Stories from 30 May 2007
Arabeyes: 1001 Tales from Libyan Taxi Rides
Can taking a taxi be an eye-opening experience to the society you live in? Libyan blogger Libyano takes us on a ride of a lifetime which gives him the chance to contemplate on his society, the behaviour of young men and the antics of some taxi drivers. Enjoy the ride!
Morocco: ban on YouTube lifted
The block on the video-sharing Web site YouTube has been lifted yesterday and the Moroccan blogsphere is celebrating its victory and planning to continue the struggle to unblock Google Earth...
Oman: Minimum Wage and Omanisation
Omani blogger Suburban questions the effectiveness of setting an Omanization quota for corporations in order to reduce the reliance on expatriate labour and provide greater work opportunities for Omani national...
Mexico: Shakira Concert in the Zocalo
More than 200,000 fans of the Colombian singer Shakira packed Mexico City's Zocalo to attend a free concert. Many of the fans waited the day before for a chance to...
Chile: Smog Makes Santiago Unlivable
C.hileno continues to write about the smog in the city of Santiago. On the days that it does rain in the city, he highly suggests to take advantage and watch...
Japan: “Thought Check” Screening for Citizen Judges
While news in Japan this week has been understandably fixated on the sensational suicide of Agriculture Minister Matsuoka Toshikatsu, another story revealed in a blog entry by Diet member Hosaka Nobuto slipped by with little fanfare last weekend. In the post, Hosaka outlines the latest step in moves by the government to implement a "citizen judge system" in Japan. This step, he claims, would allow the prosecution to effectively disqualify, through a "thought check" screening process, all citizens judge candidates who express doubt about the trustworthiness of police investigations.
China: Internet Bookstore
Fangjun discussed about the competition of internet bookstore business in China (zh). Joyo and dangdang were competing the status of the biggest Chinese internet bookstore in the world. Recently Dangdang...
China: The importance of media dissent to “old Beijing”
Chris O'Brien from Beijing Newspeak blogs about the importance of media dissent to the redevelopment process of “old Beijing” by comparing the news reports of Dongsi Ba Tiao and Qianmen...
Hong Kong: Migration of Websites
Duke of Aberdeen comments on the Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority's advice of the suspected “indecent” photo at inmediahk.net, and points out that one of the consequence is a migration...
South Korea: Gender Gap
Kotaji comments on the widening of gender gap in South Korea, there are more male than female. The writer's quick suggestions are acceptance of homosexuality, sex change, clone female.
Hong Kong: Censorship Bureaucrats
Roland Snoog has translated the article from Inmediahk.net on the author's encounter with the staff from the Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority (TELA) who gave an “advice” to the website...
Brazilian Express Loves (and jealousy) around the world
The Brazilian blogosphere entered in alert a few weeks ago when the major publish house Companhia das Letras (PT) announced a huge literary project. Idealized by Rodrigo Teixeira, the project called Express Loves (Amores Expressos) wants to take 16 writers to 16 cities around the world for a one month trip. Shanghai, Buenos Aires, Istanbul, Lisbon, Berlin, Cairo, Saint Petersburg and São Paulo are some among those chosen cities. At the end, each one of them must write a love history tied with those cities. All in 90 days.
Tajikistan: Next Generation of Journalists
At neweurasia, Vadim says that the next generation of professional journalists in Tajikistan will cut their teeth in the blogosphere.
Armenia & Azerbaijan: Karabakh Progress?
Oneworld Multimedia discusses the status of negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia over a peace agreement regarding the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Thailand: Stereotyping Foreigners
The Siam Sentinel looks at the Thai habit of stereotyping foreigners. “It's not always the case but many Thais are still going by long believed stereotypes about how the Chinese,...
Kazakhstan: Ruling Family Shakeup
A warrant for the arrest of Rakhat Aliyev, the son-in-law of Kazakhstan's presdient, has been issued. KZBlog explains why, and how the case may connect to the government's decision to...
Panama: Political Season Heating Up, The Return of Noriega, and Crime in Panama: a Love Story
Presidential elections in Panama are not scheduled until May 2009, but bloggers are already keeping a watchful eye out for any developments. Another interesting turn of events that will arrive sooner than the elections is the expected release of former Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega. Finally, in addition to blog entries about visas, travel and food, one blogger's hopeful encounter with a beautiful woman turns out to be something more unexpected and less appealing.
Singapore: Pretty Fly
Nature lover the annotated budak asks “Can a fly be pretty?“
Thailand: Blocking Pro-Thaksin Sites
Thai authorities have blocked more sites that support the former prime minister Thaksin. The Bangkok Bugle says the block might have a reverse effect with Thai people trying other means...
Uzbekistan: Another Blog Blocked
Libertad discusses the blocking of yet another blog within Uzbekistan. The blog in question, Khorezm, mostly discusses daily life in Uzbekistan's Khorezm region.
Uzbekistan: Prohibition's Consequences
Tolkun Umaraliev posts that restrictions on the sale of hard alcohol in Uzbekistan is driving sales underground and spurring some to instead drink beer.
