Stories from 11 May 2006
China: Foreign firms restricted
The Chinese government released a memo recently which calls for a crackdown on foreign law firms operating in China and involved in what it labels as “illegal” activities which include hiring large numbers of Chinese lawyers, drafting contracts according to Chinese law and engaging in negotiations regarding investments, mergers and...
China: MSN censors another blog
In a comment on sister of illegally-detained Beijing or Bust blogger Wu Hao's blog, formerly frequent poster Nancy Yingwang laments the shutdown today of her MSN Spaces blog: “My blog has broken down and I feel sick. I can't find a way out. If freedom needs so long a time...
China: Why Communists survived
EastSouthWestNorth blogger Roland Soong translates an essay from Chinese exile Wan Runnan which gives some answers to those who wonder why the Chinese Communist Party has not gone the way of the former Soviet bloc: “Some people think that the Chinese Communists are still in China because the western governments...
China: Sketchy trademark applications
Danwei‘s Jeremy Goldkorn looks at some copyright-infringeing trademark applications from various companies in China, and a new release can be seen on Danwei TV.
China: Racism in education
The American Professor at OneManBandwith writes from the Southern Chinese city of Guangzhou on what he and many in China see as entrenched racism in educational institutions who seek to hire non-Chinese English teachers: “These Chinese schools that reject non-whites are cheating their students of international influences [and] will negatively...
India: India's Youngest Blogger?
This is one way to feel small. Read blogs by small people! Rohan is a a very young Indian blogger in second grade.
Nepal: When the Maoists said Cheese
A brilliant set of photographs by rangi changi chha profiling a group of Maoists he met in Nepal. He says “about an hour outside of janakpur in the south east of nepal, i was invited to meet a group of maoists. they were on their way back from kathmandu where...
Guyana: Clinton's man hired by political party
Guyana Resource Centre reproduces a Stabroek News article revealing that one of Guyana's political parties has hired political consultant Dick Morris. Morris managed US President Bill Clinton's successful re-election bid in 1996.
Puerto Rico: Young novelist and domestic violence
Tinta Digital attends a conference (ES) entitled “Domestic violence in modern communications media” at the University of Puerto Rico where one of the speakers is 19 year-old Ada Alvarez, Puerto Rico's youngest ever novelist, author of Lo que no dije (What isn't said). Alvarez also maintains a blog (ES) by...
Trinidad & Tobago: Digicel reviewed
aka_lol offers a personal assessment of the performance thus far of Irish-owned cellular service provider Digicel, which entered the Trinidad & Tobago market in April 2006.
Polish Blogosphere Update
Who says that in the blogosphere text is king? Photographers are alive and clicking in the Polish Blogosphere. Fotosia shows us everyday Poland through her camera. Staying with the visual arts, Polska＊ポーランド＊Poland provides a virtual tour of Warsaw parks, from a Japanese perspective (though I don't know what the perspective...
Bosnia-Herzegovina: Tribute to Bosnian War Victim and Hero
Finding Karadzic pays a heartbreaking tribute to “a dedicated reader and contributor to this blog” who died on March 3 “as a direct result of the illness she was given by her inhumane captors in Bosnia a decade ago.”
Belarus: Graffiti Activist Sentenced
TOL's Belarus Blog writes about a 2-year prison sentence just given to a young activist for spraying political graffiti. Leaders of the opposition, on the other hand, are now being released. David McDuff of A Step At A Time has more on the graffiti activist, Artur Finkevich – here and...
Russia: Krasnodar
Brigid of Laughter in the Dark writes about a cab driver in Krasnodar, a southern Russian city: ““Where in the hell did you learn to speak Russian?” and “How did your husband ever permit you to travel alone?” The standard taxi-conversation fare. As I anticipated the next standard question –...
Russia: Siberian Adventure, Part 2
Jane Keeler of From Russia With Blog posts part 2 of her Siberian photo-travelogue: “From Irkutsk to Olkhon.”
Latvia: Plans to Name KGB Collaborators
All About Latvia reports that in November, the government plans to make public the names of those who worked for the KGB. Ironically, some of these people in the KGB database still work in the Latvian government.
Slovenia: On Not Skiing
Michael of The Glory of Carniola explains why he doesn't ski and what it's like to be a non-skier in Slovenia: “Being a non-skiier in Slovenia is a bit like being an atheist in America: you automatically belong to a distrusted minority. If a Slovene asks you if you ski,...
Latvia, Estonia: Infant Mortality and Poverty
Estonia in the World Media (RUS) cites a Save the Children report on infant mortality, according to which there are four infant deaths per 1,000 births in Estonia and Lithuania, a pretty good indicator. All About Latvia writes about a woman who tried selling her 7-month-old daughter for $3,800 by...
Russia: Government Encourages Intolerance
In his comment to Yuri Mamchur's post on Russia Blog, Ivan Lenin of Rush-Mush argues that the Russian government encourages intolerance.
Africa: Trans Atlantic Slave Trade
Rethabile posts from Mzansi Afrika on the day France remembers its role in the Atlantic slave trade. ..“France was Europe's fourth largest slave trader after Portugal, England and Spain and transported about 1.25 million slaves. France abolished slavery in 1794, after a successful revolt by slaves in the island colony...
Vietnam: Vietnam For First Time Visitors
Our Man In Hanoi looks at Vietnam from the point of view of an expat and also that of a tourist. There is plenty of good advice for the first time visitor like this on what to do in Hanoi. “What should you do in Hanoi? My advice is nothing....
