Two Saudi Women make it into the top 100 Global Thinkers

The Saudi woman driving on YouTube has been commended by Foreign Policy journal for her efforts broadcast to the world, as has our very own Saudi Woman blogger; How is the Syrian pound faring against the dollar? A Wahabi plot in Syria uncovered; Windows Phone-- is it for you? A Lebanon rape-murder causes a disturbing fall-out (for a disturbing crime).

Manal al-Sharif, rose to fame, or infamy to some, for her bold and much publicized driving moves in Saudi Arabia
where women are banned from driving.

Saudi Woman [2]

The Foreign Policy Top 100 Global Thinkers for 2011

Two Arab women (one the author of this post- Mabrouk and Congrats Eman from AB) make this list for their doubled efforts for Saudi women, aired on the web: one for forging the road to driving in Saudi as a woman, and the other for blogging this experience: "Eman Al Nafjan, author of Saudiwoman's Weblog, one of the most influential English-language blogs on Saudi Arabia, as well as a postgraduate student in Riyadh and mother of three. She not only amplified the driving videos and the protest on her blog, but called out Saudi authorities for setting up a fake Twitter feed to discredit Sharif." Back to 'Saudi Woman' "I am honored to have a mention among the top 100 global thinkers of 2011. The magic of internet and social media that I was heard despite being just an average Saudi woman with no platform. And just by starting a blog and writing, the internet enabled my voice to be heard across oceans. Honestly it is a miracle."

Syria Comment [3]

Syrian Pound Falls to 59.4 to the Dollar

"The Syrian pound is trading at 59.4 to a dollar today. It has lost 25% of its value since March, when the per-revolution equilibrium was maintained at 47 per-dollar. Only a week ago, the pound was at 54 to a dollar. The Arab League announcement of its possibly stiff sanctions has taken much of the remaining wind out of the Syrian economy."

Intifada Palestine [4]

Wahhabis Weave Web of Plot in Syria

“Reports reveal that the US and Israel have hired Saudi elements and the Saudi-backed Lebanese March 14 forces in order to foment tension in the country, thereby creating a rift between the Syrian people and the government.”

Gradly [5]

Try Out Windows Phone on Your iPhone or Android Right Now

"if you are eager to see how Windows Phone feels? Microsoft has just made it easy for you. They released a new HTML 5 website that allows iPhone and Android users to get a taste of the Windows Phone 7, Mango 7.5 operating system."

Lama's Scrapbook [6]

Myriam Achkar and the Collective Response

Only in Lebanon does rape risk being sectarian: "On 22 November 2011, Lebanon's independence day, the body of a 28-year-old Lebanese woman, Myriam Achkar, was found in the woods of Sahel Alma near Jounieh, north of Beirut. She was murdered by Fathi Jaber Al-Salatini, a Syrian national working as a janitor at a nearby monastery. He had apparently attempted to rape her."