In Yemen it is unusual to find a woman working as a salesperson in a large supermarket, grocery or clothing store. But recently, a small number of women have started taking on these jobs, and challenging this society’s traditions, in order to help themselves and their families.

Um Bashir from Taiz, is in her thirties and works in a large supermarket in the Hadda area of Sana’a. She is married with one child and started working as a salesperson six years ago.

“I began working as a salesperson six years ago and I’m very happy with my work,” said Um Bashir.

Source: Yemen Times (Yemen), January 28, 2010

Although women are the most vulnerable to extremists in Yemen, their voices are the least likely to be heard and their role to face terrorism is restricted by social and legal status, say human rights activists.

On Thursday, Sisters Against Violent Extremism (SAVE Yemen) brought together a group of women representing human rights groups, academic institutions, the press, and universisty students, to discuss how Yemeni women can be involved to face extremism and terrorism.

“The whole world is focusing on Yemen and terrorism right now, but the true Yemenis have no voice. People are talking about Yemen, but no one knows what Yemenis think or how they feel,” said Fahima Al-Fotih, SAVE Yemen coordinator.

Source: Yemen Times (Yemen), January 25, 2010

Egypt’s Grand Mufti issued a fatwa that prohibits the use of Quranic verses or the call for prayers as ringtones on the basis that they show lack of respect, according to a copy of the fatwa text obtained by Al Arabiya on Thursday.

Dr. Ali Gomaa, considered Egypt’s highest religious authority, argued that using verses from the Quran for ringtones violates the sanctity of the divine words.

Source: Alarabiya.net (Dubai-based, saudi-owned), January 21, 2010

A black goat is slaughtered almost every day by Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari to ward off the "evil eye" and protect him from the curse of "black magic".

"It has been an old practice of Mr. Zardari to offer 'Sadqa' (animal sacrifice). He has been doing this for a long time," President's spokesman Farhatullah Babar said.

Hundreds of black goats have been sacrificed since Zardari moved into the President's House in September 2008. His trusted servant Bai Khan buys goats from Saidpur village and the animal is touched by Zardari before it is sent to his private house to be sacrificed.

Source: Hindustan Times (India), January 28, 2010

A new historical TV series will be airing this year – probably during Ramadan 2010 – staring popular Syrian, Lebanese and Jordanian actors like Ayman Zaidan, Ghassan Massoud, Yasser Al Masri and Akef Najem.

The series entitled ‘Rayat Al Haq’ is about the incidents that took place after the death of Prophet Mohammad and the beginning of the Islamic conquests.

Source: Waleg

There are between 700 and 1000 requests from internet users to block websites in Saudi Arabia per day, a source at the Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) told Asharq Al-Awsat. An average of 850 requests per day means that there are 300,000 requests annually. The same source confirmed that over 93 percent of blocked websites are pornographic.

Sultan al Malik, Public Relations and International Affairs Manager at the CITC stated that there are approximately 200 requests per day to unblock websites, meaning that for every four requests to block a certain website there is only one request to unblock websites.

Source: Asharq Al-Awsat (Saudi Arabia), January 15, 2010

A recent study carried out in Saudi Arabia shows that 68 percent of Saudi girls prefer to withhold their family name due to the sensitivity of this information, in comparison to just 32 percent of girls who appear on Facebook under their own full names. The study revealed that 16 percent of girls polled were members of Facebook under aliases or false identities. As for the Saudi Arabian boys who use Facebook, the study showed that 60 percent of those questioned were members of Facebook under their own full name, with just 4 percent appearing under an alias or a false name.

This information was disclosed as part of a study entitled "The Methodology of Saudi Youth When Utilizing Social Networking Sites" which was carried out by a group of students at the School of Computer Science at the King Saud University in Riyadh. The group of students surveyed a number of Saudi students, half of whom were studying at the King Saud University, while the other half were studying at secondary schools in Riyadh.

Source: Asharq Al-Awsat (London-based, Saudi-owned), January 19, 2010

Preparations for Istanbul's year as a European Capital of Culture (ECOC) have finally concluded, and the Istanbul 2010 ECOC Agency is counting down to the inaugural performances set for this weekend. The inaugural events were introduced at a press conference yesterday at the Ciragan Palace with the participation of agency Chairman Sekib Avdagic, agency Secretary General Yilmaz Kurt, the Spell of Istanbul (Istanbul Buyusu) Artistic Director Yekta Kara, Groupe F Choreographer Christoph Berthonneau, and some of the artists who will perform during the inauguration, including Kıraç, Mercan Dede and Zara. Avdagic said all the ads for the ECOC present Istanbul as a dignified, self-confident city.

"The most inspiring city in the world, Istanbul , is ready to share the energy it has with Turkey and with the world through more than 400 special projects that will take place throughout the year," he added. Avdagic said this Saturday, many museums such as the Sakip Sabanci Museum , Istanbul Modern, Asiyan Museum , Sadberk Hanim Museum and Hagia Sophia will be open until midnight. The inauguration will start at seven different places, inspired by the idea of the seven hills of Istanbul .

The Halic Congress Center will welcome more than 5,000 guests, including President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan as well as more than 20 foreign ministers. The performances at the inauguration will be seen by public for the first time. One of the inaugural projects, The Spell of Istanbul, includes various branches of the arts, 303 artists and a staff of more than 450. One of the most significant parts of the inauguration will be the special light and fireworks show on the Halic shore, which will be relayed live to six other squares – Taksim, Kadıkoy, Pendik, Bagcilar, Beylikduzu and Sultanahmet – as well as across Turkey and other parts of the world.

Source: Today's Zaman (Turkey), January 13, 2010

An official inauguration ceremony will be held at the Halic Congress Center this weekend to kick off Istanbul's year-long reign as the 2010 European Capital of Culture. Among those set to be present at the ceremony are President Abdullah Gul, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, politicians, Turkish business leaders, high-level officials from European and other neighboring countries, artists, and Turkish and foreign journalists. The ceremony will include a fireworks display, a dance performance, and several concerts. The European Capital of Culture (ECOC) is a city designated by the European Union for a period of one year during which it is given a chance to showcase its cultural assets. Istanbul shares its European Capital of Culture 2010 title with Pecs, Hungary and Essen, Germany.

Source: Hurriyet Daily News (Turkey), January 12, 2010