Stifled by the Israeli embargo since June 2007, Gazans are so in need of essentials that they're even lacking petty cash. The half-shekel, which is worth about 10 euro cents, has almost completely disappeared. Read more...

After 50 years of strict sanctions, Barack Obama's gesture towards Cuba on Monday will allow exiled Cubans to travel and send money to their homeland. Fidel Castro however, scoffed at the plans, saying that Obama should lift the "cruel" commercial embargo rather than hand out "charity". What do our Cuban Observers make of the news? Read their reactions...

Since part of the frontier wall between the Gaza strip and Egypt was broken down on 23 January, thousands of Palestinians have poured into Egypt. Cut off from the world by a blockade enforced by Israel, the country is running out of basic commodities and has taken Egyptian trade by storm. Our Observer Wael Abbas went to the frontier; here is his account of events and a video he filmed on the scene. Read more...

Video posted on YouTube by Wael Abbas, 25 January 2008