Israeli athlete denied visa for Dubai Tournament

Per the Jerusalem Post, "Israeli tennis star Shahar Pe'er has been denied a visa for this week's WTA tournament in Dubai, United Arab Emirates."

A man in the UAE seemed confused by the news.

@tomsp (Abu Dhabi, UAE): If Israeli tennis player Shahar Peer can play in Qatar, I don;t really see why she can;t play in the UAE http://tinyurl.com/acj9j7


The news sparked reaction from other parts of the world.

@Yael_80 (Glasgow, Scotland): I really can't believe that 46% of people polled on cnn.com believe the UAE had a right to refuse an entry visa for Shahar Peer. WTF.


@magzalez (Gainesville, Fla.): UUGGH, can't believe the UAE denied Shahar Peer (Israeli female tennis player) a visa to play in Dubai this week! WTA needs to take action.


@PDMojo (St. Louis, Mo.): Weak, WTA. Very weak. Clearly the reason they didn't cancel is because Dubai is rolling in cash. If this were Serena, story would be huge.


@JodiEchakowitz (Toronto, Canada): UAE denied a visa to an Israeli tennis player. Someone needs a good lesson on separating church (sports) from state (politics).

Israeli athlete denied visa for Dubai Tournament

Reaction to Rodriguez mainly negative

Per ESPN, the University of Miami renamed its baseball field in honor of New York Yankees player Alex Rodriguez on Friday night.

Rodriguez spoke publicly for the first time since admitting he used banned performance-enhancing drugs while playing with the Texas Rangers from 2001-03. Rodriguez admitted he has made mistakes and implored the Miami baseball team to play with integrity and immediately correct any errors made.

Across Twitter, Rodriguez's mistakes have been met with disgust and anger.

@pandawife: I knew I had a reason to not be a fan of Alex Rodriguez. Makes me angry that all of those records are tainted.




@thingsannoyme (New York): Alex Rodriguez makes me depressed about following baseball. Thanks.




There were the occasional messages of support for the sports star.

@ryancurry: I support Alex Rodriguez during these difficult times.

Reaction to Rodriguez mainly negative

New fire breaks out near Melbourne

Per The Australian, "A bushfire has broken out in the Dandenong Ranges National Park and has several communities under ember attack."

Residents of Ferny Creek, Sherbrooke, Kalliste, Tecoma and Belgrave have been notified that they may be affected by the blaze, per the article.

Parts of the Melbourne suburb of Belgrave caught fire, and the town name trended to one of the top tweeted words in the last few hours.

@polyxena (Melbourne): Fire in Belgrave and Ferny Creek fireplans in action My sister & family and cats and dog evacuating



A Melbourne radio station affiliated with ABC has been providing live updates the last two hours through Twitter. Its tweets have been re-tweeted dozens of times; among them this one:

@774melbourne (Melbourne): 4 water bombing air-craft & 22 fire trucks sent to Belgrave bushfires. Urgent threat issued for residents in the area.


Here are some other tweets from the area.

@mr_billiam (Melbourne): A bushfire has started in Belgrave and seems to be growing relatively quickly...keeping track of it. #bushfires


@nifwlseirff (Melbourne): 6 helicopters and a plane, some of those are hanging very high - spotters maybe? (Tecoma/Belgrave fire)


@ChrisClayton (Melbourne): i am worried bout the fires!!!! they are in belgrave now and coming down the mountain towards ferntree gully!!!


Following the Country Fire Authority (CFA) Web site for live updates, @mr_billiam wrote just a few minutes ago that the fire is under control.

@mr_billiam (Melbourne): 16 trucks and 2 water bombers later it's under control. Phew. #bushfires

New fire breaks out near Melbourne

First woman minister appointed to Saudi Cabinet

Per CNN, Saudi King Abdullah has appointed a women to the council of ministers for the first time as part of an overall reshuffle of Cabinet positions.

Abdullah appointed Noor Al-Fayez to the new position of deputy minister for women's education in the council of education. He also announced a new supreme court chief, minister of health, justice minister and information minister.

Readers across Twitter recognized the momentous occasion with joy and with hopes for the continued advancement of women's rights.

@danabrit (Newburgh, Ind.): This is major http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/02/14/saudi.arabia.woman.minister/index.html


@jmthemaker: First woman minister in Saudi Arabia cabinet!!!




@Jacob1207: is pleased that a woman has been appointed to the Saudi Council of Ministers. Now, if only women could drive in the Desert Kingdom...


@happyattorney (Southern Utah): King appoints first woman to council http://tinyurl.com/burpuh. Hope it's progress, not just a new tea server!

First woman minister appointed to Saudi Cabinet

Spanish politician removed from Venezuela

Per El Universal in Venezuela, the Spanish government is seeking an explanation from Venezuela after European Parliament member Luis Herrero was expelled from the Latin American country on Friday, apparently for calling President Hugo Chávez "a dictator."

The topic generated discussion on Twitter across the Atlantic Ocean.

@fatimaperibanez (Spain): @LuisCarlos ¿Qué ha pasado por allí con el eurodiputado Luis Herrero? (@LuisCarlos What happened there with the MEP Luis Herrero?)


@LuisCarlos (Caracas, Venezuela): @fatimaperibanez Lo sacaron del país anoche. Sus compañeros declararon esta mañana que el procedimiento fue excesivo. (@fatimaperibanez He was taken out of the country last night. His colleagues said this morning that the procedure was excessive.)

One Venezuelan was quick to point out the amount of attention the story has received.

@jmourad (Venezuela): 355 notas de prensa sobre la expulsión de Luis Herrero eurodiputado español en google news. #15F (355 press releases on the expulsion of Spanish MEP Luis Herrero in google news. # 15F)


A man in Spain posted a blog with reaction to the incident.

@elcarty (Madrid, Spain): Luis Herrero: yo también te habría echado http://tinyurl.com/c9a373 (Luis Herrero: I have missed you http://tinyurl.com/c9a373)

Spanish politician removed from Venezuela