Iran's Ban: Gmail and YouTube Get Added to the List, Google Confirms

Adding to its banning wish list, Iran has blocked more of Google's products, including YouTube and Gmail; Caricatures via banners should be the next big thing; Breakfast dessert could help you lose weight, studies say; Lost your passport in Jordan? Here's a how-to-guide on dealing with this monumentally irritating situation.

This isn't the first time that Google has found itself in a less than savory position in the complex world of international relations.

The Next Web [2]

Google confirms Gmail and YouTube have been blocked in Iran

Has YouTube taken a major role in your life (not including Daily Motion, of course)? Google more or less runs your life? Then this bit of news may pain you a little bit. Google has confirmed that several of its products have been banned in Iran. Besides Google itself, Iranian denizens can no longer access Gmail and YouTube as of Feb. 10th. We don't know where the people of Iran will get their cute cat video fix either.

Lebanon Spring [3]

Caricature of day: a smart one from the Syrian revolution

As we have seen over the course of the last year, being a cartoonist in Syria is dangerous business. Since you can't possibly publish a political cartoon in a newspaper or online in Syria, you can always resort to protest banners if all else fails. Jest aside, this Lebanese blogger highlight this clever political banner cartoon, positioning Syria's journey towards political freedom as an oil rig. "This caricature from Aamouda in Syria is one of the smartest, if not the smartest caricature I have ever seen from and/or about the Syrian revolution: A drilling rig trying to reach the sea of the freedom at the bottom, drills through the different layers above it."

360 Dewan [4]

My Kind of Diet Plan

A new study shows that if you add dessert to your daily breakfast routine, you will lose weight. Apparently, it will speed up your metabolism, allowing you to burn off more calories later on in the day. So add a chocolate muffin to our chocolate-chip cookie cerea lthen? Only if you insist.

Ana Naddoush [5]

What to do when losing your passport in Jordan

Losing your passport is problematic as it is, but losing it while you're on route from Jordan to Palestine is a whole other ballpark of unpleasantness. Before you break anything in utter frustration, this Middle-East Based Danish blogger gives a whopping 38-step damage control plan should you find yourself in this randomly awkward situation.