Reading regional developments

First touching on the ongoing book fair, National interviews Rajaa Alsanea, the author of Girls in Riyadh.

Göran Rosenberg writes for Dagens Nyheter on the Holocaust remembrance and the war in Gaza. Ernst Klein understands calls for boycott of Israel's designated foreign minister Liebermann. Svenska Dagbladet discusses implications of the new Israeli government for Sweden's upcoming EU presidency. Hanne Kjöller for Dagens Nyheter ponders on the appeal of the Palestine conflict for foreign correspondents.

BBC reports on information on an Emirati turn against "masculine women". On the other hand, new attention to some human rights is launched, as reported by the National. The UAE FNC is looking at quotas for women. Amnesty reports a generally gloomy rights trend. Human Rights Watch looks at the situation of domestic workers in Saudi-arabia.

Crisis Group has given attention to jihadic militancy in Pakistan and new US policy on neighbouring Afghanistan.

BBC has visited Cairo and looked at parking solutions in one of the wrld's most congested cities.

BBC also visits Israel 2 months after the Gaza war...

The Abu Dhabi National looks at Emirati charity donations and the Khalifa Foundation.

Human Rights Wtach calls attention to a jailed Iranian-American journalist. The National also visits Iran's frustrated youth generation and reports on Pakistan's rock scene! MERIP looks at popular culture and music in Iran.

Svenska Dagbladet claims the party is over in Dubai and on Al-Jazeera Riz Khan and guests have discussed the current situation (part 1, part 2). Jazeera reports on unemployment consequences stemming from Dubai.

INEGMA's Ted Karasik writes on Sunni-Shia relations in the Gulf and their wider regional implications, maybe from a new angle.

Olle Svenning for Aftonbladet writes on women in Iraq after 6 devastating war years. Newsweek has visited the family-governed and -divided Iraqi Kurdistan. The National visits Turkey and the situation for Kurds there.
The National discusses Iraqi emigrants, now also in the US (this topic has been discussed here before, due to Sweden's heavy involvement).

Christian Science Monitor analyses intra-Arab policy shifts.

Al-Jazeera has been to the Istanbul World Water Forum.

BBC reports from Baghdad where children play in the park.

Svenska Dagbladet ran a knowledgeable and analytical story on the Vatican and recent events.

Al-Jazeera reports on women and unemployment in the current economic crisis.

A new documentary explores Cleopatra and her family - I always wonder if producing such films would not make an ideal alternative career? swedish TV ran a documentary on Queen Victoria's early years.