and yet more...

...running the risk of boring you... (but I enjoy the images!)

Cairo again

I just cannot resist...

Remembrance

Today, the 27th of January is the Day of Remembrance for victims of the Holocaust. 63 years ago today, Auschwitz was freed by allied troops. Today, we need this remembrance more than ever.

Here are some articles on related themes:
on Jews in Ukraine, on anti-semitism today, on remembering the wounds - more to come if I find more on the theme.

Later: on investigations, photos from Ukraine, surviving and loving

January reading

This article is not new, but all the same interesting: Boston Globe about Iranian bloggers on the US elections. If any of you read Persian (I don't!), this is supposed to be one of the concerned bloggers. Three American voices write on dealing with Iran, for New York review of books. BBC writes about a coming exhibition of Iranian treasures. Svenska Dagbladet meets Nahid Persson to talk about her new film on Farah Diba.

Prime minister Reinfeldt travels to Afghanistan, followed by Svenska Dagbladet (also with photos).

Also from December, Abu Dhabi's National published this article on the Gulf states and nuclear issues.

Swedish journalist Bernt Hermele writes on Newsmill on the potential role of Jews and Palestinians in Sweden in the current conflict. another Jewish voice in the Swedish debate is Jackie Jakubowski, here writing for Dagens Nyheter on everyone being victims. Uri Avnery for Aftonbladet on why "Israel can never win".

Dagens Nyheter writes on the cost of the war in Gaza. Lars-Gunnar Erlandsson writes for Utrikesbloggen on the patterns of conflict in the region and how to break them. Dagens Nyheter again, on the "normalcies" of war and a world order of rule of law...

Dagens Nyheter reviews a new book on the Swedish Social Democratic party and their policy towards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The National writes about Algerian warrior legend AbdelQader (to millions of rai-fans best known for the song played an any rai-concert worth the name - we last danced to it in Cairo on New Year's Eve!). Also an obituary of the last of the Rahbani brothers. A frank Israeli film on Israel's actions in Lebanon in 1982 is up for nomation at the Oscar's.

Dagens Nyheter analyzes the image of Michelle Obama.

Dagens Nyheter has also visited eastern Finland and the Russian border, a focus-zone for both bridging business and the sharpest income-divide in Europe. Finlands foregin minister says the an application to Nato will take time.
Svenska Dagbladet reviews a book on the split between Sweden and Finland, 200 years ago this year!

A forthcoming documentary on the Foreign service is discussed in the media...

Also controversial is a Czech work of art to celebrate Europe in Brussels during their presidency.

The town museum of Stockholm displays old fire places with beautiful tiling work.

Houses in Cairo

Just like in Istanbul, Cairo treats the eye to amazing builidngs absolutely everywhere...

Downtown Cairo

On a Friday afternoon in the middle of the holiday season, downtown Cairo was almost spookily quiet.

Rashid on Central Asia/Afghanistan

I still haven't read the book, it's waiting for me. William Dalrymple reviewed it last week for the New York Review of Books and is eminently readable as usual, echoing Rashid's views in his own recent experiences of Pakistan.

The Swedish Committe for Afghanistan argues with the defence minister about the need and direction for Swedish aid.

Svenska Dagbladet here writes about the Swedish PRT in Mazar and development in the northern provinces.

Dagens Nyheter goes to the cinema in Kabul.

Swedish/Pakistani Ishtiaq Ahmed writes of the talibanization of Pakistan.

Other highlights from the past months on Central asia include ICG's report from October on media freedom in Uzbekistan (an issue also at the core of Swedish journalist Elin Jönssons book on Andijan).

Street sales

We spent an early January afternoon walking around in downtown Cairo, enjoying the sun and the absurdly quiet city. As you know from previous excursions, I am fascinated by fruit and vegetable sales!

Congratulations Barack Obama!

And congratulations America!

I remind you today of the name Barack, "blessing". Let us hope, for all of us, that is the case and that Obama can live up to at least some of the hopes placed on his shoulders and his presidency.

