Stories from 1 March 2007
Russia: Fish Soup
Darkness at Noon describes his complex relationship with ukha: “I've spent most of the past week evading the ukha. No, the ukha isn't a branch or directorate of the FSB (KGB for those of you still keeping time with the old calendar). It's the pot of fish soup that lives...
Bahrain: King's Vow to Protect Freedom of Speech Ignored
Bahraini blogger Mahmood Al Yousif says the King's vow to protect freedom of speech is his country might be ignored. “No sooner than our king vowing to protect the freedoms of expression in Bahrain, than we get yet another journalist dragged in for questioning by the public prosecutor!” he writes.
Russia: Putin's Daily Route
Moscow-based Darkness at Noon fears he lives in an unsafe neighborhood, but then makes quite a discovery about the nature of the neverending sound of sirens outside his window: “It turns out that Putin himself passes my apartment every day on the way to and from work. Imagine that!”
Ukraine: Russia-Owned Businesses
Foreign Notes translates parts of an article on “Ukrainian commerical enterprises controlled by Russian businessmen,” whose main point is that “the high competitive ability [konkurentosposobnost’] of Russian business in comparison with its Ukrainian counterparts is a myth.”
Ukraine: Bread-Lover's Kyiv
Olechko writes about the delights and disappointments that Kyiv has to offer to a bread-lover.
Egypt: German Decision ‘Ridiculous’
Issandr El Amrani, writing in The Arabist,says the German authorities refusal to register a child's name as Jihad – a common Arab name – is ridiculous. “Utterly ridiculous: German authorities are trying to get courts to back them in preventing a baby being named “Jihad” — even though it is...
Egypt: Anonymous Blogging Tips
Writing in The Arabist, Tim Seah links to Global Voices Online Co-founder Ethan Zuckerman's guide to blogging anonymously here. “If you’re an anonymous blogger, remember: your pseudonym affords you no protection against anyone with even a little bit of determination and know-how,” he cautions.
Arabisc: An Ode to a Jailed Egyptian Security Guard
As usual Egypt again keeps us busy this week, where a security guard has been sentenced to six months in prison for refusing to guard the Israeli Embassy in Cairo. Egyptian blogger Nora Younis, posts a poem by Majeed Al-Barghouthi dedicated to jailed Egyptian security guard Mohammed Khalaf Hassan Ibrahim....
Iran:Sociologists Without Borders are against war on Iran
In Sociologists Without Borders’ blog, we read a petition:”war is not compatible with democracy. As Max Weber wrote, war means use of violence and force against civil society. Therefore,“War for Democracy” or, as Antonio Negri puts it, “ War for Peace!”is paradoxical. In democracy lies peace and, in fact, violence...
India: The Madras Regiment
Recursive Hypocrisy traces the history of the oldest unit in the Indian Army – the Madras Regiment . “In spite of being the vehicle with which the British conquered India, the Madras Regiment was mostly abandoned through the 1800s and later disbanded in 1928 — until World War II necessitated...
Nepal: Censored in Nepal?
Madhesh.com may find itself blocked in Nepal. “This site appears to be banned in Nepal. We are not sure if the site has been banned with ALL ISPs, but according to our LOG, we have no visitor at all recently from any of ISPs from Nepal.”
Sri Lanka: Hate and Harm
groundviews on the politics of hate and harm. “Most readers in Colombo would have seen the posters of the National Movement Against Terrorism (NMAT) calling for the peace, media and leftist ‘Tigers’ to be identified and destroyed. This columnist was asked to comment on the poster by a newspaper and...
Pakistan: On history and Timurlane
Light Within on the way we look back at Timurlane. “I wonder why and how governments choose and glorify a particular historical character and ignore others. Stalin valorised some of the cruellest figures in history as outstanding statesmen, including Ivan the Terrible. In 1937 he added Timur’s name to his...
Myanmar: Chin State Dancers
Myat Thura posted a video of dancers from Chin state in Myanmar celebrating the Chin national day.
Interview with Farsi Tube Co-Founder Sherwin Noorian
Farsi Tube or Iranian You Tube, launched in the US at the end of last year, attracts 3,000 visitors daily, says its co-founder Sherwin Noorian. On a busy day, the figure could leap to 7,000 visitors who are there to catch the latest videos Persian-speakers are posting on the site....
Laos: Pho Recipe
Laocook.com describes and posts a recipe for Laotian Pho (noodle dish). “I have never seen a dish that changes so much when it reaches the table. You could say that Pho is “Personal”. “
Egypt: Internet War on Islam
Egyptian blogger The Sphinx has decided to remove links to Digg on his blog because of the increasing attacks on Muslims and Islam. On Digg, The Sphinx says: “comments bashing Islam and calling for the genocide of all Muslims or the destruction of Islam as a whole started getting extremely...
Fiji: Newspaper Executive Arrested
Intelligentsiya blog is reporting that the general manager of the Fiji Daily Post newspaper was arrested by the military. “It could probably have been over a letter from a Fijian in Australia (titled ‘Defunct Police Force’) criticising acting Police Commissioner Romanu Tikotikoca for shelving the investigation into army commander Voreqe...
Egypt: Jailed Egyptian Blogger Allegedly Abused
Free Kareem posts a video allegedly showing jailed Egyptian blogger Kareem Nabeel Sulaiman screaming after being hit by a police officer here.
Bangladesh: What's next for Yunus?
Unheard Voices speculates on the political ways of Dr Yunus. “While enjoying a slew of publicity lately (both negative and positive) , Dr. Yunus now is pondering his next steps. Word from inside is that a new team is being formed to form campaign strategy and media relations for NS.”
Singapore: Sex Education and Teen Pregnancy
Kitana blogs in response to a news story in Singapore that talked about a 9 year old girl getting pregnant. The blogger feels that objective sex education should be a must in schools. “I’m irritated at the lack of objective sex education in schools. There is all this moral talk...
