Check out more reflections about the workshop from Ahmad Humeid   The German-Arab Media Dialogue organized by the German Foreign Office and the German Institute for Cultural Relations held in Amman last week was an important chance to discuss issues related to new media, blogging and conventional media outlets. Although the German Embassy sent many invitations to Jordanian bloggers only two... [read more]

Jordan Business magazine has asked its readers to nominate their candidates for the Jordan power 30 issue to be published in July 2007. Maybe it is only few days but it is worth nominating now. Last year the magazine made its own intelligent judgement nomination which was met with some critical feedback. You can nominate here http://www.jordan-business.net/power30/   [read more]

This is an interesting article from Oxford Business Group reflecting on the growing momentum of growth in Jordanian transport system. I wish at least half these expectations will be met.   Hot on the heels of the selection of the consortium to build and operate the expanded Queen Alia International Airport, the ministry of transport announced on May 23 that it intends to develop a national rail... [read more]

Visiting a European metropolitan city is always an overwhelming experience for anyone from the Arab World. The strange cultural encounters always happen and their severity depends on the values and beliefs of the visitor while confronted with the dominant culture in Europe. In my latest visit to Germany last week after 5 years of absence I can still enjoy and get surprised with many new developments... [read more]

While participating in the Euro-Med workshop on "Media and intercultural dialogue" in Berlin last week, I felt as if I am in the midst of a social gathering that happens on annual basis. Most of the participants already know each other and they will talk for hours about their previous meetings in Geneva, Malta, Dead Sea, Morocco, Vienna and so on. This is an indication that such meetings usually bring... [read more]

I was frightened and shocked with the quality of "political analysis" done by some writers and politicians of the Hamas military takeover in Gaza. I was particularly concerned with the way some people have no problem in undermining, or even neglecting the huge human cost of this conflict. More than 100 people were killed, some of them with the most brutal ways (thrown alive from 15th store) and yet... [read more]

In a few hours time I will be flying to Berlin to participate in a conference organized by the German Foreign Ministry on "Media and Multi-Cultural Dialogue". I will travell without my laptop and most likely will not be able to blog or respond to comments during the next four days. I hope I can come back with some exciting "bloggable" stories. In the meantime I hope you will understand the need... [read more]

This blog has received a plethora of negative comments from readers who disagree with my political opinions. Naturally any diversity in opinions is an enriching factor since it provides several perspectives on a certain issue. Some comments however, especially from anonymous readers have always shifted towards personal accusations and attacks. One of the most intriguing attacks are linked to the... [read more]

It has been like a magnetic attraction between Jordan and the middle ranking of most global surveys and indices. The latest of which is the Global Peace Index developed by the Economist Intelligence Unit in which the indicators of peacefullness were analysed for 121 countries. With no surprise Jordan came at no 63 making it the 9th  Arab state after Oman, Qatar, UAE, Tunisia, Kuwait, Morocco, Libya... [read more]