Israel: disgrace unto the nations
"For Golan Heights residents who want to join a future spouse in Syria, they too must sign on their honour to never return to the other side. Once they've crossed the border, they're given a Syrian residency card which specifies that they've renounced their Israeli nationality. For spouses going in the other direction, they receive a renewable one-year residency permit for Israel." (thanks Marcy)

Not in the US media
"Unions in Iraq (FWCUI) has called for an expansion of the now 41 day-old leather industries strike, into other industries and sectors across Iraq. In their call (which you can read in the original Arabic here, and in English translation here) they cite numerous wage and condition-related grievances, but also emphasize what Iraqi labor unions have for decades been struggling against: a 1987 law, enforced to this day, which prohibits worker organizing i

Zayn Al-Athat
I have reported this week about the Lebanese quack (alleged) crook, Zayn Al-Athat who peddles in infomercials "natural" herbal products for all ailments. He has a cream to enlarge a woman's breasts, and a cream for hair growth, and a cream for hemorrhoids. It is the same damn cream, but you just need to change the location where you spread the cream. He also has pills to make you lose between 20 to 30 pounds, without having to diet. He explained how it works scientifically. He said: it erodes the fat, makes the stomach smaller, and make you lose your desire for food, no matter how much food you see. PS I am accepting contributions about this guy, who is allegedly a partner

Dictatorships that you find cute
"Amnesty International has condemned the conviction of a dissenting Tunisian journalist who has been jailed for six months on trumped up charges after an unfair trial. Taoufik Ben Brik, a prominent government critic, was sentenced on Thursday on charges of committing violence, damaging property, harming public morality and defamation."

This is Zionism
"On Friday, 13 November, soldiers were documented firing 22-caliber bullets at demonstrators during the weekly demonstration against the Separation Barrier in Ni’lin. The shots were fired a few dozen meters from the targets, and lightly wounded two demonstrators. The IDF Spokesperson’s Office confirmed that 22-caliber bullets had indeed been fired." (thanks Olivia)