New year's war - and other links...

A nasty flu and deep sadness over the mad war going on has kept me from blogging lately. Now there is at least a ceasefire and a lot (but not all) of the below relates to recent events in the Middle East.

The Nobel prize-awarding Swedish Academy has been given a new permanent secretary, the eminent historian Peter Englund, mostly known for his writings on war and on mentality history-style essays. His most recent book is an expose over individual fates in the first world war, elegantly combing the 2 genres. He is probably the single person to have done most to reach out to a broad readership with a soundly academic historic writing in Sweden today. My (belated) congratulations, not least to the academy!

Irak
Dagens Nyheter writes a longer analysis of Kirkuk and the situation in northern Iraq.

Svenska Dagbladet tells the story of a Palestinian family from Iraq, earmarked by UNHCR for resettlement in smalltown Sweden.

A debate has also taken place on how the situation of Christians in Iraq is viewed, here also from Svenska Dagbladet.

Good news though, Iraq Body Count counts a significantly lower number of Iraqi casualties in 2008 compared to previous years. BBC writes of the Basra museum.

Palestine
ICG published several reports on the situation in Palestine, both before and after tha war in Gaza broke out.

A number of Swedish articles during the Gaza war (some translated):
Nathan Schachar in Dagens Nyheter on the coalition opposing Hamas, Michael Winiarski (same paper) on the marginalization of Abbas, Bitte Hammargren for Svenska Dagbladet on civilian suffering and the passive world, Göran Rosenberg on evil circles of conflict, Amira Hass published in Dagens Nyheter on Israel in the Gaza war, Bitte Hammargren remembers Gaza, Anna Dahlberg for Expressen discusses how to handle Hamas, Olle Svenning for Aftonbladet on all the losers of the war, Peter Löfgren on nurturing monsters, Gideon Levy for Dagens Nyheter on "talking peace, making war", Dagens Nyheter meets the man in the film on Young Freud in Gaza, Dagens Nyheter on Gaza's history, Peter Weiderud in Dagens Nyheter on the need for a dialogue with Hamas, and exploring the importance of Al-Jazeera coverage in Dagens Nyheter.

Athanasiades for the National on Turkey's role in the Gaza war.

Other
ICG also calls attention to the dire straits of Turkish reform and the challenges of 2009... Yavuz Baydar for Utrikesbloggen worries over it too, as does Svante Cornell (also published via Utrikesbloggen - check it out!). I can only agree with Svenska Dagbladet recommending a visit to Cappadocia.

Svenska Dagbladet also writes on government-sponsored matchmaking activities in Iran! Iason Athanasiadis writes for the National on Iran. National also tells of coming 3G services in Iran.

Dagens Nyheter explores the concept of hawala. Their photographer Paul Hansen visited Yemen. The National visits the art biennale in Cairo. Svenska Dagbladet talks to Swedish burger-chain Max on establishing in Saudiarabia (read the whole article, is my tip!).

Dagens Nyheter also writes on prostitution in Europe.

Ingrid Hedström writes for Dagens Nyheter on recent mother French justice minister Dati.

Åsa Petersen for Aftonbladet writes on homophobia and catholicism in Lithuania - another complicated chapter.

Dagens Nyheter on ethnicity and daily life in Sarajevo.

Full moon over Abu Dhabi

Due to a flu-thing, I had very little energy last week. But one evening, I couldn't resist trying to catch the full moon through the net on the kitchen balcony!

Annual human rights report

HRW has published their annual report.

Here is the actual report, released yesterday by Human Rights Watch. You can also find links there for donating to HRW and give your support to the struggle for human rights.

No Christmas spirit?

Merry Christmas to all of you who celebrate with the orthodox today - even if the reasons for joy and peace are far from sight in today's Middle East.

ICG appeals to the world to stop warfare in Gaza.

Thursday update: BBC writes about the terms of reporting from Gaza on the ground these days.