking to the streets in unauthorized […]
Three rivals in France’s telecommunications market, Orange, SFR and Bouygues, join forces to form ‘Buyster,” an e-payment system that aims to compete with US giants Paypal, Google and Apple. Solveig Godeluck PARIS – It’s no longer an entente, but a sacred union. Rival French telecommunication operators Orange, SFR and Bouygues Telecom have agreed to work […]
Increasingly influential in the Muslim world, the Turkish Prime Minister speaks candidly about what must change in the face of the popular revolt in the Middle East.
Protesting against Hosni Mubarak, Egypt’s Coptic Christians are worried by the growing influence of the Muslim Brotherhood.
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Care For Some Chinese Bordeaux?
China’s state-owned food giant plants a stake in the world’s most celebrated wine region. Bordeaux wine cellar (xlibber) Valerie Landrieu Wine guides praise its body and smoothness. The Chateau de Viaud, a lalande-de-pomerol, now belongs to the Chinese government. After almost three years of negotiations, Cofco, the Chinese state-owned food giant has struck a deal […]
Europe’s leading Muslim intellectual warns against demonizing Islamic movements, and challenges the West to truly stand for democracy in Arab world. (SFU) Tariq Ramadan is used to pushing the boundaries. But even Europe’s most beloved and reviled Muslim intellectual, and grandson of the founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, could not have predicted what is happening […]
Trains and highways can’t handle the huge flow of travelers for the Chinese New Year Beijing train station (Olekvi) EYES INSIDE – CHINA Wildlife researchers will tell you that the largest migration on Earth is the herds of African wildebeest and zebras crossing the Serengeti plain. But they’ve never counted the 2.8 billion journeys generated […]
American giant acquires a vast portfolio of international titles belonging to the French media conglomerate, passing Condé Nast as the world’s top magazine publisher. But was it worth the pricetag? Canada edition (Vancouver) PARIS – There was nothing unexpected in French media conglomerate Lagardère’s announcement this week that it had it sold its international magazines […]
The army may be decisive in the outcome of popular uprising in Egypt. And protesters try to convince them to hold their fire.
With 2.5 million expected for the beloved Pope’s beatification, hotel prices start to soar and the Vatican warns against price gouging the pilgrims. Papal keepsakes (Radio Nederland) VATICAN CITY – As Rome braces for a massive influx of pilgrims for the May 1 beatification of the late Pope John Paul II, hotels in the Eternal […]
The Egyptian army has so far acted with restraint, but has also yet to choose a side in the battle between the country’s protesters and President Hosni Mubarak. Until they do, chaos and uncertainty will persist. Cairo (Al Jazeera, via flickr) There has been much speculation about whether the riots in Tunisia and Egypt have […]
The Islamic organization’s new chairman Dr. Badie, and another top Brotherhood official, tell La Stampa that Mubarak’s ouster must be followed by a government finally chosen by the people. And if they choose an Islamic state? Paolo Mastrolilli CAIRO – “My husband would have been very happy to speak to you, but he’s in jail.” […]
The Islamic organization’s new chairman Dr. Badie, and another top Brotherhood official, tell La Stampa that after Mubarak is forced out the government will finally be chosen by the people. And if they choose an Islamic state? CAIRO – “My husband would have been very happy to speak to you, but he’s in jail.” The […]
Leading opposition figure says the Obama administration must decide if it’s with Mubarak or the Egyptian people ElBaradei (justicentric) CAIRO – This time the call goes through, and after a few rings, the voice that picks up on the other end is that of Ali ElBaradei. “You want to talk to my brother? Hold on […]
Radical Muslims have not been driving the protests in Tunisia, Algeria, and Egypt. For many young people in the region, Islamism no longer offers a solution to their problems. What the “Arab Street” wants (Al Jazeera, via Flickr) TUNIS – The “al-Amanzar” restaurant, located on a small side street off Bourghiba Avenue, is divided in […]
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The Davos Contradiction
World leaders can agree on the same ambitious goals for encouraging a more global economy, but not the means for arriving there Russian President Medvedev DAVOS – There is true consensus at Davos: it can no longer be business as usual. Heads of state, corporate leaders and intellectuals gathered here share the belief that we […]
Founded in 1946, the U.S. company now counts half its business in emerging countries (rageZ) PARIS – When you hear Tupperware, you think door-to-door sales, plastic boxes and part-time jobs for 1960’s housewives. Here in Paris, the brand is looked at with sarcastic nostalgia. But on Wall Street, Tupperware is a serious brand. Its share […]
Analysis: To help hold on to power, the Egyptian leader can count on the army and fear of the vacuum his departure would bring.
Specialists are divided over a French government plan to introduce the language of Shakespeare to three-year-old children
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The Dilemma Of A Middle-Aged Prostitute
What does a prostitute do when she’s ready for a career change? An ageing prostitute in Zurich’s crowded sex industry considers her options. walking the streets (Francesco Di Fazio) ZURICH – In most professions, the longer you practice the more your wages rise. It’s an economic rule of thumb. But in brothels and on the […]
With a more austere approach, Dilma Rousseff has already criticized the same Iranian government that her predecessor was eager to reach out to. img_assist|nid=380|title=Dilma Rousseff|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=640|height=427 EYES INSIDE – BRAZIL Anointed by her wildly popular predecessor, Dilma Rousseff’s victory in November as Brazil’s first female president promised near perfect continuity from the policies of the past […]
With a more austere approach, Dilma Rousseff has already criticized the same Iranian government that her predecessor was eager to reach out to. img_assist|nid=380|title=Dilma Rousseff|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=640|height=427 EYES INSIDE – BRAZIL Anointed by her wildly popular predecessor, Dilma Rousseff’s victory in November as Brazil’s first female president promised near perfect continuity from the policies of the past […]