Afghans lampoon clerics over women ruling

Satirical cartoons emerged, such as this one of mullahs trapped in a cage by a modern Afghan womanAfter a council of Afghan clerics issued restrictive guidelines for women, later embraced by President Hamid Karzai, young Afghans streamed to social media sites to lampoon the rulings, reports BBC Persian's Tahir Qadiry."It's outrageous," wrote one young Afghan on his Facebook page. "The next thing they'll be saying is that Afghanistan needs to be divided up in two - one half for men and the other half for women."(READ MORE from the BBC) 

Turkish Airlines starts commercial flights to Somalia

Today Turkish Airlines announced it would be the 1st major commercial airline to fly to Somalia's "war-torn-but making-progress" volatile capital, Mogadishu, with a maiden flight in more than 20 years. The airline will operate a 2X-weekly passenger service from Istanbul & although other airlines such as Kenya'sAirKenya Express operate flights into the country, TA is the 1st from outside East Africa since the country descended into anarchy & war in 1991.

(PHOTO: Aden Adde International Airport, Mogadishu, Somalia/Google Earth)It was the latest sign of confidence in growing stability in the Somali capital – & of Turkey's emergence as an influential geopolitical player. TA was the 1st airline to offer renewed international service to Tripoli,Libya after the government of Muammar Gaddafi fell last summer. As a gesture of the importance of this diplomatic milestone, Bekir Bozdag, the Turkish deputy prime minister, was among a high-profile delegation on board the flight from Istanbul's Atatürk airport.

(PHOTO: Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ/SONNA)He was welcomed by Somalia's president, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, as well as the acting prime minister, parliamentary speaker & other members of the Somali cabinet. UN ambassadors & other international officials were also present. A group of women danced & sang as the aircraft landed at an airport that for many years was controlled by rival militia groups. Istanbul will host a follow-up to the recent London conference on Somalia in June. (Read more at Garowe Online)

Rasta, reggae, Royal!

Britain' Prince Harry arrived Monday Kingston for his 1st official visit to Jamaica,  after having toured Brazil, Belize, the Bahamas as a representative of Queen Elizabeth II in celebration of her Diamond Jubilee on the British throne.  Harry is scheduled to meet with newly elected Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller at a time when many islanders want out of the British realm. In 1655 Jamaica became an English (later British) colony, known as "Jamaica". It achieved full independence on August 6, 1962 & is celebrating its 50th year in August. It remains a Commonwealth realm in concert with theMonarchy of Jamaica holding ultimate executive power, where Queen Elizabeth II is the current head of state & Queen of Jamaica.

(PHOTO: Bob Marley's flat in 1972 at 34 Ridgmount Gardens, London, his first UK address/Wikipedia)With 2.8 million people, it is the 3rd most populous anglophone country in the Americas, after the United States & Canada.  In Jamaica for 4 days, Harry will meet with superstar sprinter Usain Bolt. He's also a huge rap fan who & is expected to make the club scene.   Jamaica's own influence on British culture can be traced to the `ska' revolution of the early 1960s.  Superstar Bob Marley recorded 3 of his most famous albums (Live!, Exodus, Kaya) there & reggae music was the soundtrack for rebellious British youth in the 1970s.  (Read more at The Jamaica Observer)

FIFA's Headscarf Ban Becomes `Political Football'

(PHOTO: Shareef Sarhan/UN)FIFA's headscarve ban has become a political football, sparking outrage across the world from players and fans.  While the UN  has asked soccer's world governing body to overturn its decision not to allow women to wear Hijab (the Islamic headscarf) during game play, Prince Ali Al Hussein of Jordan, at 36 the youngest member of FIFA`s executive committee, will address the International Football Association Board (IFAB) at its annual meeting in England on Saturday.  On Thursday he said he would be very disappointed for millions of women players if IFAB did not sanction its use, reversing a decision it made in March 2007.  "It is not a religious garment, it is a matter of culture.  It`s prejudice. It's not fair. It has to be dealt with. Long sleeves & leggings are already allowed."  CAF, the African confederation, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), & a number of Premier League players have given their support to wearing Hijab. Additionally, a number of sports already allow Hijab including rugby, fencing, netball & taekwando.  (Read More at Bangkok Post)

Carnival begins in Rio and goes worldwide

(PHOTO: Rio Carnival goers celebrate during the Banda de Ipanema street parade on Ipanema beach in Rio de Janeiro/AFP)(HN, 2.17.12) -  Brazil's Carnival season came alive on Saturday with more than 2 million people attending the seasonal celebration, wearing festive outfits & staging a huge dance driven street festival in Rio.  On Friday the legendary King Momo declared the Carnival officially open.  Some 171 street parties were scheduled across the "Marvellous City" this weekend & 400 during the 5 day Carnival. Other Brazilian cities, including Sao Paulo, the country's economic capital & Salvador de Bahia, the heart of Afro-Brazilian culture, also celebrated the annual pre-Lent festival in style.  The Carnival of Rio is the biggest Carnival celebration in the world. (READ MORE from the Sydney Morning Herald)

(PHOTO: Carla del Ponte as witch at the Rijeka Carnival/Wikipedia)Carnival is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February & typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask & public street party. People often dress up or masquerade during the celebrations, which mark an overturning of daily life. (via WIKIPEDIA)

(PHOTO: Masquerade ball at the Carnival of Venice/Wikipedia)The festival of Carnival is celebrated worldwide in nations including:  Andalusia, Angola, Antigua, Argentina, Aruba, Austria, Azores, Barbados, Belgium, Bolivia, Bonaire, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brazil, Canada, Canary Islands, Cape Verde, Catalonia, Cayman Islands, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Curacao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, England, France, French Guiana, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Italy, Jamaica,  Macedonia, Madeira, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands-Antilles, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Saba, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, St. Eustatius, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey, United States, Uruguay, the USVI, & Venezuela.