Stories from 10 October 2005
Jordan: Comments On
Hatem and Haitham seems to have some concerns related to switching blogs comments, on or off.
Iran: Neo-Racism
Hoder complaining about US government practice of Special Registration, and see that as Neo-Racism.
North, South Korea: Holiday saga
The continuing saga involving Hyundai Asan Tours and the North Korean government has taken a new twist, writes AsiaPundit.
China: Heritage newsletter
Danwei returns from the National Day holidays with a link to a newsletter on Chinese heritage, edited by Bruce Gordon Doar and Geremie R. Barmé.
Cambodio: Solar-powered bicycle
Cambodia Morning reports on a home-grown invention: the solar-powered bicycle, or SMART bike.
China: Aussie dancer leaves stage
Angry Chinese Blogger reports on how Australian dancer Wang Xuejun was kicked out of China for possession of a banned book: Nine Commentaries on the Chinese Communist Party.
Indonesia: Fuel subsidy reductions
Nad's Notes posts a summary of the Indonesian government's plans to replace fuel subsidies with more targeted spending on health, education and low-income households. Via A. Fatih Syuhud.
Nigeria: Aid racket
Blogs Black Looks: “Finally an “insider” blows the whistle on how the U.S. corporatocracy scammed the developing world out of trillions of $.” Read on.
Kenya: Strong constitution
KenyanPundit posts the first part of a long report on a public workshop on the country's proposed new constitution, stirring plenty of reaction in the comments section.
Sudan: Not getting better
Sleepless in Sudan, picking up on the “tragi-comic” tale of African Union hostages who were soon joined by their rescue party, reflects that things aren't getting better in the troubled region of Darfur, but shares a hilarious tale of “creative problem-solving” at a displaced persons’ camp.
Ethiopia: Still smokin’
Ethiopundit writes a detailed analysis of the effect of current and historical land ownership patterns on poverty in the country, and puts in a plea on behalf of a nicotine-stained inmate of a Chinese zoo.
Uganda: Arrest warrants scupper talks
Uganda-CAN picks up on comments by top Ugandan peace negotiator Betty Bigombe, who says that the issuing of arrest warrants for Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) leaders by the International Criminal Court has scuppered the latest round of peace negotiations.
Zimbabwe: Gogo's journey
Sokwanele tells the story of a Zimbabwean grandmother, “Gogo”, and her attempt to get home in the face of growing fuel shortages across the country.
Egypt: Egyptian Opposition
The Sandmonkey says that Egyptian Opposition unites against Mubarak.
India, Afghanistan: Celebrating Navaratri
India, Afghanistan: Celebrating Navaratri
Bangladesh: The Greenest Delta?
Bangladesh: The Greenest Delta?
Pakistan: Marriage and Morals
Pakistan: Marriage and Morals
Bhutan: All Smiles
Bhutan: All Smiles
India: A Global Help Team
India: A Global Help Team
Brazil: Blogs as a Vehicle for Democracy
Alex de Carvalho, who organized the Brazilian delegation to the 6th annual World Forum on e-Democracy held near Paris summarizes how weblogs have influenced Brazilian politics.
Interview with Haitham Sabbah
Our beloved Middle East/North Africa editor Haitham Sabbah was recently interviewed by Italian journalist Paola Caridi, who writes for news agency Lettera22. Their conversation focuses on some of the deep questions of the Middle Eastern blogosphere. Why do people blog – are reasons personal or political? Are blogs a method...